Community, Health and Social Care Placement Handbook Leading to BSc (Hons) Midwifery/Registered Midwife Year One with exit awards in Cert.H.E. Professional studies maternity care and Dip.H.E. Professional studies maternity care Date: October 2017 October 2017
The handbook is a guide to the placement element of the programme you are studying. The formal regulations applying to the programme are the University of Cumbria Academic Regulations accessible at the Academic Quality & Standards Service website http://www.cumbria.ac.uk/aqs and the Programme Specification which can be found at on the BB site. In the event of any information contained in this handbook conflicting with that in the Academic Regulations then the latter should be taken as the definitive version. The information contained within this handbook may be subject to amendments and revisions. Please be informed that any revisions will supersede the information contained herein. 2 October 2017
Important Note: The University has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this placement handbook and will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver programmes in accordance with the descriptions set out within the handbook. Nevertheless, circumstances outside the University s reasonable control may arise which limit its ability to deliver the programme as described. For example, the placement arrangements may vary from student to student depending on the circumstances of the particular placement provider, including if a particular placement provider were to withdraw or vary the conditions of the placement; there may be changes in the availability, or withdrawal of funding. Where reasonable and appropriate to do so, the University will make all reasonable endeavours to put in place alternative arrangements to achieve the relevant learning outcomes, and provided the University does so, it will not be responsible to the student for any failure to provide the programme in accordance with the placement handbook. 3 October 2017
Contents 1. Introduction 2. Finding a placement 3. Accommodation/Transport 4. Place in Programme of Study 5. Learning Outcomes 6. Assessment of Placement 7. Mentoring/Tutoring Arrangements 8. Communication 9. Attendance 10. Access to library support and learning resources whilst on placement 11. Dress Code 12. Evaluation 13. Health and Safety Page Number 4 October 2017
1. Introduction This handbook provides the information to support you through the learning in practice element of your studies. It should be read with the University of Cumbria regulations and the BSc (Hons) Midwifery programme handbook and additional guidance that may be provided when necessary on the programme Blackboard site. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) prescribe the programme balance of at least 50% practice and 40% theory (NMC2009). The practice environment is therefore central to your experience and learning on this programme. In order to maintain the standard of this important part of the programme, the Maternity service placements, in which the summative assessments of student midwives practice takes place, undergo learning environment audit prior to inclusion in the programme, with periodic reviews in line with established standards (see section 11 of this handbook). They have provided placements for student midwives for many years and offer a wealth of maternity care experience. Staff are experienced in teaching and supporting students learning and assessment in practice. 2. Finding a Placement Placement allocation in this programme is the responsibility of the University of Cumbria and NHS Trust partners (with the exception of any agreed external elective placements). We have two circuits of midwifery placements. The South Circuit has placements in the maternity service of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust (based in and around Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal and Lancaster). The North Circuit has placements in the maternity service of the North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust (based in and around Carlisle, Penrith and Whitehaven). Each student will be based in one of the two circuits. While we aim to minimise additional student travel in the programme, you may need to access practice across the whole of your designated circuit in order to gain a range of midwifery experience. You may also be expected to work across the two circuits where necessary. Continuity of Midwifery care is widely recognised as the basis for optimum care; we also believe that it offers benefits to student learning. You will be encouraged where possible to participate in the care of identified women at antenatal clinics, classes and in the home. However, you will not normally have the same mentor for all community placements. You will also need to experience midwifery care in a variety of settings and this will inform our allocation of placements and the use of the summer period of each year (see below). The Placement Unit will confirm each placement approximately three weeks prior to its commencement. Once confirmed placements will not be changed unless there are extenuating circumstances that arise suddenly and are unforeseen. It is your responsibility to keep the Placement Unit fully informed of your address, general practitioner (needed for community placement) and travel arrangements. 5 October 2017
Electives - the department maintains active links with many higher education institutions at home and abroad. There is the potential on this programme for students to arrange their own elective placement elsewhere in the UK or abroad. This would then take place in the summer period. There are a number of criteria that must be met for this to take place. Briefly the student must have passed all prior modules; the experience must be directly related to the care of mothers and babies and to the programme outcomes. The programme leader will be able to advise of the possibilities and the process that must be followed. 3. Accommodation/Transport During your studies you will be expected to undertake travel to and from placements and to other hospitals or centres for theory/university days. We endeavour to place you in an area that is within 90 minutes travelling distance from your home/ term time residence/campus base, although we will be sympathetic to genuine cases of hardship or difficulty, travelling to such placements remains the responsibility of the student. 4. Place in Programme of Study The formative/summative placements on the programme are specified for semesters 1 and 2 in each academic year please see year planners for details of when this occurs in each academic year. In the summer period of each year there will be flexible periods of practice and theory (all of this time must be accounted for as it forms part of the programme learning). Provided all prior modules have been passed, you will negotiate, with your link lecturer and programme leader, a plan to specify the nature and outcomes of this experience in order to best meet your particular learning needs (in relation to the programme statutory requirements; the provision of continuity of midwifery/maternity care and your own midwifery focussed interests). This plan will constitute a learning contract that must be fulfilled. If you have failed any modules, then (subject to confirmation by the module assessment board) it is likely that this time will be used as a reassessment period. Additional experience will be gained in other locations in order to enhance your learning and enable you to participate in continuity of maternity care for women and babies. 5. Learning Outcomes There will be a variety of learning opportunities available to you in practice. The placement area will give you an indication of what to expect on each placement. The learning outcomes for the programme can be found in the programme handbook, in the module descriptor forms and in midwifery practice assessment document (MyPAD). The module outcomes are designed to enable your progress towards the achievement of the NMC Midwifery competencies (NMC 2009 pp. 21-29) and Midwifery Essential Skills Clusters (ESCs) (NMC 2009 pp. 31-65) and to enable you to fulfil the role of the midwife in the UK on qualifying. In addition in the summer period you may have the opportunity to submit a preference for the nature and location of your learning outcomes 6 October 2017
and place of practice, there can be no guarantee of these preferences though. All modules have specific learning outcomes; in module HMFM 4010 5010 and 6010 your practice is assessed and a grade awarded. 6. Assessment of Placement All modules have specific learning outcomes; in modules HMFM 4010 5010 and 6010 your practice is assessed and a grade awarded. Our justification for accrediting practice rests on the following argument. The process of midwifery care involves the collection and critical analysis of data from the woman and her family, in order to synthesise and critically evaluate appropriate care, in partnership with the woman. Critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis are skills that are expected in degree level written work. Unselective, unjustified work is not highly rewarded. The members of the Midwifery Curriculum Development Group have developed specific marking criteria to use for marking practice. This is appropriate to professional and academic requirements and the curriculum philosophy. It has been an established part of midwifery pre-registration education here since 1998. In addition, in 2007 the NMC determined that all preregistration midwifery programmes commencing from 2008 must grade and award credit for practice. In modules HMFM 4010 and HMFM 6010 you will also undertake medicines management numerical assessments, the pass mark for these is 100%. Formative assessment of practice is a developmental process. At this stage, whilst preferable that many competencies are achieved, there is opportunity to identify any weaknesses so that a developmental action plan can be put in place to enhance learning opportunities. Summative assessment of practice needs to demonstrate clear achievement (pass) of specified competencies at that particular point in order to progress further on the course. First week of the placement an initial interview must be held, and a Student Development Learning Plan must be drawn up between the mentor and student in order to assist the student to achieve the Outcomes/competencies for the placement. This will involve the mentor and student: a. Discussing the student's clinical experience to date using the MYPAD and highlighting areas of strength and areas that the student may need to concentrate upon in working towards achieving competencies on the current placement. Any action plans carried over from a previous placement must be discussed and implemented. b. Discussing the learning experiences that the student can gain on the placement in order to achieve the criteria for the assessment, in terms of achievement of competencies, and the acquisition of Midwifery Skills, and the student's personal learning objectives. The Placement Area s Practice Placement Profile 7 October 2017
(PPP) should be used to guide this discussion. Spoke placements and short visits can be planned to help with skills experiences and practice assessment. c. A Student Development Learning Plan must be negotiated, and documented on the appropriate form. d. Any written work to be done by the student during the placement should be discussed in principle. e. The orientation form must also be discussed, and signed. Throughout the placement, the student must work with or be supervised by the Mentor and other placement staff to fulfil the Student Development Learning Plan by undertaking learning experiences provided by the placement area (hub) and spoke placements, with the aim of meeting the competencies for the placement, and acquiring Midwifery Skills. 7. Mentoring/Tutoring Arrangements The practice mentors are experienced midwives, skilled in selecting learning opportunities and facilitating students learning in practice. They will have undergone a period of education to prepare them for the role. In this University the programme of mentor preparation, which has been approved as meeting the NMC (2008) standards, is the HLLM 6001 Multiprofessional support of learning and Assessment in Practice. Having successfully completed this module the mentor's name is added to the midwife mentor register. In order to remain on the live register the mentor then needs to maintain their knowledge and skills in accordance with the criteria for mentorship and sign off status in the standards. This includes attending a midwife mentor update day each year or equivalent and approved mentor development activities. Your link lecturer (contact details can be found in the Programme Handbook (section 1.2) will contribute to all tri-partite interviews whilst you are on placement to support you and your mentor with regard to your learning and assessment in practice. This will normally be face-to-face in practice; though some initial and mid-point discussion MAY be conducted via the telephone or videoconferencing subject to the agreement of the student, mentor and the link lecturer. As well as the meetings you will have with your link lecturers, you will also use Blackboard to access their support. Practice Education Facilitators (PEFs) are Registered Nurses/midwives or Health Professionals who act as a link between the University of Cumbria and some health care providers throughout Cumbria and North Lancashire. Although the remit of the role may vary between each site there are key functions that are undertaken by each of them, for example an important part of their role is to play a major role in the maintenance 8 October 2017
and development of the quality systems and processes in the placement areas. The programme leader is also available if you feel that you need any additional support or guidance. Peer support is invaluable throughout the programme. You can keep in touch with your colleagues by telephone, e-mail and on line via Blackboard as well as face to face with students employed in the same Maternity service. Responsibilities Responsibilities of the Student The NMC requires that you complete all programme time (theory and practice, for the full 45 programmed weeks each year). Any time that is lost from the time allocated for either learning in practice or theory must be made up by the end of the programme in order to meet the requirements for registration. Please note that when making up any additional time that European Working Time Directive only allows you to work up to a maximum of 48 hours per week. For each period of practice you are required to keep a detailed record of your attendance in your MyPAD. The University also requires that students meet any programme specific attendance requirements (see programme handbook and the University of Cumbria Academic regulations 2017/18. 8. Communication Communicating concerns arising from practice placement. It is important that all students are aware that they have a professional responsibility to report practices that contravene any Professional Code of Conduct; Trust or employer policy and procedures or that are detrimental to the safety and welfare of patients/clients or other vulnerable individuals who may come into contact with the service (see Placement Unit - Pre-Registration/Undergraduate Health Professions Blackboard site for the Safeguarding and Escalating Concerns Policy). Students can contact their link lecturer or personal tutor during practice placements either via email or phone. 9. Attendance Shift patterns and hours differ across placements; consequently your working day will vary accordingly. You are expected to work as part of a team and with your mentor sufficiently to ensure effective support and assessment on each placement area. You will therefore work the same shift patterns as the other team members including early/late/night shifts, bank holidays and weekends; a standard full-time NHS week is 37.5 hour week. As students you will work 30 hours a week on placement and 7.5 hour theory day each week. All students have supernumerary status throughout the programme. In 9 October 2017
placement areas where shift patterns are different, e.g. 12-hour shifts, you should discuss this with the placement manager and link tutor. It is your choice whether you work 12-hour shifts or the more traditional shift patterns. You should normally expect to begin and end work at the regular times for that placement. During the whole programme you are expected to experience 24-hour care delivery. This means you will undertake some night duty; it will be necessary in order for you and your practice mentors to maintain sufficient mentor continuity to enable effective support of your learning and accurate judgments of your practice progress. Night shifts must be documented in your MyPAD. Communicating sickness/absence When on placement if you are off sick/absent for any reason you MUST report this to both the manager/person in charge of the placement area and the University, no later than 12 noon on the first day of absence and on the day you return to work. Contact details for the University all midwifery students inform the Placement Unit Student Absence line (on 01524 590816) see also programme handbook section 2.12. For all absences a self-certificate form must be submitted, if sickness extends beyond 7 calendar days a Fitness to work [medical certificate] must be submitted to the Placement Unit. Failure to notify University of your return to duty or to submit appropriate certificates may result in loss of bursary/pay and extend the period of time you are recorded as absent. All absences are recorded on any references supplied by University (see Sickness and Absence Protocol on Placement Unit - Pre-Registration/Undergraduate Health Professions Blackboard site). Communication regarding untoward incidents in practice Involvement in an untoward incident should be reported to the University Link Lecturer, or PT for discussion and advice on the day the incident occurs. You are required to follow both Trust and University of Cumbria guidelines on reporting and completing relevant documentation. Students must follow the local Trust Policy after an accident or injury to themselves or involvement in an untoward incident. Examples might include: Clinical Incident/Accident affecting a service user Medication Error You will be expected to write a statement for your University Link Lecturer detailing the incident but please do not do this without informing the University of Cumbria of the incident. 10 October 2017
10. Access to library support and learning resources whilst on placement If you are going on placement for more than four weeks you can join the placement loan service that provides you with extended 4 week and 6 week loans, plus an entitlement to postal loans on items you request whilst you are away. You only need to register once each academic year to join the service, regardless of the number of placements you have in that year. You will need to complete the placement loan application form and obtain your lecturer s signature before you go on placement; then return the completed form to the library together with any books you currently have on loan so the due dates can be reset. It is important to note, however, that any books you take away with you may be requested by another user. You may therefore have to return the requested items in person or by post to the library as normal. Please ensure that you know your library PIN number before you start your placement to access your library account online. This will let you request books, check when books are due back, renew your loans, track your requests or check if you have any fines to pay. You may also wish to request training from our staff in the libraries or gateway buildings before you leave to make sure that you know how to: Search for and request items on the library catalogue Search for online journal articles and conference papers Use classroom IT equipment including Smartboards and Promethean boards Join borrowing schemes with other University libraries near your home or placement site Use all the learning tools on Blackboard You will find more information on postal loans and the other library services at: www.cumbria.ac.uk/liss, or ask at your local site library. 11. Dress Code Your attention is drawn to the uniform and dress code, which students are expected to adhere to at all times (see Uniform and dress code protocol on Placement Unit - Pre-Registration/Undergraduate Health Professions Blackboard). Please note that you are expected to wear uniform and not theatre scrubs when on labour ward/delivery suite placements and your student identification (name) badge must be clearly visible. 12. Placement Evaluation 11 October 2017
This programme complies with the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) code of practice (QAA 2001) and with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2008; NMC 2009) standards. Before any placement is used for summative assessment, it is audited in order to ensure that the experience and support will be appropriate to the programme learning. A Practice Placement Profile (PPP) has been compiled for each maternity unit to identify available learning experiences. These are available in several locations within the maternity units in the placement unit folders. The programme leader, link lecturers and placement unit have a copy of the information in these files and a list of the file locations and can direct you to them if necessary. We always seek to improve the quality of all of our programmes and as such we value any comments you may wish to make on an informal basis, preferring that you raise issues when they arise and are important to you rather than waiting for one of the formal mechanisms for evaluations. This is particularly important when you are on a placement as the link lecturer can often help you to overcome problems during the first weeks of the placement that will make the rest of the placement more enjoyable and a more meaningful learning experience. Full details of the formal evaluation framework are given in the programme handbook. The evaluation of practice learning and support is undertaken using the online PARE tool which you will have direct access to. You may also be asked to complete a separate form from your placement host so that they can also assess the quality of learning experience the placement offers to students. These evaluation questionnaires contribute to Practice Learning Environment Audit, which is carried out every year; they are discussed by the programme teaching team, who will respond to the group; key issues will then be raised at the midwifery programme quality group, mentor annual updates and department quality committees, in order to recognise good practice and to make necessary improvements. Students have the opportunity to and are welcome to be members of the midwifery programme quality group and department quality committees. 13. Health and Safety During the placement, we would expect students to prove to be effective, safe and reliable individuals. Placement organisations are employers in their own right, and employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety and welfare of their employees. The primary responsibility for meeting statutory health and safety requirements within a placement remains with the placement organisation. Students on placement are therefore employees and are owed a duty of care. 14. Other While you are a student midwife, you are expected to comply with all 12 October 2017
programme regulations and requirements; this includes adhering to yo ur local Trust policies. These will include policies relating to the wearing of uniforms, moving and handling, food hygiene, fire procedures, complaints and grievance procedures, car parking and others. It is your responsibility to find out what these policies are and adhere to them. Any failure to meet these expectations would constitute a cause for concern and would be dealt with by the University through the Progress Review Policy & Procedure or the Student Code of Conduct & Adjudication Processes as appropriate and in line with the Fitness to Practise policy. Whilst it is uncommon, students who fail to maintain appropriate standards in this regard will be removed from the programme. Also note that in addition to completion of the programme, in order fo r you to be eligible to register as a midwife, the Lead Midwife for Education needs to be able to sign the NMC declaration of good character for you. You should note carefully the requirements in relation to good health and good character in your programme handbook 2.16. References NMC (2008) Standards to support learning and assessment in practice: NMC standards for mentors, practice teachers and teachers. NMC (2009) Standards for pre-registration midwifery education. Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) (2012) Code of practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in Higher Education section 9 - Placement Learning. Accessed on 29 th November 2012 at (http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuringstandardsandquality/qualitycode/pages/default.aspx) 13 October 2017