The following provides important information on placements, as well as useful documentation and frequently asked questions, to ensure you have the answers you'll need before embarking on your practice experience.
We are here to help you on your placement, so if you need to contact us please email a member of the Placements Support Team.
Useful information and forms
- Change of Locality or Placement - Information Sheet and Application (docx 46kb)
- Dealing with sickness and absence flowchart (pdf 243kb)
- Report absence from placement (online form)
- Change method of transportation (online form)
- Expenses and funding - NHS learning support fund
- Expenses and funding - financial support
Frequently asked questions
What are my programme hours each week?
The UK Government advises that you should only work a maximum of 48 hours per week. All weeks of your programme (theory, self-managed student learning and placement) are timetabled as 37.5 hours (you may have additional reflective practice time). Apprenticeship students must not exceed the hours they are contracted to work with their employer.
Who supports me on placement?
On every placement, you will be allocated a Practice Assessor and a Practice Supervisor or Supervisors. If you experience any issues whilst on placement, please contact either your Academic Assessor, Personal Tutor, University Practice Learning Advisor Team or your local Practice Education Team. The UPLA Team support you and your placement to manage your learning. The UPLAs can be contacted by email ([email protected] or [email protected]).
When do I find out where I'm going on placement?
Your placement allocation will appear on POW (Placements on the Web) usually four to six weeks before your start date. Your placement may be changed at short notice due to practice area changes. If your placement is changed, it is to ensure you have good support and learning opportunities in your placement. POW will give you the contact details for your placement, details of the type of placement, shift times and other information. You will need to contact the placement area to arrange your off-duty as soon as your placement details are released.
Do I have to work bank holidays and weekends?
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) state that students need to experience the range of hours expected of registered nurses. This means working evenings, weekends and may include nights. You are not expected to work on Bank Holidays.
What happens if I fail my placement?
Your Personal Tutor and Academic Assessor will support you if you fail your placement. All your assessments (academic and placement) are taken to an Assessment Board. Depending on your profile of marks and whether you've failed any other units, a decision will be made regarding either resubmitting or repeating your practice unit. This may sometimes result in you having to repeat your practice unit rather than progressing to the next academic year.
Can I request my placements?
Your placements are planned to give you a range of practice experiences. You are, therefore, not able to request your placements. If you have an interest in any particular area or practice, please talk to your Personal Tutor. In your final year, you will be given an opportunity to request a practice area of your choice.
I have been off sick, how do I make up my shift?
You are required to make up all hours that you have missed in a practice placement. Depending on the number of hours you have missed, you may have the opportunity to undertake a four-week placement at the end of each academic year to make up your missed hours.
What other funding is available?
You may be eligible for additional support from the NHS Learning Support Fund. Information regarding Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses, including how to apply, is also available via the NHS Learning Support Fund.