Preparing for Placement

Please find here a checklist of what is expected before, during and after placement, this is a useful resource for apprentices to use and keep record of what needs completing:

Physiotherapy

Occupational Therapy

Please see guidance on professional requirements here: Professional requirements | Sheffield Hallam University (shu.ac.uk)

As an applicant, you will have been contacted before starting the course via email with details of how to complete professional requirements such as a declaration form, health screening questionnaire and DBS check. A new and full DBS check is required for an apprenticeship (even if you already have one in place for your employed role), unless you have a full enhanced adult and child check and are registered with the DBS update service (you pay £13 subscription fee). It is essential that these have been completed or you will not be clear to attend placement.

Your employer will have signed the training plan before starting to the course to confirm that you are compliant with all required mandatory training requirement: including online and practical training. If you were not compliant then you would not have been allowed to enrol on the course, unless you were outstanding practical training (basic life support or moving and handling) which your employer organisation could not provide. In this case you should have completed the outstanding practical training within 4 weeks of starting the course. If this was not completed you would not have been allowed to enrol and continue with the course and would not be clear for placement.

You are required to meet the immunisation clearance requirements outlined by the Department of Health Green Book and our Occupational Health provider. Your employer will have signed the training plan to state that you are compliant prior to starting the course. If you are not compliant with immunisations you will have not be able to enrol on the apprenticeship course. Your employer is responsible for ensuring you are compliant and receive any required immunisations prior to starting the course and for ensuring compliance throughout the course.

More information on clearance requirements can be found here.

Throughout the duration of your course, it is your responsibility to notify the University of any changes with your DBS/Health status, you can also do this via the enrolment task when progressing into each academic year.

Please note if you take a break in study you will need to complete a new DBS before you return to the course or placement and you will be contacted regarding this.

Fitness to Practice:

High standards of conduct and professionalism are required of Physiotherapy students for they will be placed within organisations with people who may be at risk and/or vulnerable. The continual evidence of a trainee’s Fitness to Practice is of central importance to the completion of the course and this includes a commitment to regular and professional attendance. Further details of HCPC's Fitness to Practice requirements can be found here. 

Please note that apprentices will not be provided with uniform from SHU, this is not covered as part of the apprenticeship levy. Please check and follow the placement provider's uniform policy.  You may be able to continue wearing your current work uniform or your employer may need to purchase something for you. AHP student  uniform can be purchased through SHU if this is wanted, this includes white tunic with maroon trim and black trousers, this can be purchased here: https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/healthtechnicalteam/uniform-kit/

Some of our students have helped design a SHU coloured hijab that would complement our NMW and AHP student uniform. We have now made this available as an optional addition to the uniform for students who choose to use the SHU coloured hijab on placement, some students may still prefer to wear their own hijab on placement.  

Travel Costs

Please note that apprentices cannot claim travel expenses through SHU. This would have to be discussed and agree with the current employer as to if or how reimbursements are made.

• Email example to educator (introductions, start time, location of first meet, what to research/ prepare before first day)

• Trust website (values, beliefs and commitments) 

• On the trust website search for department (gain an idea of how the service is run, what they provide, responsibilities, type of service user, and role in the community) 

• Role- specific band 5 Job description for department (more indication on your role as a professional in that particular field, skills and the expectations)

•  Guidelines and Policies (i.e if inpatient stroke ware, what are the NICE guidelines for rehabilitation and procedure for keeping the service user safe, ex. early sign and symptoms of stroke reoccurrence) 

• Literature (i.e stroke rehabilitation for physiotherapy, Nervous system, cortex of the brain and their responsibility) 

• Look in the placement booklet for aims and objectives 

• Take all information gathered and apply research to SWOT analysis and SMART goals (SWOT analysis & smart goal example for neuro i.e not confident in applying literature to real life)

This is from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP, 2022) but is relevant to all learners 

• Understand that it doesn't all have to be patient-facing, you will learn other important skills,

• Introduce yourself to your educator and outline your experience alongside any concerns,

• Ask what preparation could be useful before you start,

• Prepare for the placement - check transport, locations and timetables,

• Bring a notebook to use - you can record any questions,

• Be open, ask questions and get involved,

• Use free time to reflect where possible,

• Practice clinical reasoning,

• Make sure you’re clear and agreed on your learning objectives,

• Grasp opportunities to work with other members of a patient’s care team - so you can develop a holistic picture of their care,

• Swap experiences with other students on placement,

• Don’t expect every placement to be highly structured and always follow a set plan.

You must expect to travel to placement due to the possibility of working outside of your own organisation.  Normally this will be up to an hour travel each way (from your home location), but there could be exceptions where travel is up to an hour and a half each way. Apprentices cannot claim travel time/petrol back from the University as apprenticeship placements are not covered by the levy. If you incur travel costs whilst travelling to/from or during placement (such as on a community placement) then you would have to negotiate reimbursement through your employer.