(Community, Health & Social Care)
Nursing, Midwifery, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy & Radiography
Preparing for Practice Placements & Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction:
The aim of this guide is to provide useful information and answers to frequently asked questions that students have raised with us in relation to practice placements.
The University of Cumbria is committed to offering learning opportunities that enhance the student experience and placement learning is a core component of its programmes.
Placement learning is a fundamental element that prepares students for their future work on a chosen career pathway and ensures students have the relevant employability skills and are fit for practice and fit for purpose.
The placement learning element of the programme is vital to the preparation of becoming a Registered Practitioner and can comprise up to 50% of the total requirement for study and must be completed successfully and in full (all practice hours are compulsory).
Programmes have been specifically designed to meet professional body requirements (where appropriate) and in conjunction with our practice partners, practice is undertaken in carefully selected and quality assured placements, that support students at different stages of their development throughout the programme to achieve the programme requirements, learning outcomes and assessment processes.
Practice placements are an integral part of the learning experience that enables students to apply theory to practice, and develop core competencies and transferable skills with support from qualified Mentors/ Educators in a variety of practice settings across the North of England and beyond.
As a student you would have a central role in gaining the most from your placement, identifying best practice and providing feedback. We would ask that students embrace all learning opportunities available to them and enjoy the placement experience.
Q What clearance/documents do I need to have before I can start a placement?
Students who undertake placements as part of their programme and will have contact with children, young people or vulnerable groups must have had a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Clearance and Occupational Health Clearance.
Students must complete the Admissions process fully and attend for their Occupational Health (OH) appointments (if appropriate depending on the programme of study) as requested. Students will not be allowed to commence their first placement if DBS and OH clearance has not been confirmed to the Placement Learning Unit.
Q Will Uniform be required?
For some Programmes eg Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Radiography, uniform (tunics and trousers) will be provided by the University. However, there are some essential items which a student must obtain at a cost to themselves, prior to the first placement commencing eg black shoes, coat. (Please refer to the Essential Purchases Sheet for this important information.)
Students wearing uniform will be expected to change their uniform on a daily basis and will be responsible for laundering their own uniforms.
Students on placement are ambassadors for the University. Therefore, students whose usual role or activity on any particular day on placement that does not require uniform are expected to be equally conscious of the need for a professional appearance.
Students are expected to wear clothes that are clean, conventionally smart and informal. At no times should students wear clothes that are tightly fitting, revealing / transparent or low necked as this can cause offence to some clients and could place the student at risk.
Students must check each individual department/Trust’s own policy for dress code and check with each placement as to what “appropriate dress” entails for that particular area.
Q Will I have to travel to my placements?
Due to the geographical spread of our placement providers, it is inevitable that some students will have to travel further to reach their placement than others. Unless a student can provide evidence of exceptional circumstances, our expectation is that all students will make every effort to attend the placement that they have been allocated.
Please note that the Placement Learning Unit (PLU) works from the information completed by the student on their “Essential Information for Placements Form.” Please keep the PLU informed of any changes to your personal circumstances.
Students (depending on the programme of study) may have to travel for up to 1.5 hours to reach their placement, this is in accordance with the NHS North West Placement Development Network Guidelines.
Students traveling over one hour to placement (or if they are travelling by public transport and are unable to arrive at the placement for the start time of their shift,) may decide to arrange alternative accommodation.
Students are expected to ensure that they are suitably prepared for placement e.g. ensure in advance that they have worked out the best route of travel to their placement and contacted their placement area at least three weeks in advance, to introduce themselves and agree arrangements for the first day. Ideally students will undertake a pre-placement visit where this is practically possible.
Q If I say I have a car, will I be sent further away on placement?
Having a car in no way influences how far a student is sent on placement. The reason this information is asked for is because some placement areas are only accessible by car due to their shift starting times or the fact that in some programmes students can work more autonomously, if they have their own transport.
Q Can I claim travel and accommodation costs?
In principle students in receipt of an NHS Bursary may be eligible to be reimbursed for their travel to placement and accommodation expenses, if the cost of travelling to placement is greater than the cost of travelling to the University Campus or Gateway.
Eligibility is means tested and managed by the NHS Student Bursaries and not the University, therefore, students must contact Student Bursaries direct to discuss their individual circumstances and see if they are eligible to claim. The PLU is not privy to this information as it is confidential to the student.
If a student is eligible to claim for travel and/or accommodation expenses, the student pays for this cost upfront and then claims the money back from Student Bursaries.
Further advice is available via the NHS Student Bursaries. Website: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students
Q Will I have to arrange my own placements?
Placements are arranged by the PLU in collaboration with our placement providers. The only exception to this is the elective/enrichment placement in some programmes which the student will arrange themselves.
Students are normally notified of their placement between four to six weeks prior to the placement commencing. This then gives the student the opportunity to make appropriate arrangements to attend the placement e.g. child care cover.
Occasionally placements are delayed or placements cancelled at very short notice due to a number of reasons e.g. changes in service / care provision or other factors which are beyond the control of the PLU. If this occurs the student will be kept informed.
Q Where do I find out which placement I have been allocated to?
All allocations are published on the PLU Blackboard site. This site is accessible to students regardless of being on or off campus. There is a Blackboard App which students can download on their smart phone or tablet.
Q What are the normal shift hours/patterns on placement?
For most professional programmes placement experience will cover seven days per week, 24 hours per day. Students are expected to mirror their Mentor’s/Educator's shift patterns, which will provide a variety of learning opportunities.
Students are not permitted to self-roster. However, reasonable off-duty requests should be negotiated between the student and Mentor/Educator as early as possible eg at the pre-placement visit, to allow for pre-arranged appointments e.g. Dental or Medical Appointments for self or dependents.
Q When would I make contact with my placement area to arrange a pre-placement visit?
It is essential that you make contact with the placement area at least three weeks prior to the placement commencing, so that you can introduce yourself, find out the name of your Mentor/Educator and off-duty rota. You can also ask any questions you might have in order to help you prepare for your placement experience e.g is there parking, if travelling by public transport which bus stop is nearest, arrangements and facilities for changing into uniform on site, catering etc.
Q Will I be able to arrange my placement shift patterns around my part-time job?
As a student you must commit yourself to a full-time programme of study, therefore your placement hours must take precedence over a part-time job as you will need to mirror the shift pattern of your Mentor/Educator.
Q Can I arrange my own Annual Leave?
Annual leave is planned into the programme and students must not arrange annual leave during theory or placement weeks, as this will affect the programme completion dates.
Please check the programme planner for dates of annual leave. Students who take unauthorised annual leave may be referred to the fitness to practise panel.
Professional Behaviour:
There is an expectation that students will uphold the reputation of their chosen profession at all times, this includes their behaviour and conduct inside and outside of the University and placement area, including their personal life. Failure to do this may impact on a student’s fitness to practise and ability to complete their programme.
PLU Contact Details: Tel: 01524 590816
Voice Mail on: 24 hours/7 days per week.
Email:
Website: www.cumbria.ac.uk/plu
Follow us on Twitter: @CumbriaUHealth
Address:
Placement Learning Unit
Community, Health & Social Care
University of Cumbria
Bowerham Road
Lancaster
Lancashire LA1 3JD
PLU Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:45 am until 1.00 pm
Appointments can be made to speak to individual team members outside of these hours.
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