Split Placements

Split placements refer to the division of a students' placement between 2 services/organisations, meaning they have 2 different educators and teams. They can differ in type e.g. clinical and leadership, and are beneficial for part-time educators and those who can't commit to full time placements (Kent and Medway AHP, 2021).

Char Hobbs completed a split placement with Health Education England in 2020 and depicts her experience as follows:

"Throughout my placement, I have improved my skill set, including communication, organisation, leadership, and presentation skills. This was through running the webinars, liaising, and discussing with other professionals within and outside of HEE, and assembling a concise summary of the AHP placement project. My confidence has also improved massively, by having opportunities to speak to different people in meetings and 1 on 1 with professionals.

I have developed a bigger insight into future careers for myself, and I understand that being a Physiotherapist does not leave you in the clinical world forever. There are many more opportunities to progress into, which I am sure I will be looking into later in my career.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement with HEE, working with Bev and the rest of the HEE. I would recommend to any student who has the opportunity to complete a split leadership / clinical placement like mine, it is a very special opportunity."

Supervisor view on split placements

An OT educator shares her experience with 2 OT students completing a split placement. Half of their placement was with her on a leadership placement, and the other half was spent on a clinical placement.

This educator thought that the benefits of the split placement for her 2 students were;

"Increased exposure to different experiences and opportunities for skill development
Students had the opportunity to link different areas of practice together
Students were more likely to get to see smaller teams/services who are normally unable to provide full placements"

Negatives:

"The split placement was a lot for our students to get their head around
They struggled to link the leadership placement to traditional placement marking criteria"

Phil Split Placement feedback 20.06.2021.mp4

Student Split Placement Experience

Here is a video of 1st year DA Physiotherapy Student Phil who talks about his experience of a split placement. Phil's placement is split between a moving and handling training department on one site and a short term community rehab unit.

Here is a quote from Senior Physiotherapy lecturer at SHU, Sophie Gilhooly about her experience with split placements:

'My experience with supporting a split placement has been really positive! I have been able to use students to facilitate a clinical project I have been wanting to do for a while but did not have the time or resources to do. It has been fulfilling, facilitating students and watching them explore and understand the importance of research in real life and how this can benefit their practice as well as the care for their patients. The students were very positive in their attitudes and welcomed the placement, despite some initial uncertainty. I believe that all clinicians should have a basis understanding of research and this placement has helped to expose students to the potential of this crucial skill!'.

Benefits of Split Placements (Kent and Medway AHP, 2021):

Broader Patient Experience

Allows Consolidation of Learning

Increases Placement Availability

Wider Understanding of Healthcare System

References

Kent and Medway AHP. (2022). Split Placements. AHP Student Placement Flashcard Series. Available at: https://cpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.brighton.ac.uk/dist/e/8027/files/2021/11/Flashcard-Split-service-placements.pdf

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse