| Document title: Work Placement Policy | ||
| Owner: Teaching and Learning Committee | ||
| Approving body: Management Committee | Date of approval: FEBRUARY 2023 | |
| Version: 1.0 | Next review date: JUNE 2023 | |
| Supersedes: N/A | Previous review dates: N/A | |
| Public use: Yes | Staff use: Yes | Student use: Yes |
Learning through working means learning that normally has been achieved by learners in and through paid or unpaid work, which can be assessed as being at HE level. It is underpinned by a belief that higher-level knowledge and skills are not just acquired through academic study within institutions of higher education but may also be gained outside them through experiential learning within work or similar contexts.
Its focus is on learning in and from workplaces, critical reflection in and on this learning, and its relevance to learners in terms of enhanced skills, knowledge and understanding and increased critical self-awareness and personal potential. Work based learning is also highly relevant for employers in terms of enhanced employee and organisational performance, increased innovative capacity, employee contribution, output and work towards the awarding
criteria.
(“Alternative sites and contexts for learning or assessment…………may be provided for example by organisations offering work based or learning opportunities……. Where the workplace is used as a learning environment” QAA Quality Code – Chapter B10 – Managing H.E. Provision with others – Page 4)
The Commonwealth College is committed to supporting placements in order to enhance the vocational relevance of its awards and the learning experience of its students on Foundation and Top Up Degrees. All disciplines that require a Work Placement, offered at undergraduate level, provide opportunities for placements within the Greater London Area as a mandatory element of their course.
The Work Placement Unit is to assist students in finding suitable work placements, in line with the requirements of their course and to support students throughout their work placements. The Unit will also monitor and record employers insurance, health and safety aspects and other legal requirements.
The finding of a placement is a three way process in which the students are expected to cooperate fully with the Placements Office and to be pro-active.
The students have a responsibility to find and secure a placement that is relevant and applicable to the course of study in line with the Pearson’s requirements. Such placements have to approved by the relevant Tutors. The Work Placement Unit will secure details of the employers Employee Liability Insurance, Health and Safety date and Risk Assessment date
and ensure that a Work Placement Agreement is completed and signed by the Employer, Student and a college representative.
The students can use their current employment as their work placement providing it is relevant to the course that they are on and the relevant Tutors have given agreement and authorisation to this placement. The Work Placement Unit will secure details of the employers Employee Liability Insurance, Health and Safety date and Risk Assessment date
and ensure that a Work Placement Agreement is completed and signed by the Employer, Student and a college representative. In line with London Metropolitan University recommendations employment contracts and current wage slips are no longer acceptable as proof of a work placement.
Placements can be found by the Work Placement Office, who each semester build up a bank of employers willing to offer placements, and students can be allocated to such placements.
The Work Placement Unit will secure details of the employers Employee Liability Insurance, Health and Safety date and Risk Assessment date and ensure that a Work Placement Agreement is completed and signed by the Employer, Student and a college representative.
The Work Placements Office will offer considerable support in the application process. Securing the right placement can take time and effort on the Students part also. This will include advice and support on CVs, Cover Letters, Application Forms and Interview Techniques and practice.
If at any time whilst a student is on a placement and they experience any difficulty that they need help with, whether it be academic, or welfare related, they must make contact with their relevant Tutor and the Work Placement Unit immediately.
Students are expected to show enthusiasm, persistence and commitment whilst on a placement and they must follow any rules or regulations of the employer and to abide by the student regulations as applied to students of the Commonwealth College.
In implementing the work-based learning policy and procedures faculties/departments must have due regard for the following procedures which are designed to underpin the quality of the work based learning provision.
(“Delivering learning opportunities with others inevitably carries risks …………….It is therefore incumbent on degree-awarding bodies (and higher education providers without degree awarding powers that are making arrangements with a third party) to assess the risks involved and manage them appropriately. ” QAA Quality Code – Chapter B10 – Managing H.E. Provision with others – Page 6)
WBL is aimed at learners who are employed or in a recognised relationship with external organisations/employers
Work-based learners may be undertaking paid or unpaid work in various forms including traditional employment.
The scope of work-based learning encompasses individuals undertaking units of study for which credit is awarded, through work placements to whole programmes and in terms of employment and suitability of role and work undertaken and negotiated/agreed with employers.
The Work Placement Unit is required to:
Faculties/departments are required to:
(“Higher Education providers, staff and students all have a role in responsibility for promoting equality” – QAA Quality Code – Chapter B10 – Managing H.E. Provision with others – Page 1)
It is essential that before any placement takes place, a Work Placement Contract should be signed by all parties: Employer, Student and College.
Pre-placement support provided by your Work Placement Officer includes the development of employability skills, support with developing CVs and applications, training and support for interviews, access to employment advice and placement employment opportunities. All students will be provided with a briefing, a handbook (hardcopy or electronic) which is available on the colleges’ VLE and advice prior to going on placement that clearly sets out
the expectations, policies and assessment framework for the placement. Students registered on placement programmes will be provided with timetabled placement preparation organised by their Tutors.
Students may choose to use a suitable existing work, or a suitable existing voluntary placement, with approval from the course leader to ensure consistency with this module. If students do not have access to a work place, will need to liaise with the Work Placement unit in order to organise this requirement.
It is important that students realise and accept that if they are currently in part time or full time employment and that this employment is either not suitable as a work placement or the hours of work clash with college and/or work placement hours and times, then it is the student’s responsibility to re-arrange their working hours with their employer, so that the student can attend a work placement and attend required teaching hours.
If the student is under 18 years of age, any supervision should be conducted by someone who has had a DBS check.
The college/university CCE will agree placements for students based on the needs of the individual requirements of the courses (timescales, duration, working hours etc.).
Students in employment and whose employment also meets the academic requirements of the relevant course can use their current work location as their work placement, but this will be subject to the same Health and Safety requirements and other necessary legal and educational validity requirements as placements found by the college/university.
Students will also be allowed to find their own placements but these placement locations must meet the academic requirements of the relevant course and the same Health and Safety requirements and other necessary legal and educational validity requirements as placements found by the College.
When a student receives a work placement as agreed between yourself the Tutor/s and Work Placement Officer.
It is normally expected that the student should accept the first placement offered, unless there is a very good reason why the student cannot; examples of such as:
Accepting the first placements helps to preserve the relationship with the employer and support prospects for future placement students.
Once a student has accepted an offer, the student MUST withdraw any outstanding applications and cancel any other interviews. If you found the job through a speculative application, make sure that you have a clear job description and, if you have not already done so, check with the Work Placement Office that it is a suitable placement before accepting.
This is so that the placements office can evaluate whether it offers appropriate learning opportunities.
Once a student has accepted an offer, they MUST withdraw any outstanding applications and cancel any other interviews from other employers.
If a student receives a work placement or job offer in writing from the employer, you must inform the Work Placement Office so that the college can assess if the work is applicable and relevant to your course of study.
There may be reasons why a student cannot accept such an offer.
Examples of such reasons are:
Once a student has accepted an offer they will not be allowed to change your mind later, except in very special circumstances. A verbal acceptance is binding. The reputation of the College and your course and therefore the welfare and prospects of other students, depends upon Students behaviour. Students may also want to approach the organisation again in the future, so a polite and courteous approach is necessary at all times.
Students are not permitted to hold more than one offer, and they are expected to accept promptly the first offer they receive. However, if after interview, a student feels that they are totally unsuited for the placement or have a valid reason for not wishing to proceed with your application, please tell the company immediately, before they offer you the job, and also inform the Work Placement Unit.
Students should be supervised at all times whilst on a work placement. If the main employer contact is unable to supervise a student another member of their team should supervise the student on a daily basis.
Students who placements on Health and Social Care, or related courses, must ensure they hold a current and up to date DBS Check, as these will be a requirement for Work Placements for this course. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure they hold a current and up to date DBS check and it is the student’s responsibility to arrange and pay for the DBS check. If the student is under 18 years of age any supervision should be conducted by someone who
has had a DBS check.
Students are expected to meet and conform to the employer’s regulations and rules in all respects. These include punctuality and hours of work, appropriate dress, and acting in a professional manner, forms of address, confidentiality, health and safety, communication etc.
It is a requirement that students keep in regular contact with the Placement Unit/Tutor whilst they are away from the College. The Placement Unit/Tutor are always interested to hear from students about the placement and encouraging staff/student communication. The Placement Team and/or the Tutors will contact students as and when required, throughout academic year by the students’ individual College e-mail. The Placement Unit and will only use your
personal email if we need to contact the student urgently.
All the information required for the placement is available in the Work Placement Handbook.
However, if a student has any further queries the Placement Office will try to answer them as soon as they can. Staff are available in the Work Placement Unit 5 days per week between the hours of 10.00 am and 6.00 pm.
Students should:
Students should be aware of their rights to:
During Work Placement Recruitment, students should:
Once placed but prior to commencement, students should:
During placement, students should:
After placement, students should:
Students will be allocated a Placement Tutor, who should be your point of contact if there is a problem that cannot be resolved with a supervisor. If the student is on a placement of one semester or longer you should be visited twice during your placement.
Students should be aware that and ensure that some assessment and a debriefing occurs with your Placement Tutor. Some departments ask you to do a presentation and/or report, so collect information while you are still on placement and do not leave it until the last minute!
Students must conform to employers’ disciplinary procedures and Health and Safety Regulations.
Students on placement may be exposed to sensitive information relating to clients, other companies, or to your employer. It is very important to maintain strict levels of confidentiality at all times and follow the employers’ guidelines on data and information.
Students should conform to the standard of dress and behaviour appropriate to the organisation/department; this will help you to integrate more easily into the working environment. Good time keeping is essential – again, students should behave as an employee.
Any students that conduct themselves in an unacceptable manner, and consequently receive a poor employer report to the college are at risk of failing the Placements Module.
Everyone at the London School of Science and Technology has a responsibility for promoting equality and fostering good relations between all members of the community, staff and students, and also for eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation against anyone for reasons of age, disability, gender, race (includes colour, nationality or national or ethnic origin), religion/belief, sexuality or transgender status.
Sexual harassment can include suggestive or derogatory remarks; unnecessary and unwelcome physical contact; displaying offensive material (e.g. pornography); unwelcome requests for sexual encounters, written abuse, indecent exposure; sexual/physical assault. Associated with sexual harassment is explicit or implicit promised rewards for cooperation, explicit or implicit threats of punishment or penalty, intimidation creating a hostile or offensive environment.
Racial harassment can include verbal or written abuse; racist graffiti or symbols; derogatory name-calling, insults or jokes; racist assumptions; exclusion from social conversation or events ridicule of an individual for cultural differences, threats or physical attack.
These include persistent teasing; homophobic remarks; comments about personal characteristics; comments about disabilities; unfounded criticism of performance, or persistent phone calls, electronic mail or letters. This can be because of the religious beliefs, age, health, past criminal record, physical/mental disability; being diagnosed as HIV
positive; or responsibilities for dependents. The defining features of harassment are that the behaviour is unwanted by the recipient and would be regarded as harassment by any reasonable person.
If a student encounters any kind of discrimination whilst on their placement, they should not assume that you cannot do anything about it. The College/Work Placement Unit can support you and help you to sort out the situation. Students can ask for a copy of the company’s equal opportunities statement and policy when starting your placement.
These will need to be determined in conjunction between the student and the employer. have specific requirements regarding the number of hours/weeks students need to undertake in order to successfully complete the placement year.
Student hours of work should be written into your contract and comply with Working Time Regulations 1998.
Students are not legally entitled to full pay while they are sick, and as they will be in receipt of Student Finance you may not be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay.
Students should keep your employer and the College up-dated as to how ill they are and when you expect to return to work. Companies need to be convinced any illness is genuine. It is also very important that students keep the placements office informed if they have three or more days off sick.
What the law says:
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 applies to all employers and employees in the UK, and there are various regulations that detail more specific requirements. Employers must provide information, instruction, and training to enable their employees to perform their roles safely, and must provide a suitable level of supervision, all of which should be based on the
outcomes of risk assessment. All students working on placement in the UK are legally regarded as employees of the company they are working for.
As an employee, students must:
Most employers in the UK must by law have Employers’ Liability Insurance and those companies and organisations deal with the public or have public access will be required to have Public Liability Insurance. Those that don’t (such as the NHS), ‘self-insure’ against claims. Employers’ Liability Insurance enables employers to meet the cost of compensation
for their employees’ injuries or illness caused while they are at work. All students working on placement in the UK are covered by Employers’ Liability Insurance even if they are doing unpaid work.
Students should receive an induction into the company, which includes health and safety information. For any aspect of your work that includes significant hazards, you should be informed of the hazards and the control measures for ensuring the risks to your health or safety have been minimised.
Student supervisor should make sure that students are able to use any equipment that they need to use including showing students how it works and checking that students understand what to do, including the procedure in case of a problem. If students are working in a laboratory or workshop, they should be given training on the standard operating procedures for all the work you are going to do. If you are going to be office-based you should have a workstation assessment to ensure that the desk and computer are set up correctly.
What the College expects the student to do is to remember that as an employee students have a duty to take care of their own health and safety. As well as following company procedure for reporting accidents, students must report any accidents to the employer, to your Placement Tutor and/or Work Placement Officer, who will then inform the College’s Health and Safety Officer.
If a student has queries or concerns about health and safety on your placement you should seek advice from your supervisor, a more senior manager, a safety representative (possibly from a trade union), or the safety officer employed by the organisation. If any student cannot resolve your concerns or the situation does not improve, contact your Placement Tutor and Work Placement Officer.
What students should do in the event of accident or injury whilst on placement?
In the UK, the placement provider is obliged to treat the student as an employee, and is therefore legally required to have Employers’ Liability Insurance or equivalent arrangements for self-insurance (such as the NHS, Police and some others), so if you think you might want to make a personal injury claim, students know there will be insurance in place to pay that claim.
The college can provide specific advice to students and help ensure participation in placements from all students who want to take this route, regardless of any disability together with information regarding support you may be entitled to during this time.
The college provides a free, confidential counselling and mental health support via our Student Support Services.
This policy and document is to be reviewed at the end of each semester to make adjustments for changes in programs, legislation, educational regulations and requirements and in response to any issues or situations that have occurred during the semester.
(All elements of this document are consistent with the requirements and regulations of the QAA UK Quality Code for Higher Education, with particular reference to “Part B: Assuring and Enhancing Academic Quality – Chapter B3: Learning and Teaching” and “Part B: Assuring and Enhancing Academic Quality- Chapter B10: Managing Higher Education Provision with Others and Expectation B10, Enhancement)
Date of next review: May, 2025
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