Procedure for External Student Nurse Applications for Clinical Placement.
Purpose of Procedure:
The purpose of this procedure is to provide guidance for managers when a request is
received, from a student nurse studying at a university outside the Birmingham area,
requesting a clinical placement within University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation
Trust. The aim of this procedure is to:



ensure equity for students in the allocation of a clinical placement
ensure that they are appropriately screened and supervised.
ensure that the number of students allocated to individual areas is manageable and
within the maximum agreed number of students for each clinical area.
Criteria:
This procedure will be applicable to all student nurses studying at universities other than
Birmingham City University and University of Birmingham.





Student Nurses requesting a clinical placement at the Trust will need to be 18 years
or older.
Any student request must give the exact dates of placement requested and be
accompanied by the form (appendix 1).
Students will be advised to provide the following documentation prior to commencing
placement:
- Copy of most recent clear CRB.
- Evidence of most recent manual handling training.
- Evidence of most recent basic/hospital life support training.
- Evidence of immunisation status, in particular Hepatitis B.
- Details of personal tutor.
- Accommodation details for duration of the placement.
- Emergency contact details.
Students requiring accommodation should be directed to contact their own University
and/or student guild/union in the first instance as there may be a reciprocal
arrangement in place, with Birmingham Universities, to access halls of residence.
The Accommodation Manager at UHB can be contacted on 0121 371 4524, however,
accommodation is very limited and may not be available.
Martin Simons – Practice Placement Manager. Sept 2012
Process:














All requests for pre registration student nurse placements, from student nurses
attending non Birmingham universities, will need to be sent to the Named Practice
Placement Manager (NPPM).
Allocation numbers are provided to the Trust on a 3 monthly basis, therefore,
students requesting placements will need to provide no more than three months
notice to the Practice Placement Team. Enquiries requesting a placement more than
three months in advance will not be considered and the student will be asked to send
their request in at the appropriate time.
Following initial contact either by telephone, e-mail or via Trust website, the student
will need to complete the form (appendix 1) and return to the NPPM.
Once received the NPPM will review the allocated student numbers for the area
requested in order to ensure the request can be accommodated.
If the area requested has capacity, the NPPM will liaise with the allocations
department at Birmingham City University (01213317007).
Any placement offered which is due to start at short notice (no more than 4 weeks in
advance); the NPPM will contact the manager of the area to ensure that they are
aware the student will be starting.
The NPPM will then confirm the placement with the student and have their name
added to the allocation sheet for the area concerned.
The student will need to inform the appropriate individual at their university and
provide them contact details for the NPPM.
Any documentation that needs completing between the university and the Trust will
be forwarded to the NPPM directly.
The NPPM will offer the student an opportunity to visit the Trust 2 – 4 weeks in
advance of their placement commencing. At this meeting the documentation required
by the Trust should be bought for review. The NPPM will also arrange to take the
student to the placement area to meet staff on duty and familiarise the student with
the environment.
If the student is unable to attend a meeting in advance, due to academic
requirements, travelling costs or placement demands in their own area, they should
forward scanned copies of the documentation to the NPPM who will then arrange to
meet them on their first day of placement.
Access swipe cards will be provided for students; however, the £5 returnable deposit
fee will be waived.
Once the student has met or has the contact details of the area concerned, it is their
responsibility to ensure that they contact the area in advance for their off duty
arrangements
Mentors will be allocated by the placement area.
Martin Simons – Practice Placement Manager. Sept 2012
Placement requests for military areas:






Military patients and staff are integrated throughout the Trust, therefore, students
requesting military input can be offered any of the following areas;
- Emergency Department.
- Critical Care Units.
- Burns Centre.
- Ward 409.
- Ward 412.
Due to the more sensitive nature of many of the patients and their injuries, requests
for placement on ward 412, will require the student to give more compelling reasons
for their request to be placed on this ward.
Any students requesting placements on ward 412 will follow the process outlined
above but will also need to complete the form (appendix 2).
Once received the NPPM will meet with the manager of the ward and the appropriate
member of the Professional Development Team, to discuss the request.
If deemed appropriate an offer will be made provided capacity exists to
accommodate.
If it is felt that the request is not appropriate the NPPM may make an alternative offer
depending on allocated student numbers at the time.
Insurance:


NHS Indemnity applies where students are working under the supervision of NHS
employees. This should be made clear in the agreement between the NHS body and
the student’s educational body. This will apply to students of all the health care
professions (NHSLA Guidance).
All student nurses will need to be listed on the appropriate student allocation sheet
for the placement area concerned. This will be done at the point when the NPPM
confirms the placement with the allocations department at Birmingham City
University.
Health and Safety:

The Trust is responsible for the Health, Safety and Welfare of all individuals on
premises. The duties and responsibilities of the Trust, its managers and employees
are laid out in the Health and Safety policy.
Supervision:


Student nurses will be supervised at all times by an appropriate registered nurse who
will use their professional judgement in allocating duties.
The student will be supplied with the contact details of the NPPM, and/or the
members of the Practice Placement Team responsible for the placement area, for
support as required during the course of their placement.
Martin Simons – Practice Placement Manager. Sept 2012
Library and IT Facilities:

In line with all healthcare students placed at the Trust, students from non Birmingham
universities will be able to access the Library and IT facilities within the Education
Centre.
Placement Agreements:



The Trust will not enter into any formal training agreement with institutions, for pre
registration nursing students, other than those with Birmingham City University and
the University of Birmingham.
The NPPM may be authorised to sign some placement agreements on behalf of the
Trust, which set out standard details, for the duration of the student’s placement.
Any agreement or deed of a more formal nature will be referred to the appropriate
Trust manager(s), for review and amendment, and may result in a delay in confirming
an offer of placement.
CRB Disclosures:



Student nurses will need to provide evidence of their most recent clear CRB check.
Any positive disclosure will be dealt with in line with current Trust policy, which
requires the individual concerned to attend a Positive Disclosure Meeting (PDM) at
the Trust. These are held monthly and can be arranged via the Resourcing Advisor
for Recruitment and Retention.
The NPPM will liaise with the student to ensure the correct documentation is
available on the day.
Receiving this information does not guarantee or constitute an offer of placement.
Martin Simons – Practice Placement Manager. Sept 2012
APPENDIX 1
Placement Application for Student Nurses at Non Birmingham Universities.
Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………
Term Time Address: …………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Telephone: ………………………………………………………………………………………..
E-Mail: ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Name of University:……………………………………………………………………………..
Course Title:………………………………………………………………………………………
Personal Tutor:…………………………………………………………………………………..
Address:…………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Telephone:………………………………………………………………………………………..
E-Mail:……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Placement Area Requested:…………………………………………………………………...
Placement Dates: Start……………………………….. Finish…………………………………
Martin Simons – Practice Placement Manager. Sept 2012
Why have you chosen to apply for a placement at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Birmingham:
Prior to placement commencing you will need to provide the following
documentation:
-
Evidence of most recent CRB clearance.
Details of up to date manual handling training.
Details of up to date basic/hospital life support training.
Immunisation status, with particular regard to hepatitis B.
Accommodation details for duration of placement.
Emergency contact information.
Placement may be cancelled or refused if these details are not seen prior to
commencement.
Documentation from your university will need to be forwarded to the Named Practice
Placement Manager as follows:
Martin Simons,
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham,
Room 26, Education Centre,
Mindelsohn Way,
Edgbaston,
Birmingham,
B15 2WB.
e-mail: martin.simons@uhb.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0121 371 4249.
I have read and agree with the information above. I also confirm that the information I
have provided is correct.
Name:………………………………………….Signed:……………………………………………
Date:………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Please return this form by post or scanned to e-mail to Martin Simons at the above address.
Martin Simons – Practice Placement Manager. Sept 2012
APPENDIX 2.
Request for placement on Military Ward 412.
Ward 412 is jointly staffed by military and civilian nurses. It also accommodates both military
and civilian patients.
Due to the often sensitive and complex injuries encountered, we do not routinely offer
placements to students from outside Birmingham. We therefore require that you complete
the following as well as the standard request form
Are you currently a serving member of the armed forces?
Yes/No
Why have you chosen to request a placement with military contact?
What opportunities do you think a military area will offer you that a general area can
not?
Why do you think we need an area for military patients staffed by both military and
civilian staff?
Are you considering a career in the armed forces after qualifying as a nurse? Yes/No
If yes, which branch of the armed forces are you considering? …………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Please return this form along with the standard placement request form. Your request will then be discussed with
the ward manager before any offer will be made to you.
Martin Simons – Practice Placement Manager. Sept 2012
Martin Simons – Practice Placement Manager. Sept 2012