Pillars of Practice
The Flying Start NHS® Programme is organised around a model called the Pillars of Practice, developed by NHS Education for Scotland (NES).
The model is not only used by NQPs, but also by Health Care Support Workers (HCSWs), registered nurses, midwives and AHPs, to show how different jobs and roles need a different mix of skills and knowledge.


Four Pillars of Practice
To complete the Flying Start NHS® Programme, the learning outcomes must be achieved. The learning outcomes are set out into four units which are based on the Pillars of Practice.
It is important that the practitioner is familiar with each pillar and takes time to consider how they are currently attaining or working towards achieving the learning outcome. How the practitioner intends to meet these learning outcomes will be specific to them, their role, and their practice setting.
Each pillar has two learning outcomes:
Clinical practice
- Critically reflect on your contribution to the delivery of safe care.
- Examine your practice for enhancing person-centred care.
See the Flying Start NHS : Clinical practice unit on Turas Learn.
Facilitating learning
- Engage in professional development that demonstrates your commitment to career-long learning and excellence in practice.
- Demonstrate ability and confidence in developing and supporting others to learn.
See the Flying Start NHS : Facilitating learning unit on Turas Learn.
Leadership
- Examine your practice of how you demonstrate effective self-leadership.
- Critically reflect on your behaviours and actions that impact working collaboratively with colleagues.
See the Flying Start NHS : Leadership unit on Turas Learn.
Evidence, research and development
- Source evidence relevant to an aspect of your practice.
- Review service user participation in your workplace.
See the Flying Start NHS : Evidence, research and development unit on Turas Learn.