Practice: general information

Base and spoke model of practice experience

The Department of Health Sciences will schedule your practice experiences so that you can apply your theoretical learning in appropriate practice settings, using a Base and Spoke model of practice experience. For each module you will be allocated to a base and spoke practice area. You will also have the opportunity (where available) to access static spokes with clinical areas and teams linked to your allocated base and spoke placements.

Assessment & supervision in practice

In accordance with the Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (NMC 2023), the aim of this practice experience model is to ensure you have support and guidance which empowers you to own and direct your learning. We adopt a team approach to practice learning, in which you are the key member. The following structure is in place to support you; this is your learning experience, and you will gain the most by engaging and negotiating with all of the people outlined below. 

You will undertake planned periods of supervised and assessed practice over the duration of your programme. During each stage, you must complete the formative and summative assessments in order to progress on your programme.

Academic assessor

You will meet with your Academic Assessor prior to commencing your practice experience, to identify how you might apply theoretical learning to your practice areas. This meeting will be documented in  in the Academic Assessor interview section of your MYEPAD, which will be accessible to your Practice Assessor. Your Academic Assessor may also hold telephone and/or face to face discussions with your Practice Assessor, as required, to support your progression and achievement of summative practice assessments and proficiencies.

Practice assessor

During each placement, you will have a named Practice Assessor,  who will be appropriately prepared to support you. The Practice Assessor will have undertaken preparation and regular updating to facilitate student learning, supervise practice and assess a student’s attainment, related to the stated learning outcomes of the programme. 

Normally the practice area will identify your Practice Assessor for you. Your Practice Assessor will meet with you at regular intervals throughout your  placement to discuss specific learning goals and how these may be achieved over the placement and stage. You will be assessed formally by your Practice Assessor at specific points, which are identified in your E-OAR (MYEPAD). 

Your Practice Assessor will also liaise with your Academic Assessor with regard to your academic and clinical progress to:

1. 1. 1. identify any areas of concern, with which you may require support 

      2. ensure that university and professional processes have been adhered to
         
         

Practice supervisor

In addition to your Practice Assessor, you will spend time with a number of nominated Practice Supervisors, normally identified by the practice areas. These Supervisors will be registered practitioners from nursing and allied health professions, who will support your learning in relation to agreed outcomes. Practice Supervisors will have undertaken preparation and regular updating in coaching and facilitating learning of others. Practice Supervisors will document specific skills and outcomes you have been exposed to and will provide feedback to the Practice Assessor via the E-OAR (MYEPAD); these will contribute to your Practice Assessor’s summative practice assessment decisions. 

During your base and spoke placements, students may also spend time with non-registered professionals i.e phlebotomists or care support workers. Students will also be required to obtain feedback from these professionals on their learning experiences and professional values, which may also contribute to their E-OAR (MYEPAD).

Practice Learning Link: PLL Team

The Practice Learning Links (PLL) are dedicated to providing you with additional support whilst you are in practice. These lecturers are available through a group email (dohs-pll@york.ac.uk) and are able to respond to student requests at short notice (within usual working hours). They also hold regular remote drop-in sessions during your placement experiences, and can offer advice and support on a wide range of practice and programme related issues. Please contact them in the first instance with any practice related questions and, if they are unable to resolve your query, they will refer you accordingly.

Clinical teaching fellows

Our Clinical Teaching Fellows hold joint appointments between the university and local practice partners. Their role is to support pre-registration nursing students in both academic and clinical environments.

Tripartite meetings

Tripartite meetings provide an opportunity for you, your Practice Assessor and if necessary the Practice Learning Link Associate Lecturer or Academic Assessor to discuss any concerns or clarify aspects of your learning in practice. They provide a forum for problem solving and support.

Travel to placement costs

The Student Services team will provide you with full information and guidance on travel to placement costs.

Practice allocations

All practice learning areas are subject to educational audit to ensure they provide an environment that supports your achievement of the programme learning outcomes.

The Department has a team of staff dedicated to practice allocation. For each experience they consider a number of complex factors, of which the most important is to support you to meet the programme learning outcomes. The equity of travel for all students is also taken into account. Please note that no changes will be possible unless there are exceptional circumstances. If there are health related reasons why you should/should not be allocated to a placement area then you should raise this with your Personal Supervisor with a view to OH referral and guidance. If you believe that there are exceptional reasons why you should not be allocated to a specific practice area (and where OH guidance is not already in place) you will be invited to complete a placement change request form before the start of that placement. We will endeavour to offer you alternative allocations for reasons of health or exceptional circumstances, however, on occasion, where there are no other reasonable placement options, it might be necessary to recommend leave of absence. 

More information about the allocation of practice experiences is available on the Practice Education Support web pages.

Professional indemnity insurance

For pre-registration programmes it is a condition of re-enrolment that the student agrees to maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance. When working on placement for a healthcare organisation, arranged through a University, students will generally be covered by the organisation’s indemnity arrangements. However, in some of the smaller placement providers or in any elective experience, further cover may be required. This cover can be obtained either through membership of a professional union or from a personal broker. If you choose to join a professional union, please ensure that cover is provided. Examples of professional unions our students have joined are RCN and Unison. Please note exclusions may apply.

If you indicate at re-enrolment that you do not have professional indemnity insurance your supervisor will discuss this with you.