Preparation for student placements
What makes a good placement?
Key principles
A named Practice Assessor and Supervisor should be allocated prior to the student’s commencement, with an allocated back up in place. Students should arrange to meet their assessor/supervisor prior to commencement.
An introduction package/student package should be available and be updated on a regular basis to include such things as:
- profile of the team/staff and their special interests
- contact details
- times of duties, reporting sickness or absence
- type of placement: specialities, patient/client group
- expected learning outcomes
- learning opportunities with other disciplines related to the placement for students to shadow, or patient pathways both in and out of your team to gain an understanding of inter-professional working and insight into the patient experience
- specialist information
- a resource list
- recommended reading.
This can be placed on your placement profile on the PEP site.
Best practice
- plan a meeting with the student in the first week to set timeframes to meet formative and summative assessment requirements
- ensure you are aware of the students’ stage in training
- ensure you are aware of any special needs of the student
- ensure you understand the placement objectives and the assessment documentation
- agree a timetable for working together and for assessment meetings
- establish roles, responsibilities and expectations in terms of standards and attitudes
- ensure that the student knows who will be supervising them on a daily basis.