Occupational Therapy News OTnews February 2020 | Page 15

BAOT/UNISON
Being a BAOT member means you also belong to Unison and can access support and advice on workplace issues at any time.
Helping students make the most of their clinical placements
Clinical placements have been and continue to be a core part
of the specialist training to qualify as an occupational therapist.
Going on placement can be a stressful and challenging time.
Unison conducted a survey of its student members across a
wide range of NHS occupations, and found that:
• too many experience bullying or harassment during their
placements;
• a great number are not given enough advance notice of their
placement; and
• individual circumstances are often not taken into account when
placements are allocated.
Unison is keen to make sure all students have the best possible
placements, receive reasonable adjustments for their individual
circumstances, and know how to access support and help when
they need it.
Healthcare students go on placement in order to learn,
and supernumerary status should be protected. Whilst it is an
expectation students will take part in supervised, hands on clinical
care as part of the learning process, they should not be used as a
substitute for directly employed staff.
Students should also be treated with respect and dignity at all
times. Bullying is not acceptable anywhere in the health service,
but healthcare students can be particularly vulnerable.
When a student has a concern about their clinical placement, they
should raise these directly with their mentor or course supervisor.
In addition, through their BAOT/Unison membership, they can
always seek advice and support from a Unison steward. We have
branches and representation in every NHS workplace, so there
is always someone to talk to. If they are unable to help directly, a
steward can always help sign post you to other forms of support.
Unison has produced a ‘best practice‘ pledge that includes a
series of specific ‘asks’ of health employers.
Unison wants all employers to pledge that during their clinical
placement students will:
• be treated with dignity and respect at all times;
• have a formal induction within the first week of their placement
that includes information about the purpose of the placement;
• be offered a placement that is flexible enough to work around
any access needs that they may have;
• have the opportunity to visit their placement in advance and
meet their practice supervisor(s);
• be adequately supervised while on placement;
• the level of supervision provided should reflect their learning
needs and stage of learning;
• be given protected
time to meet with their
practice supervisor for
feedback;
• be able to learn in a
safe and supportive
environment;
© GettyImages/elenabs
• have a placement experience that is fit for purpose – that is,
that provides plentiful, varied experiences and exposure to
procedures and evidence-based materials;
• undertake only the roles and procedures that they have been
prepared for;
• be given adequate time to complete their paperwork; 
• have the time and space to reflect on the care they have given
with other professionals and
• have regular breaks throughout the day.
Unison wants employers to agree to work with universities to
ensure that:
• students are given adequate notice (minimum six weeks) of
their placement;
• students know how to access help and support if they need it;
and
• students have their personal circumstances and requests
taken into account when placements are allocated.
And finally, we want employers to pledge that practice
supervisors will:
• have protected, dedicated time away from practice to spend
with their student;
• have time to plan for a placement in advance;
• have time to provide feedback to students and complete any
necessary documentation;
• have the time and resources to maintain their own professional
knowledge; and
• be able to provide support and supervise students in a setting
that is appropriate staffed.
Unison branches are being encouraged to use the pledge to
start a conversation with employers about how to deliver best
practice to support both the students and the staff who provide
supervision during placements.
To find out if your employer has signed up to the pledge,
ask your Unison branch. A copy of the pledge and other useful
resources are available on the Unison website: www.unison.org.
uk/at-work/health-care/representing-you/nursing/student-nurses/
clinical-placements-healthcare-students/.
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