University of Bolton Health and Community Studies Practice Placement Policy for BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) 1.0 Background
1.1Practice experience has been acknowledged as an important and integral component of nursing education for many years. However, the specific responsibilities of all parties involved needs to be clearly articulated and monitored. This must be underpinned by a duty to respect individuals and take positive steps to uphold their dignity and human rights. 1.2All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights (United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, 1948). Article 14 of the Human Rights Act (1998) prohibits discrimination. Unfair discrimination has a damaging impact, whatever the basis on which people make assumptions about the needs, ability or potential of others (Roche, 2000). 1.3.General guidance on placement experience is outlined in Placements in Focus (ENB and DoH, 2001) and in the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Principles for Practice Learning (NMC QA Fact Sheet C/2004 UK). In 2004 the NMC outlined their principles for programmes leading to entry on the professional register. There are five guiding principles for practice learning and these support the quality of learning and inform the quality assurance activity undertaken by and on behalf of the NMC. The principles must be demonstrated both at approval and through ongoing monitoring of all NMC programmes. The five principles are: 1. Ensuring partnerships for learning. 2. Managing practice-focused learning. 3. Ensuring fitness for practice. 4. Positive student experience. 5. Enhancing quality. 1.4 Adherence to this policy is to ensure consistency in the implementation of placement guidance across the Trust 2.0 Policy a)this policy is consistent with current guidance and legislation in relation to practice placements, professional conduct, equality of opportunity, employment and human rights.
b)this policy recognises the partnership between those charged with managing and delivering practice education and the students c)all those involved in the practice placement are required to treat each other with due respect and courtesy. d)all those involved in the practice placement process can expect that they will not be discriminated against on the grounds of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation. e)procedures must be in place to ensure that each student is offered a suitably prepared and updated named Sign-Off Mentor / Mentor / Registrant to provide supervision and ongoing feedback on progress (NMC, 2008). f)the Sign-Off Mentor / Mentor / Registrant will facilitate the student to maximise their learning opportunities whilst on placement and to complete on time any required documentation. g)information relating to normal working conditions within the placement area and key contact personnel must be easily accessible to students. h)records of student non-attendance and progress must be maintained and shared with the Higher Education Institution (HEI). i)agreed communication links and systems must be in place in order that the practice placement area is routinely and regularly audited every two years to satisfy the requirements of the statutory bodies. j)factors affecting the quality of the placement provision must be made known as soon as possible to all stakeholders in order that appropriate intervention can be instituted. k)processes must be in place to ensure that students are appropriately prepared to maximise their learning opportunities whilst on practice placement by both the HEI and clinical staff. 3.0 The Responsibilities of Stakeholders
3.1 Students can expect: a)courtesy, respect and to be treated as a valued member of the multi-disciplinary or primary healthcare team. b)an educational environment which has been audited as suitable for students. c) Equity of opportunity for all students d)six weeks notice of a placement allocation by the HEI. e) Widening access to IT facilities and flexible learning opportunities in practice placement areas. f) The Trust / Organisation to provide an induction event and a welcome pack which includes orientation to the Trust / Organisation and its` Philosophy of Care. g) Access to practical experience of 24 hour care as required by the NMC. h) Access to a named Sign-Off Mentor / Mentor and, where appropriate, a Registrant / team mentorship. i) The opportunity to evaluate placements with appropriate and transparent action being taken in response to their feedback. j) Access to a placement profile for each placement area and a named contact person. k) An environment that is conducive to meeting identified individual student learning needs, commensurate with their proficiency level and practice needs. l)a flexible collaborative approach that acknowledges and responds to the individual needs of the student wherever possible. m) Off duty and shift patterns to be negotiated and agreed by the student and the Sign-Off Mentor / Mentor, whilst recognising the supernumerary status of the student and the need to work with the Sign-Off Mentor / Mentor to achieve personal learning outcomes. n)learning resources to be available in the practice environment. This should include a student notice board located either centrally or in the clinical placement area. o)placement areas to provide access to relevant policies and include guidelines. p) Opportunities to take appropriate responsibility for their own practice. q) Fully informed and agreed caring partnerships with patients / clients and their carers. r)the opportunity to learn about the whole patient experience and work within the multidisciplinary team or primary healthcare team.
s) Identified and accessible designated support staff who will act as a link between the HEI s and practice placement areas. t) Appropriately prepared and experienced Sign-Off Mentor / Mentors / Registrants to work a minimum of two shifts per week throughout the placement allocation with students. u) Opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification in order to understand the rationale for practice. v)sign-off Mentor / Mentors who offer them regular contact to reflect together on practice and progress, to identify areas for development and complete the assessment documentation. w)complaints to be investigated in a fair and transparent manner in line with the appropriate HEI s or Trust policy. 3.2 Clinical staff can expect: a)courtesy and respect from students and the HEI towards patients / clients / carers and the multidisciplinary team. b)students to conduct themselves in a professional manner as defined by the NMC and in keeping with practice placements policy. c)allocations to ensure that practice areas have six weeks advance notification of student placements. d) Support from the University Link Lecturer (ULL) Team / Clinical Tutor to facilitate their role as Sign-Off Mentor / Mentor / placement manager (PEL)/ Student Link and to have access to appropriate training and regular educational updating. e) Support from managers to attend appropriate preparation and updating for mentorship roles. f) An educational audit process that will enable a joint action plan to be devised if required. g) To be contacted by the PEF and the HEI regarding any particular concerns relating to student s needs. h) To receive feedback and updating in relation to specific, student incidents from the HEI staff. i) Opportunities to discuss mentorship roles with managers through appraisal and personal development planning mechanisms. j) Communication networks exist between the partner organisations and the HEI s. k) Opportunities to be involved in the recruitment and selection of student nurses. l) Students to make an appropriate contribution to patient / client care while flexibility is ensured to meet negotiated individual learning needs and supernumerary status.
m) Students to undertake their role as a learner in accordance with their proficiency level and in adherence to the relevant HEI and practice placement policies and procedures. n) Students to report sickness and absence in accordance with the Sickness and Absence Policy to the practice placement and HEI. o) Students to contact the practice placement to which they have been allocated at least one week prior to the start of their placement. p) Students to provide the appropriate assessment of practice documentation relating to the practice placement throughout their allocation and to negotiate timescales with their Sign-Off Mentor / Mentor. q) Students to negotiate and agree available learning opportunities flexibly in order to experience twenty-four hour care and care pathways. r) Students to complete a practice placement evaluation with feedback provided by the ULL Team. s) Students to fulfil their Health and Safety responsibilities whilst on placement. t) Access to a named ULL. u) To be able to raise concerns with members of the programme Team. 3.3 The HEI s and its` staff can expect: a)courtesy and respect from clinical staff and students on practice placement areas. b) A quality practice experience that meets the student s learning outcomes and clinical need. c) A Live Register of Sign-Off Mentors, Mentors and Registrants, with details of their attendance on educational programmes and updates, which will be maintained conjointly with the PEF or another named person within the healthcare organisation. d) The PEF or another named person within the healthcare organisation to ensure that the practice placement database is accurate and current. e) Partner organisations and the Placement Development Manager (PDM) / PEF to inform the HEI of changes to the placement circuit. f) Placement staff to liaise with the Personal Tutor regarding the progress of students on placement. g) Placement staff to notify Personal Tutors when there is concern regarding a student s progress. h)sign-off Mentors / Mentors / Registrants (Associate Mentors) who have been appropriately prepared for their role.
i) Opportunities to liaise with placement staff to discuss educational issues. j) Opportunities for ULL s to work alongside placement colleagues. k) Students to notify their Personal Tutors / Academic Tutors if they are experiencing problems whilst on their placement. l) Students to report all sickness and absence as per the Sickness and Absence Policy to the HEI and practice placement area. m) Practice placement staff to complete sickness and absence returns on students on a weekly basis. n) Students to take responsibility for managing their learning (including information concerning disability), professional conduct and relationships. o) Students to take responsibility for recording their progress and achievement in their Practice Assessment Document. 4.0 Equality Legislation and Codes of Practice The Department for Work and Pensions (2001): The Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment. The Disability Discrimination Act 2005. The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation Regulations) 2003. The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003. The Human Rights Act 1998. Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Quality Assurance Agency (2001): Code of Practice for the Assurance of the Academic Quality and Standards in Higher Education Placement Learning. The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. The Sex Discrimination (Indirect Discrimination and Burden of Proof) Regulations 2001. The Special Educational Needs Disability Act 2001. United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, 1948. 5.0 Glossary of Terms
University Link Lecturer An academic staff member from the HEI who links to the practice placement area. Placement Development Manager. A HENW employee who identifies and develops new placements across a range of professions in order to increase capacity and breadth of learning experience. Practice Education Facilitator. A Trust employee whose role is to facilitate learning in practice for all undergraduate healthcare students, with a particular focus on quality assurance and inter-professional learning, and to support Mentors in practice. Mentor. A registered nurse or midwife who, following successful completion of an NMC approved mentor preparation programme, can supervise, support, assess and co-ordinate the student experience in their area of practice. Sign-Off Mentor. A registered nurse or midwife who meets all the mentor criteria and can make judgements as to weather a student has achieved the required level of proficiency for safe and effective practice in the students final placement. 6.0 References
ENB / DoH, (2000): A Health Service of All the Talents, Developing the NHS Workforce: ENB / DoH: London. ENB / DoH, (2001): Placements in Focus: ENB / DoH: London. Human Rights Act 1998. NMC, (2004): Principles For Practice Learning: NMC: London. (QA Fact Sheet C/2004 UK). NMC (2008): Standards to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice: NMC: London. Roche, B. (2000): Equality and Diversity: The Way Ahead: HTML: London. United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (1948).