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04/12/2024OnlinePARE Celebrates Triumph at THE Awards 2024

Dear OnlinePARE Community,

We are thrilled to share that Chester Business School, the home of OnlinePARE, has been awarded Business School of the Year at the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2024. The announcement was made at a glittering ceremony at the ICC in Birmingham on Thursday, November 28, as the THE Awards celebrated their 20th anniversary, hosted by comedian Miles Jupp.

Comedian and host Miles Jupp stands at the far left alongside representatives from Chester Business School and the University of Chester Students' Union, all dressed in formal evening wear, on stage at the Times Higher Education Awards 2024. Dr. Mike Brownsell, fourth from the left and standing immediately to the right of a woman in a red dress holding the award, joins the group in celebrating the win for Business School of the Year. A large screen in the background displays 'Business School of the Year: Chester Business School, University of Chester' alongside an image of the campus.
Comedian Miles Jupp and representatives from Chester Business School and the University of Chester Students’ Union, including Dr. Mike Brownsell (fourth from the left), celebrate on stage as Chester Business School is awarded Times Higher Education Business School of the Year 2024.

This award is a recognition of the transformative work Chester Business School and OnlinePARE are doing to innovate and excel in higher education and healthcare practice. Our platform was proudly highlighted in the Business School’s winning submission, which showcased its role as one of the UK’s definitive clinical practice assessment tools. Over the past year, OnlinePARE engaged more than 90,000 university users and over 160,000 NHS and healthcare professionals – a record achievement that underlines the critical part it plays in supporting healthcare education and the NHS workforce.

Judges praised Chester Business School and OnlinePARE for “its focus on its net zero ambitions through collaboration on large-scale industrial decarbonisation challenges in the north-west” and recognised “its exceptional work with Health Education England, engaging the largest cohort of future healthcare professionals to realise efficiencies in the development of skills and practice development for the NHS”.

This milestone also coincides with OnlinePARE’s tenth anniversary, marking a decade of growth, innovation and service to our users. Our commitment to enhancing clinical practice assessment and fostering partnerships between universities and healthcare providers has never been stronger, and this award serves as a testament to the shared efforts of our entire community.

Reflecting on this achievement, Dr Mike Brownsell, Head of Division (PARE) at Chester Business School, said: “I'm delighted that PARE has played such a significant part in the Business School success. It reflects not only the skills and commitment of the PARE Team, but also the support and engagement of the wider PARE user community.”

As Dr Brownsell highlights, this recognition would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of our users – students, academic staff, and healthcare partners alike. As we celebrate this achievement, we remain steadfast in our mission to provide innovative tools that advance practice assessment and multidisciplinary, educational collaboration.

We thank you all for your continued support and enthusiasm for OnlinePARE. Let us celebrate this success together as we look forward to many more achievements in the years to come.

Kind regards,
The OnlinePARE Team


05/11/2024NEW FEATURE: Practice Assessment Documentation and Practice Educator Assignment by HEI Staff.

Following multiple requests, the ability for University placement coordinators to assign documentation directly to a practice educator for some programmes has now been extended to include Senior HEI Administrators and Academic Links.

Whilst designated university placement coordinator staff manage the student assignment process across the majority of programmes, some programmes rely more directly on the programme delivery team. In such cases, the academic staff and programme leads can now directly allocate the practice educator / Learner assignments prior to placement to ensure timely learner and practice educator access to documentation.

For further guidance please see the User Guide, which is available as a PDF download via the following Help Centre link:




21/10/2024Improved Practice Educator Assignment Screen

As part of PARE's ongoing commitment to accessibility,  Practice Placement Senior Administrators and Practice Educator Leads may notice a slight change to the appearance of the page they use to assign clinical supervisors and assessors to learners.   


The page now fully complies with WCAG 2.2 AA Standards and we have took the opportunity to add a search option, to allow for direct searching on an educators name rather than scrolling through the list of possible options.

We hope you like the improvement and welcome any  feedback. 


01/10/2024The National Education and Training Survey (NETS) is now open! (NHS England message)

This is a message on behalf of NHS England. Please note, this does not refer to (or replace) the questions completed regularly in PARE as part of the placement evaluation process.

Your Experiences Your Voice NETS 2024. Your platform NETS is the voice of the health workforce working and learning in health and care services across England. The survey takes just 10 minutes to complete, and your feedback is vital in ensuring that all learning environments are safe, inclusive and support healthcare professionals to work together to deliver the highest standards of care.

Please don’t miss this opportunity to tell us about your experience and influence your future by completing the NETS today:
National Education and Training Survey 2024.


06/09/2024Times Higher Education Awards Shortlisted!

Dear OnlinePARE community,
 
We are delighted to announce that Chester Business School, the home of OnlinePARE, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Business School of the Year 2024 award. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the innovative work and dedication that both Chester Business School and the OnlinePARE platform contribute to higher education.
 
The submission for this nomination highlighted the exceptional success of OnlinePARE, showcasing how our platform is transforming assessment in clinical practice across the UK. OnlinePARE has become an integral part of supporting healthcare and educational partnerships, streamlining the placement experience for both learners and academic staff. Our platform's innovative approach to fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and digital innovation have played a key role in positioning Chester Business School as a frontrunner for this award.
 
The winners of the THE Business School of the Year 2024 will be announced at the Awards event in Birmingham on 28th November 2024. Please join us in wishing Chester Business School the very best of luck!
 
For more information, and to see the full shortlist, please visit the Times Higher Education Awards website -https://www.the-awards.co.uk/2024/en/page/shortlist.
 
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all staff, students and healthcare partners who have contributed to our journey this far. As OnlinePARE celebrates its tenth year of continued growth and success, we are incredibly proud that our platform's contribution to education has been recognised on this scale.
 
Kind regards,
The OnlinePARE Team


30/08/2024Resolved: Timesheet Display Error

We are pleased to inform you that the issue affecting some users' ability to access timesheets on our platform has now been resolved. The issue was owing to circumstances outside of our control, but we have worked closely with our providers to ensure a prompt resolution.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. If you continue to experience any issues, please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team via the OnlinePARE Help Centre.

Kind regards,
The OnlinePARE Team


07/08/2024HEI Administrators - New Feature: PAR Documents Management Screen

Dear HEI Administrators,

We are excited to announce the launch of a new tool designed to enhance your administrative efficiency: the ‘PAR Documents’ screen. This feature allows you to view listings of all active PAR Documents across your programmes that use PARE assessment documents, from a single screen.


How to Access the ‘PAR Documents’ Screen:

>  For HEI Senior Administrators: Access the ‘PAR Documents’ screen via the red-brown ‘Placement Details’ tile on the PARE Dashboard.

>  For HEI Senior Administrators with ‘Placement Coordinator’ Permissions: Access the ‘PAR Documents screen via the red-brown ‘Manage Places/Import Records’ tile on the PARE Dashboard.

Once you click the relevant tile, simply select ‘PAR Documents’ from the side-bar to view the list.


Key Features:

Staff will be able to easily access copies of each PAR Document from this screen to review document layouts and content when preparing revisions, as well as view additional information about each document’s usage including the cohorts and number of learners that a document version has been attached to.


For Further Information:

Please consult the ‘View PAR Documents in Use Across Programmes’ article within the OnlinePARE Help Centre.


We value your feedback and are committed to continuously improving your experience with OnlinePARE. If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to raise a support ticket via the OnlinePARE Help Centre.


Thank you for your continued support and co-operation.

 

Kind regards,
The OnlinePARE Team


06/08/2024New Feature: Alternative MFA Email for Enhanced Security

Dear OnlinePARE users,


As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance security and in response to user feedback, we are pleased to introduce a new feature that allows users to provide a secondary email address for receiving MFA codes during sign-in.

How to Use the New Feature:
1. Sign In: Log into your account as usual.
2. Access Your Profile: Click on your name in the top-right corner of the screen to access your profile.
3. Add an Alternative MFA Email: On your profile page, you will see a new field labelled 'Alternative MFA Email.' Here, you can enter an alternative (e.g. personal) email address in this field.
4. Save Changes: Click on 'Save Changes' to update your profile with the new information.

When signing in from an unregistered device, users who have provided an alternative MFA email will be prompted to select which email address they would like their verification code sent to on that occasion.

For a visual guide, please see the animation below which illustrates the updated profile screen:



This feature provides added flexibility and ensures you have multiple options for receiving your MFA codes, making it easier to access your account securely.

We value your feedback and are committed to continuously improving your experience with OnlinePARE. If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to raise a support ticket via the OnlinePARE Help Centre.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Kind regards,
The OnlinePARE Team


18/06/2024New Feature - HEI Staff Assignment of Practice Assessors

HEI placement coordinators now have access to assign Practice Assessors directly to learner placement allocations on PARE via a new assignment feature accessed from the learner account profile screens, placement allocation pop-up.


The new feature is particularly beneficial for placement circuits reliant on HEI staff to manage the practice staff assignments for the learner placement allocations in the absence of PARE team leaders and PEFs within the placement provider organisations, and for assignment of off-site and long-arm practice assessors to learner placement allocations (HEIs must ensure they have relevant data sharing agreements in place with placement providers).

HEI placement coordinators may also switch on the additional practice staff assignment role for standard HEI Senior Administrator accounts, and HEI staff with the practice assessor role enabled on their PARE account may also be assigned to learner placement allocations, in addition to practice staff, via the new feature.

For further guidance please see the User Guide, which is available as a PDF download via the following Help Centre link:

HEI Management of Practice Assessor Assignment



18/06/2024Tips for Users being asked to verify their identity repeatedly

Tooltip on Hover or Focus

Dear PARE Users,

We have received a small number of queries from users who are being asked repeatedly to verify their identity through multi-factor authentication, despite having clicked the 'Remember this device' checkbox.

We have been advised that this issue is most likely owing to cookies being disabled on users' devices; to assist users in resolving this, we have assembled the following guidance to enable cookies on all major internet browsers. 
(Sources: Apple; Carleton University; Microsoft; National Academies.)  

Please select your browser from the below options:


  1. Click the context menu (⋮) in the browser toolbar to the right of the address bar.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Click Show Advanced Settings.
  4. Click Content settings in the Privacy section.
  5. Ensure that the bullet for Allow local data to be set (recommended) is checked.
  6. Also ensure that Block third-party cookies and site data is unchecked.


  1. Click the Menu button (⋯) in the top corner of your browser.
  2. Choose Settings
  3. Click Site permissions
  4. Click Cookies and site data.
  5. Turn on Allow sites to save and read cookie data (recommended) to unblock cookies.


  1. Click Tools (⛭) in the browser toolbar.
  2. Choose Internet Options
  3. Click the Privacy tab.
  4. Under Settings, move the slider towards the bottom to allow more or all cookies.


  1. Click the Tools menu (═) from the top toolbar.
  2. Choose Options.
  3. Click the Privacy tab.
  4. Under History, select Use custom settings for history from the drop-down menu beside “Firefox will.”
  5. Ensure that the checkboxes for Accept cookies from sites and Accept third-party cookies are both checked.
  6. Click OK.


  1. Click the Safari menu from the top toolbar.
  2. Choose either Preferences or Settings (depending on your edition).
  3. Click the Privacy tab.
  4. Click the “Never” checkbox for Block Cookies.

Users may need to liaise with their IT Department if browser settings are managed by the organisation. If the above guidance does not address the issue, we kindly ask that you consult with your IT Department prior to reaching out to us via a Support Ticket.

Kind regards,
The OnlinePARE Team


13/06/2024Resolved: Issues with logging into and navigating PARE

Dear PARE Users,

Please be aware that on the evening of 12th June 2024, our cloud service provider experienced a technical issue resulting in users being forcibly logged out of OnlinePARE.

We have received assurances that the underlying cause has been addressed, and that affected users will not experience this performance issue when next signing into the OnlinePARE system.

On behalf of our service provider, we would again like to sincerely apologise for any frustration or inconvenience caused by this situation.

Kind regards,

The OnlinePARE Team



10/06/2024Need help with MFA?

Some quick tips and checks:

  1. Keep the same password: 2FA is in addition to your current password. It helps to keep your data safe  
  2. Is the code in your Spam/Junk folder?
  3. Only request one code - each code is different
  4. If problems continue, ask your IT team for help e.g. with using your work email at home, or if they have blocked emails from do_not_reply@onlinepare.net 
  5. Finally, if you are locked out of your PARE account, raise a guest ticket with our Help Centre using https://support.onlinepare.net/hc/en-gb/requests/new 


05/06/2024MFA code now valid for 30 minutes

Yesterday, some of you found that the verification code for MFA was timing out before you could use it, leading to frustration with accessing PARE. Alongside investigating the issue, we have set all MFA codes to be valid for 30 minutes rather than 15. 


03/06/2024MFA roll out - HEI staff

Over the next 3 weeks, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) will be switched on for our university partners. This is in line with NHS England's requirements for improved data security. The key dates are: 6 June: HEI senior administrators; 13 June - academic staff; and 20 June - learners.


30/05/2024Placement Educators - Multi-Factor Authentication Activation Today (30th May 2024)

Dear Placement Educators,

As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the security of your data and comply with NHS England's data security requirements, we are rolling out Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all Placement Educator accounts on the PARE platform today.

What You Need To Know:

  • Activation Today: MFA will be activated on your account today. This added security measure will require you to enter a unique verification code sent to your registered email address in addition to your password when logging in.
  • Browser Authentication: Once you enter the code, your browser will be authenticated and remembered for six months. This process may need to be repeated for each browser or device you use to access PARE, and is subject to your organisational network settings.
  • Code Validity: The verification code is valid for 15 minutes. If you miss it, you can request a new code to be sent.

Action Required:
Please ensure that your email address associated with your PARE account is correct. This is crucial for receiving the MFA codes and ensuring seamless access to your account. You can verify your email address by visiting your profile on the PARE platform.

Need Help?
If you encounter any issues with MFA or need assistance updating your account information, our Support Team is here to help. Please raise a ticket through the Help Centre, and we will assist you promptly.

Thank you for your co-operation and for helping us enhance the security of your account. Your proactive steps in confirming your email details will ensure a smooth transition to MFA.

Kind regards,
The OnlinePARE Team.


28/05/2024Practice/Clinical Educators - MFA switched on 30 May

In line with NHS requirements that all PARE user accounts have Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) by 30 June 2024, this Thursday we will be continuing our phased roll-out to include Practice/Clinical Educators. When you accept MFA your device will be 'remembered' for 6 months. You will need to repeat the process for all devices you use for PARE.


23/05/2024HEI Administrators and Academics - The 'Change Request: Document Revisions' Form has been updated

Dear HEI partners,

We are pleased to announce an important update to the Change Request: Document Revision form.

The form has been revised to enhance user-friendliness and incorporate recent accessibility improvements.

The latest version of the form can be downloaded from our Help Centre.

Please start using the updated form at your earliest convenience. Note that we will no longer accept document revision requests submitted with outdated templates after 1st June 2024.

Your feedback is invaluable, and we're committed to making your experience with OnlinePARE exceptional. If you have any questions or need assistance with the new form, please don't hesitate to raise a support ticket via the OnlinePARE Help Centre for prompt assistance from our Support Team.

Thank you for your continued support and co-operation.

Kind regards,
The OnlinePARE Team


15/05/2024Resolved: Viewing User Profiles error

Dear PARE Administrators, Academics and Trust staff,

Further to my previous message, the issues surrounding access learner and staff profiles have now been resolved.

If you continue to experience any atypical behaviour when using the OnlinePARE platform, we kindly ask that you raise a Support Ticket for further support and guidance via the OnlinePARE Help Centre.

Kind regards,
The OnlinePARE Team


03/05/2024Action Required: Please confirm your account details are correct

Dear OnlinePARE users,

As we prepare for the broader launch of our multi-factor authentication in the coming weeks, we're reaching out to all users with an important request: please take a moment to ensure that your OnlinePARE account details are up-to-date.


Following the launch, when signing in from an unrecognised device, users will be required to enter a unique verification code sent to the email address associated with their OnlinePARE account. As such, it is important to confirm that the contact information on your account is accurate.

You can view and amend your account information by visiting your Profile.

Your proactive steps in verifying these details will help ensure a smooth transition to multi-factor authentication and bolster the security of your account. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

Your feedback is invaluable, and we're committed to making your experience with OnlinePARE the best that it can be. If you have any questions or need assistance amending your account information, please don't hesitate to raise a support ticket via the OnlinePARE Help Centre for further assistance from our Support Team.

Thank you for your continued support and co-operation.

Kind regards,
The OnlinePARE Team


17/04/2024Dashboard Appearance: Slight Changes

Sharp eyed users may notice some recent changes to the appearance of their PARE dashboard and system functionality pages.  For example, the green colour used to denote a function confirmation button is now a slightly darker green, and several screen font sizes have altered.


These changes are part of ongoing work linked to accessibility standards ('WCAG 2.2 AA' compliance) and you may note further similar changes to screens and documentation over the next few months.  

There should be no disruption to the service, however the  PARE team remain committed to ensuring accessibility for all its users and as the changes unfold, we would be keen for any feedback on the changes and individual user needs via the raise a ticket function from your dashboard.  


10/04/2024Roll out of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

To help protect your data, over the coming few weeks we are rolling out multi-factor authentication to all PARE users.  MFA has been piloted successfully over the last few months.  MFA is a more secure, increasingly industry-standard approach to user account logins.

When you login to PARE, you will be asked to enter a unique code sent to your PARE primary email/username in addition to your password. Once entered, this authenticates (remembers) the browser for a 6-month period.  Authentication codes are valid for 15 minutes, but they can be re-sent if they are missed.  Each browser you use for PARE will need to be authenticated, and it will be remembered for 6 months before the process needs to be repeated.

The roll out will begin with our placement users by type of PARE account.  We will repeat this with our HEI users including learners, and finally all other type of PARE account users. 

If you experience issues when MFA is switched on for you, the Support team will assist you; please raise a ticket through the Help Centre in the usual manner.


25/01/2024HEI Senior Admins - Introducing the new 'Wipe Page' tool

Dear HEI Placement Coordinators,

We're excited to announce the introduction of the 'Wipe Page' feature on OnlinePARE assessment documents, available now for all HEI Senior Administration staff with the 'Placement Coordinator' checkbox on their profile ticked.

This tool allows administrators to efficiently wipe pages of an assessment document when necessary, providing your students with more effective support to remove and re-enter information.

Please exercise caution, however, as the 'Wipe Page' action is irreversible; it is strongly advised that administrators save a PDF copy of the page or document before wiping data.

Step-by-step guidance for this new tool can be found here on our Help Centre.

Your feedback is invaluable, and we're committed to making your experience with OnlinePARE the best that it can be. If you have any questions or need assistance with the new form, please don't hesitate to raise a support ticket via the OnlinePARE Help Centre for prompt assistance from our Support Team.

Thank you for your continued support and co-operation.

Kind regards,
The OnlinePARE Team


16/01/2024PARE Governance: Data Sharing Agreement pages update

Further to the news item of the 29th November, we remain on track to discontinue use of the  PARE DSA support functionality in favour of HEI's using their own alternate processes. 


To aid the transition the  DSA governance pages now include a PDF download of the agreements for respective senior HEI administrators and university governance leads to download current DSAs for their own files.

The service remains on schedule to stop allowing new use of the functionality from Friday the 26th of January 2023, with complete closure of the service on the 26th of February 2023.

PARE data processing agreement processes are unaffected by this change.