Placement Learning in Health and Social Care

The purpose of the placement is to help the student improve their own learning and performance whilst relating subject specific knowledge within the 'work' environment.

Specifically the learning outcomes for the module are as follows:

Knowledge:
Demonstrate clear knowledge of the relevance which subject specific study has within a particular area of work environment
An awareness of analysis, organising material and writing skills

The ability to carry out a small-scale organisational evaluation and or research
Identified and evaluated those transferable skills you would like to develop

The 'practice' may be undertaken in a private, statutory or voluntary agency where you are already employed/working as a volunteer or in a different organisation. The period of 'contact' within your chosen setting may also be negotiated with your pathway tutor, provided that the assessment criteria can be met.  Whatever the setting this module will enable the student to:

Extend and evaluate your understanding of their chosen programme pathway
Broaden their awareness of organisational processes and policies
Enhance analytic and written communication skills
Identify those transferable skills which they would like to develop
Evaluate their competence in these skills

General Information:

Who is responsible for organizing the Placement?

The student is responsible for identifying and contacting a potential placement opportunity. However both the Placement Tutor and the Academic Team may be able to help with suggestions and possible initial contacts where possible. Once the student has identified a potential placement, and before they start, they need to complete all appropriate documentation – see below. The student will not officially be considered as being on placement until this documentation has been completed and returned to the Placement Tutor for approval.

Length and Timing of the Placement

The placement lasts for 60 hours with the timing and structure being negotiated between the student and placement provider. It will take place in Term 2.

Planning and Preparation for the Placement

The placement should be negotiated by the student and approved by the module leader. For the purposes of the module, the placement activity will be undertaken for, or through, an agency or organisation whose aim it is to support people within a health and social care context. The placement will normally be around London and the South East of England or in a place convenient to you

Each student should consider their personal skills and interests when choosing a placement, which could be in a wide variety of agencies. Any activity may be considered, if it enables them to meet the learning objectives and other requirements of the module. Whilst the Tutor may offer support, it is the responsibility of the student to make any contact with an organization.

General Information

The placement should be negotiated with a Practice Supervisor and should provide the opportunity to observe and become involved in normal organisational activities relevant to the student’s interests, knowledge, skills and abilities. The exact nature of the placement will vary and be unique to each student. It is important to identify a practice supervisor who agrees to provide on-going support and guidance in the placement.

The placement should be for a total of 60 hours, the duties and times being negotiated between the student and the practice supervisor when agreeing the Learning Contract (see below). The placement may commence with an on-site induction and students may, if appropriate, be required to undergo training. These requirements will be included in the Learning Contract and will be included in your required 60 hours of placement.

Preparing a CV: Some organisations will ask for a CV. The student is therefore encouraged to either initiate or update their CV prior to approaching an organization. Advice and guidance on this is available from the University Careers and Employability Service.

Completion of Appropriate Documentation Prior to Placement

Once the student has identified a potential placement opportunity the following documents must be completed
1.Initial Interest Form
2.Placement Proposal Form
3.Learning Contract 
4.Risk Assessment Form

Once these are returned and the placement approved the student can commence the placement.
Copies of these forms and guidance notes on their completion are included as appendices in this Handbook. If further help is required prior to their completion please contact the Placement Tutor.

Completion of other documentation during and at the end of placement

It is expected that the student keep a record of the hours completed on placement using the Record of Hours form (copy in appendices). On completion of the placement confirmation of the 60 hours achieved together with a brief supervisors report confirming that the student has successfully completed the placement learning outcomes should be completed and signed by the supervisor. N.B. The placement and hence the module cannot be passed without this document.

Supervision

It is expected that the student is allocated a named supervisor for the duration of their placement. Due to the varied and broad occupational contexts in which the student may be working within it is not possible to stipulate any specific level of qualification, which the supervisor may have. However, it is hoped they have a level of experience appropriate to their role. Similarly, it is unrealistic to stipulate the number and duration of supervisory sessions that take place over the course of the placement. However, it is hoped that time is scheduled to allow the student to discuss and review their progress in achieving the learning outcomes. Should any supervisor have any queries about this then please contact the Placement Tutor. See also section on roles and responsibilities on page 11.

Supervision

Teaching input to support the placement

There are a number of taught sessions that support the placement which include identification of learning needs, evaluation, reflective and professional practice and how to make the most of the placement. These are planned formal teaching sessions which take place at the start of the module. Later, more informal sessions are delivered to respond to individual needs of the student and which reflect the student placement experience. All teaching materials are available on Canvas and relevant texts are available on My Module Resources. However the primary source of learning for the student is via experiential learning meaning that the student learns by actively participating in the placement.

On-going review
Your personal review of the experience will be a continuous process recorded in your reflective placement journal/diary and is part of your assessment and portfolio.

You must establish contact with the module leader immediately if you experience any problems or difficulties, or if there are any changes proposed to the agreed terms of reference in the Learning Contract.

Telephone contact between the module leader and the practice supervisor will be made within the first half of your placement, in time to discuss your progress to date. This will include consideration of your personal attributes, for example: punctuality, time keeping, adaptability, attitude to work, etc.

How is the Student Assessed?

The student must present at the end of the placement a portfolio of evidence. This includes the following:

The learning contract drawn up between student and placement provider
A project divided into THREE sections. A Portfolio, Reflective journal report and a Written Placement report/Evaluation or a (Reflection and Evaluation of organisation) Research project (Approx. 4,000 words)
Additional information on the organization including for example any materials produced, work placement records, case study notes, bibliography of material consulted etc.

n.b. the student must include the portfolio documents to achieve  a pass in each of the above elements.

These assessments will measure how the student has RECORDED and EVALUATED their placement and to what extent they have achieved the essential learning outcomes and those any additional ones identified in the Learning Contract.  This takes into account the varied nature of placements so that the quality of placement does not become a predictor of the quality of the assessed work. Students are NOT assessed on placement performance, however, the practice supervisor will be asked to complete an evaluation to assess whether or not they have achieved the tasks agreed in the Learning Contract and if not, the reasons why not.
The module leader will provide additional guidance to help students achieve the Learning Outcomes at appropriate times throughout the placement. This will include suggestions on how to build the portfolio, suggestions for projects to form the basis of your written report and will discuss the suggested content of the reflective placement journal / diary.

Teaching Input to Support the Placement

This assessment should meet the following learning outcomes:

Part A: Knowledge
1.To be able to demonstrate a knowledge of the relevance which subject specific study has within a particular area of work environment 
2.Carry out a small-scale organisational evaluation and or research
Includes
the changing role of the professional working within a variety of Health settings, initiatives in collaboration with service users which reflect evidence based practice identified through the literature, 
how legal and ethical issues are addressed in the workplace 
the role of the professional within services catering for health and social support 

Part B: Skills/Abilities
3.Demonstrate an awareness of critical analysis, organising material and writing skills
4.Identify and evaluate those transferable skills you would like to develop
Includes ability to demonstrate effective use of the following skills/abilities: 
time management 
working with others 
working independently 
critical reflection and evaluation of own learning
Reviewing and challenging policies supporting quality care of problematic 
1. The Portfolio drawn up between student and placement provider on the profile plus additional material like work placement records in support like Personal Profile/Placement Journal/Diary
Additional information on the placement organization and from your research including for example any materials produced like case study notes, citations and references bibliography of resources used for evidence. 
You must achieve a pass in each of the above elements. These assessments will measure how you have RECORDED and EVALUATED your placement and to what extent you have achieved the essential learning outcomes and those identified by yourself in the Placement Proposal
To help you achieve the learning objectives listed above and complete the written report (around a negotiated aspect of professional practice), you must agree to undertake the following tasks during your placement (examples could be: 
organising group work, working with individual service users, updating information, conducting a research study, compiling a report, assisting in the organisation of an event)
You must also agree to undertake any additional, reasonable duties negotiated separately during the placement period. This considers the varied nature of placements so that the quality of placement does not become a predictor of the quality of the assessed work.
You are NOT assessed on your placement performance; however, your practice supervisor will be asked to complete an evaluation to assess whether or not you have achieved the tasks agreed in the Learning Contract and if not, the reasons why not.

Your portfolio will be assessing against the specific learning outcomes identified above. You should consider the following criteria as a guide to producing your work in addition to the university’s generic assessment criteria:

Details of the placement organization including the nature of its activities
Critical analysis of your experiences and performance within the organization in relation to the development of your skills, knowledge and understanding 
Critical evaluation of the role of others in the organization 
Use of appropriate theoretical concepts including reference to models of reflection and experiential learning
A critical evaluation of the placement organization including its activities Please ensure you include all the contents listed on the Portfolio checklist.