MUIRTON HOUSE
CARE HOME
WELCOME AND INFORMATION
FOR STUDENTS
Dear Student
Welcome to Muirton House Care Home. We hope you find your placement here with us
fulfilling, educational and enjoyable. It is our aim to help enhance your understanding of the
needs of older people and how to enrich their lives by promoting their independence and
dignity.
You will be assigned a mentor who will guide you through your placement in accordance
with NMC guidelines. It will not always be possible to work with your mentor if they have
other commitments but as far as possible we will try to arrange your rota to coincide with
theirs. You will also benefit from working with other members of the team who have a
broad range of knowledge and skills and will be happy to share their experience with you.
Some students come to Care Home placements thinking there will not be much to learn as
there is very little technology and acute clinical care but you will have more time to spend
with people, learning about their life history and experiences. This, in conjunction with good
basic personal care is just as important as what can be learned in a busy hospital ward and
promotes a sensitive and holistic approach to care.
We hope you enjoy your placement with us and would appreciate if you would complete the
evaluation form at the back of the pack. This will help us ensure future students gain the
best from their placements.
STUDENT NAME
MENTOR NAME
START DATE
FINISH DATE
ORIENTATION
MIDWAY ASSESSMENT
FINAL ASSESSMENT
Muirton House Care Home
Essendy Road
Blairgowrie
PH10 6JY
Telephone Number: 01250 872113
muirtonhouse@schealthcare.co.uk
Muirton House is set in a country location just on the outskirts of Blairgowrie.
Our team consists of:
Manager
Administrator
Deputy Manager
Domestic staff
Charge Nurse
Handyman
Staff Nurses
Activity coordinator
Senior Carers
Carers
We work a 12 hour shift pattern
Day:
8am – 8pm
Night:
8pm – 8am
Where possible you will follow the same shift pattern as your mentor. You are welcome to call up prior to your
start date to arrange an informal visit and to meet your mentor. At this time your off duty can be organised.
If you experience problems with your off duty while you are here please speak with your mentor or another
member of staff.
There are ample parking facilities within the home grounds.
There are no staff meals provided within the home but there is a kitchen with microwave where you are
welcome to heat up meals and make hot drinks.
There are changing facilities within the home.
The home operates a strictly no smoking policy within the building and grounds other than the nominated
smoking area.
If you have any sickness absences during your placement time please contact us on the above number to
inform us as well as following the university policy.
OUR PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
We are committed to provide a quality learning environment. Students are encouraged to develop the
knowledge, skills and attitude to competently deliver care under the direct supervision of a registered
practitioner.
We encourage students to ask questions and we will always try to answer them. However, we will expect the
students to assist with their own learning by developing a questioning approach.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US
 You will receive a timely induction into your work area to ensure you are familiar with the
environment and are able to practice safely.
 During your placement you will be allocated a mentor to work alongside. The mentor will be
a qualified practitioner who will assist and support you during your placement and provide
supervision during your clinical practice.
 You will discuss your learning need s at the beginning of the placement.
 We will provide a safe and healthy environment which is conducive to meeting individual
student’s learning needs.
 Your mentor will assess your performance against your course learning outcomes and will
provide continuous feedback to help you develop your skills.
 We will expect to be asked questions and will endeavour to answer them.
 You will be given time for reflection and review.
 You will be a valued member of our team during your placement and can expect support
from all your colleagues.
 We will listen to your feedback about your placement and will respond to any issued
sensitively.
WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU
 We expect you to act in a professional manner in accordance with the Guidance on
professional conduct for nursing and midwifery students (NMC,2009), be courteous,
respectful and show enthusiasm , interest and motivation to learn.
 We expect you to arrive on time for planned shifts and any other activity identified by the
mentor or delegated supervisor.
 We expect you to ensure your mentor is aware of your learning outcomes for the placement
and specific learning needs.
 We expect you to dress in accordance with University dress policy.
 You should notify your mentor or delegated person if you are unwell or not able to attend
your placement.
 We expect you to maintain a respectful confidentiality at all times. This applies to clients,
their records and discussions with members of staff.
 We would like you to raise any issues regarding your placement with your mentor or another
staff member so they can be resolved in a satisfactory manner
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
Prior to your placement you may wish to consider what experience and what pre – existing knowledge you
have and what skills you wish to gain.
The following is a list of possible learning opportunities for you during your placement. There may be other
opportunities for learning available that are not identified on this list.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
 Effective communication / talking with clients, carers, relatives in a variety of settings.
 Use of telephone – answering calls, recording information.
 Discussion with other relevant professionals involved in client care.
 Aware of own communication skills.
 Awareness of and able to use buzzer system.
ASSESSMENT SKILLS AND DOCUMENTATION
 Admission procedures
 Utilising assessment tools
o
MUST
o
Waterlow Risk Assessment
o
Falls Risk Assessment
o
Manual Handling Risk Assessment
o
Dependency
o
Continence
 Care planning
 Prioritising workload
ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF CARE
 Developing skills to assist clients with care to meet their holistic needs.
 Client comfort / hygiene including oral hygiene.
 Understanding principals of patient centred care.
 Moving and handling
 Pressure area care.
 Medication
 Nutritional and dietary needs.
 Catheterisation and catheter care.
 Bowel management
 Measurement and recording of systemic observations including blood pressure and blood
glucose monitoring.
 Wound care
 Specimen collecting
PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL PRACTICE
 Practice within NMC codes of confidentiality, respecting client wishes and decisions.
 Dignity and respect.
 Recognising and working within your own capabilities.
 Observing and adhering to area ways of working, operational instructions and local Policies
and Procedures.
 Care Commission Regulations.
 Legislation
 Reflection on own experiences.
 Use of evidence based practice – SIGN Guidelines etc.
SAFETY
 Infection control in care home setting
 Personal and area risk assessment
 Aware of strategy for dealing with verbally aggressive / challenging behaviour.
 Fire regulations and evacuation procedures.
 Safe use of equipment.
 Moving and handling.
MANAGEMENT
 Supplies and ordering
 Rota management
 Care of valuables / client belongings.
 Audits
RESOURCES AVAILABLE
 Experienced staff
 Access to computer / internet
 Policy and Procedure manuals
 Resident information leaflets.
 Care plans
 Care Commission Inspection Reports
 Articles and journals
 Books
EVALUATION OF PLACEMENT AREA
We sincerely hope you have enjoyed your placement at Muirton House Nursing Home and it has met your
educational expectations and needs.
We would be grateful if you could take a few moments to complete the following Evaluation Form and return it
to the manager.
STUDENT EVALUATION FORM
1.
DO YOU FEEL YOU WERE ORIENTATED TO THE PLACEMENT AREA?
2.
WERE YOU INFORMED OF WHO YOUR MENTOR WAS ON ARRIVAL TO THE PLACEMENT?
3.
WERE YOU WELCOMED AND MADE TO FEEL PART OF THE TEAM?
4.
DID YOU DISCUSS YOUR OBJECTIVES WITH YOUR MENTOR?
5.
WAS THERE APPROPRIATE TIME TAKEN FOR MIDWAY ASSESSMENT / FINAL ASSESSMENT?
6.
DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE MET YOUR OBJECTIVES TO THE REQUIRED LEVEL?
7.
DO YOU FEEL YOU WERE GIVEN ADEQUATE SUPPORT THROUGHOUT YOUR PLACEMENT?
8.
DID YOU FEEL YOU COULD PUT THEORY INTO PRACTICE?
9.
OVERALL DID YOU ENJOY YOUR PLACEMENT?
10. ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS YOU HAVE THAT MIGHT MAKE THE PLACEMENT MORE ENJOYABLE
FOR FUTURE STUDENTS?
Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. Any information will be treated in
the strictest confidence but may be used to facilitate improvements in the service we provide.