Responsibilities - placement co-ordinator

Introduction

The Placement Co-ordinators at SWLSTG actively participate in the implementation of the OT Development plan, taking the lead in practice placement.  They are responsible for the planning and co-ordination of practice placements for OT students within the Trust, establishing robust communication networks with placement educators and educational establishments. They develop Trust wide policies, for the practice placements of OT students, ensuring consistent standards are maintained in line with national standards.

Specific roles and responsibilities

• To negotiate practice placements with relevant educational establishments and practice educators. There is evidence that placements are negotiated on an annual basis and that there are contingency mechanisms for late changes.
• To provide students with detailed pre-placement information including an up-to-date placement handbook. and accommodation information.
• To keep in contact with students and practice educators throughout practice placements and assessments providing guidance and counselling/conciliation as required.
• To ensure that there are appropriate contingency arrangements to ensure client safety and continuity of learning when the practice placement educator is absent for planned or unexpected reasons.
• To regularly report to the Director of OT and education providers on fieldwork performance.
• To keep accurate records of practice placements provided and to create/maintain a database of practice educators.
• To be responsible for the placement of OT students throughout the Trust, including elective and overseas students, in consultation with relevant educational establishments and practice educators.
• To co-ordinate and ensure the completion of all required written assessments and reports during practice placements.
• To develop systems and liase with managers to monitor and increase availability of accredited practice educators and practice placements, including non-traditional placements.
• To keep up-to-date with current practices in education.
• To monitor and evaluate placements with practice educators and educational establishments.
• To undertake audit projects relevant to practice placements, disseminating findings as appropriate.
• To provide a placement handbook and practice resource file which:
• • Outlines the mechanisms for contacting University staff in routine and exceptional circumstances
  • Ensures that all practice placement educators are aware of their duty of care to students and clients.
  • Contains up to date policies and procedures about health & Safety, personal security, fire procedures and other topics appropriate for the setting.
  • Details the network of support available for practice placement educators and includes the responsibilities of and the relationship between student, practice placement educator, placement co-ordinator and University.
  • Details appropriate, up to date learning facilities and resources such as Internet, Library and opportunities for inter-professional learning.

Disclosed disabilities

• To support practice placement educators in assessing risk within the work environment and to identify what additional support a student with a disclosed disability may require in order to made ‘reasonable adjustments’.
• To liaise with a student’s university regarding newly disclosed disability to ensure the student and practice placement educator are given adequate support.

References

College of Occupational Therapists [2002] Standards for Education: Pre Registration Education Standards.  London: COT