Student Support

During current placement

If the learner has a relatively small number of hours to make up e.g. one or two days (7.5-15 hours) they may be able to make this up during their current placement by working an extra shift or extending a short shift to a long shift. There are restrictions to this approach:

• The practice supervisor/assessor and placement manager must agree to this arrangement. If the learner has missed placement time due to illness, it may not be in their best interests, or safe for patient care, for them to then work additional hours.
• Learners cannot work more than 45.5 hours per week, with breaks deducted.
• During a clinical placement any extra hours should be recorded via the online time sheet e.g. InPlace

During theory weeks

Learners can arrange to work a maximum of 8 hours clinical placement during a theory week on an area they have previously visited with the agreement of the placement manager. Learners should record these hours on the ‘make up hours form’ (below).

During annual leave (48 hours or less to make up)

If the learner has 48 hours or less to make up they can arrange to make this up during annual leave on a placement they have previously attended with the agreement of the placement manager. During annual leave weeks learners can work a maximum of 48 hours per week.

Learners should record these hours on the ‘make up hours form’ (below).

You can access the make up hours form referred to above here.

More than 48 hours (1 week) of placement time to make up

In this situation it is likely that the learner has had a significant issue which has led to more than 48 hours away from the clinical learning environment. It is essential the learner discusses their situation with the Personal Academic Tutor (PAT). The PAT will signpost the learner to further support if required e.g. the course leader, hhs-guidance team, wellbeing and support services. If it is appropriate for the learner to make up time during annual leave this will be arranged via the placement unit team.

Learners should record these hours via the online time sheet e.g. InPlace.

NB significant time away from placement learning opportunities may affect learner ability to complete the associated practice module. This may impact their ability to complete the course within the normal time frame.

Practice Supervisor

The Practice Supervisor is a registered nurse or midwife or registered health or social care professional who has current knowledge and experience and appropriately prepared for the role. They are responsible for ensuring that learning opportunities are facilitated, and they contribute to learner assessment, providing regular feedback to the learner and practice assessor.

Practice Assessor

The Practice Assessor is a registered nurse or midwife with current knowledge and expertise appropriately prepared for the role. The practice assessor conducts assessments, informed by feedback from practice supervisors and others, makes and records objective decisions, drawing on records, observations, learner reflection and other resources. They will periodically observe the learner and schedule communication with academic assessors at relevant points.

Academic Assessor

The Academic Assessor is a registered nurse or midwife nominated for each part of the programme and appropriately prepared for the role. The academic assessor will work in partnership with the practice assessor to evaluate and recommend the learner for progression for each part of the programme. They will understand the learner’s achievements in practice and schedule communication and collaboration between academic and practice assessors as required.

Practice Learning Facilitator (Nominated person)

The Practice Learning Facilitator (PLF) supports learners when they are in their placement setting. They also support practice assessors and practice supervisors as needed. The PLF is based in the placement setting in the clinical education team and works in partnership with the University and the practice placements to ensure that learners receive excellent quality-assured clinical placements.

Clinical nurse educator

These people are employees of the university but primarily work alongside the PLFs and clinical personnel to support learners during their clinical placement. They will visit clinical areas to support learners, offer guidance to clinical colleagues and signpost to further support as appropriate.

Link tutors

Each of the placement areas is assigned a link tutor who is also there to provide support. The link tutor role focuses on establishing and maintaining positive and productive relationships with practice areas. The link tutors liaise with the Head of Practice Education and PLFs and contribute to the training and development of practise supervisors and assessors. They also are responsible for raising concerns with the relevant Practice Partnership Lead and directing concerns raised by practice colleagues about individual learners to the appropriate Personal Academic Tutor.

Personal Academic Tutors (PATS)

PATs facilitate the learner to optimise time on the course and to discuss academic progress. PATs are also there to direct learners towards appropriate support services e.g. wellbeing and finance, should personal problems arise. Learners should be offered a minimum of five meetings a year with their PAT, 3 of which must be online face-to-face.