LEARNING ENHANCEMENT AND ACADEMIC PRACTICE
Placement Learning
(Version 1 03 – Oct 2014)
Guidance for placement co-ordinators, heads of departments,
and deans on implementing the revised code of practice
University Learning, Teaching and Assessment Committee (ULTAC) has approved
amendments to the Code of Practice: Placement Learning.
Approval

Version 1 03 - ULTAC, Oct 2014
Date coming into force: immediate
The following provides guidance to those with designated responsibilities under the
code on the actions required to achieve consistent implementation of the code and its
revisions.
The code is published online –
http://www2.hull.ac.uk/administration/leap/quality_standards/quality__standards_fram
ework/k_-_studentinformationsupport.aspx
[K9 in the Quality Handbook]
Deans or nominees
Action required
Timescale
Approval of the placement provider
Para. 24 - Approve placement providers.
Staff Development
Before
entering into
a placement
activity
agreement.
Para. 60 – Approve departmental/school
pro formas on which to record the
monitoring of placement learning.
 The approval of placement
providers deemed to be ‘Low Risk’
or ‘Medium Risk’ may be delegated
to a nominee (an Associate Dean
or head of department/school).
 The approval of placement
providers deemed to be ‘High Risk’
must be considered by the Dean.
As required.
 Members of staff involved with
placement learning must have the
necessary skills and knowledge to
provide effective support to
students and placement providers.
Prior to the
annual
review of
placement
learning.
 Approval via Faculty Learning,
Teaching and Assessment
Committee (or equivalent).
Para. 54 – Provide suitable staff
development opportunities if required.
Monitoring & Evaluation
Explanatory note
Code of Practice: Placement Learning
LEAP Guidance on Implementation Oct 2014
911 Implementation Guide on the Code of Practice on Placement Learning
1
Heads of Department
Action required
Staff Development
Timescale
As required.
 Members of staff involved with
placement learning must have the
necessary skills and knowledge to
provide effective support to
students and placement providers.
Prior to the
start of the
academic
session.
 Complaints must be dealt with
promptly, appropriately and in an
impartial manner.
Annually.
 Para. 60 outlines the minimum
areas that must be assessed.
Para. 53 – Ensure that those staff
involved with placement learning are
competent to be so.
Dealing with Complaints
Para. 57 – Nominate an academic
member of staff to be responsible for
receiving & investigating complaints.
Monitoring & Evaluation
Explanatory note
Para. 60 – Monitor all aspects of
placement learning.
Para. 62 – Request feedback from
students, placement providers and
University staff.
After every
placement.
Para. 64 – Ensure monitoring procedures
meet any additional PSRB requirements.
As required.
 This feedback must inform the
monitoring process.
Placement Co-ordinators
Action required
FHSC, FoE & Social Work only
Timescale
Annually.
 Central registers of current
approved placement providers are
held in FHSC, FoE, Social Work
and on AIS.
Before
entering into
a placement
activity
agreement.
 Approval of a placement provider
is granted for a period of five
calendar years subject to a
satisfactory annual review.
Para. 23 – Provide LEAP with a copy of
the faculty/unit register of current
approved placement providers.
Approval of the placement provider
Para. 26 – Complete the placement
provider risk profiling form (annexe 2b)
using the placement provider risk
profiling matrix (annexe 2a). Submit for
approval to the Dean (or nominee).
Send a copy of the completed form to
LEAP.
Approval of student placement
activities
Para. 28 – Approve placement activities.
Para. 29 – Record approval on the
student placement activity profiling form
(annexe 3b) using the placement
provider risk profiling matrix (annexe 3a).
Record the details of the placement
provider on AIS.
Explanatory note
 LEAP will add the placement
provider to the register of current
approved placement providers on
AIS.
Before the
start of the
placement.
 Placement co-ordinators must be
assured that the placement will
provide the opportunity for the
student to achieve the intended
learning outcomes and appropriate
support (including any additional
support required for students with
disabilities).
Code of Practice: Placement Learning
LEAP Guidance on Implementation Oct 2014
911 Implementation Guide on the Code of Practice on Placement Learning
2
Para. 30 – Consult the University
Solicitor where a placement provider
wishes to draw up its own placement
agreement.
As required &
well in
advance of
the proposed
start of the
placement.
Para. 32 – Give guidance to students
who are responsible for selecting,
organising and securing their own
placements.
Placement Providers
Paras 35-40 – Ensure that placement
providers are aware of their
responsibilities before commencement of
the placement.
Before the
start of the
placement.
 These responsibilities are
articulated in the placement
agreement (see para. 30).
Intellectual Property Rights
Para. 42 – Contact the University
Solicitor where IPR issues are relevant to
ensure that appropriate action is taken
prior to commencement of the
placement.
As required &
well in
advance of
the proposed
start of the
placement.
Student Placement Pledge
As required &
before the
start of the
placement.
Para. 43 – Arrange for the student to sign
the placement pledge prior to the
commencement of the placement.
Disclosure & Barring Service Checks
Paras 44, 45 – Where a DBS check is a
prerequisite for a placement, ensure this
is clear in all communication & published
information and ensure that the
application is completed in plenty of time.
Para. 46 – Where the department/school
has no DBS Countersignatory contact
the Head of Admissions Service for
advice on the Disclosure process.
As required &
well in
advance of
the proposed
start of the
placement.
 The placement agreement may
need to be amended.
 The University template is
published as annexe 4 to the
Code.
 The University template is
published as annexe 5 to the
Code.
 DBS checks will be required for
placements which involve
engagement in Regulated or
Controlled Activity.
 Enhanced DBS checks typically
take four weeks to be processed.
 Where there are fewer than ten
students annually needing a DBS
check for a department/school, the
Head of the Admissions (or
nominee) will normally act as
Countersignatory.
 Further guidance is published in
the University Policy on the Risk
Assessment of Applicants and
Continuing Students Disclosing
Criminal Convictions.
Code of Practice: Placement Learning
LEAP Guidance on Implementation Oct 2014
911 Implementation Guide on the Code of Practice on Placement Learning
3
Students studying with a Tier 4 Visa
Para. 47 – Contact the Visa Support
Team with regard to arrangements for
students studying with the University on
a Tier 4 Visa.
As required &
well in
advance of
the proposed
start of the
placement.
 The UKVI regularly updates its
guidance in respect of sponsors’
responsibilities.
Ongoing.
 For example insurance costs (see
annexe 1).
Before the
start of the
placement.
 This should take place face-to-face
and student attendance is
mandatory where physically
possible.
Submit the Safeguards for Tier 4
Placement form (annexe 6) to the
University Visa Support Manager. The
placement must not commence until the
Visa Support Manager has confirmed
that sufficient safeguards are in place.
Student Support & Information
Para. 48 – Ensure that all communication
& published material are transparent with
respect to costs additional for the fee.
Paras 49, 51, 52 – Ensure that the
student has the information set out.
Para. 50 – Provide students with an
induction/briefing event.
University Solicitor
Action required
The Placement Agreement
Para. 30 – Where a placement provider
wishes to draw up its own placement
agreement, assess the equivalence of
the agreement.
Intellectual Property Rights
Para. 42 – Where IPR issues are
relevant advise on any action that needs
to be taken prior to commencement of
the placement.
Timescale
Explanatory note
As required &
before the
start of the
placement.
 The placement provider’s
agreement must meet or exceed
the expectations set out in the
University approved template.
As required &
well in
advance of
the proposed
start of the
placement.
 The placement agreement may
need to be amended.
Head of Admissions Service
Action required
Disclosure & Barring Service Checks
Para. 46 – Advise on the DBS process
where the department/school has no
DBS procedure. Act as Countersignatory
where the department/school has fewer
than ten students annually needing a
DBS check.
Timescale
As required &
well in
advance of
the proposed
start of the
placement.
Explanatory note
 Further guidance is published in
the University Policy on the Risk
Assessment of Applicants and
Continuing Students Disclosing
Criminal Convictions.
Code of Practice: Placement Learning
LEAP Guidance on Implementation Oct 2014
911 Implementation Guide on the Code of Practice on Placement Learning
4
University Visa Support Manager
Action required
Students studying with a Tier 4 Visa
Para. 47 – Advise with regard to
arrangements for students studying with
the University on a Tier 4 Visa.
Consider whether sufficient safeguards
are in place with respect to placements
for Tier 4 students and sign Safeguards
for Tier 4 Placement forms (annexe 6) if
appropriate.
Timescale
As required &
well in
advance of
the proposed
start of the
placement.
Explanatory note
 The UKVI regularly updates its
guidance in respect of sponsors’
responsibilities.
FEEDBACK ON THIS DOCUMENT
This document is designed to assist placement co-ordinators, heads of departments
and deans in implementing the requirements of the code by making those
requirements more accessible. Feedback is welcomed at any time and should be
sent to: Lynne Braham, Learning Enhancement and Academic Practice (6576,
L.J.Braham@hull.ac.uk).
This document is available in alternative formats from
Learning Enhancement and Academic Practice
Code of Practice: Placement Learning
LEAP Guidance on Implementation Oct 2014
911 Implementation Guide on the Code of Practice on Placement Learning
5