Information and Documents

This section is designed to answer frequently asked questions.  If you need further information having read this section, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Attendance and Work Patterns

What are the typical/expected working hours? A typical working week ranges from 35 to 37.5 hours, depending on the placement setting. Students are expected to follow the usual working pattern of their practice educator or placement provider.  This may include starting earlier or finishing later to accommodate appointments or specific learning opportunities.  This should be discussed and agreed upon at the beginning of the placement. As per the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) governing body, each student is required to complete a minimum of 1000 hours over the programme.

If a student is doing work at home, does that count as clinical placement hours? This time can count as clinical placement hours, with the prior agreement of the practice educator, as long as it is directed learning which is appropriate to the clinical area. Students should be able to evidence the work completed if requested. Students are not expected to take time away from the clinical area to complete University work.

Do students need time off to study? Students should not typically require time off to study. Some study days do occur during practice learning experiences (eg TRAK training in NHS Lothian) but with the exception of these study days, there should be no requirement for additional study time away from the clinical area. 

Can students take annual leave or holidays? No, annual leave is incorporated into the student’s programme at intervals throughout the year so there is no provision for annual leave while in practice learning environments. If a Bank or Public holiday occurs during the placement, student should follow the team’s usual practice (e.g. whether the team works or takes the holiday). If the holiday is taken, those hours do not contribute to the total placement hours. 

What happens if a student is sick? If a student is unwell and unable to attend placement, they should follow local absence procedures, contacting the placement area directly to report their absence. They should also inform their University placement co-ordinator as soon as possible.

How do I know what adjustments a student may need? Every student and practice setting is unique, therefore adjustments should be considered on an individual basis. We encourage students to identify and discuss any issues or concerns with you as early as possible. This allows for an open conversation about potential solutions and whether they are practical within your environment, with ongoing review throughout the placement. Disclosure of needs is voluntary, but the university can support students in communicating their needs. We are committed to supporting these discussions and helping practice educators implement adjustments effectively. The following resource has been created to guide practice educators within the practice setting who are, or will be, working with a student where reasonable adjustments should be considered to allow the student to perform safely during practice placement: Turas Resource: Reasonable adjustment in the practice setting.

Assessment

What mandatory training will a student complete before they go on placement? As per the practice placement agreement, all students will complete the following essential online learning modules, in advance of placement: Fire: Theory; Basic Life support (BLS); Information governance : safe information handling; Moving and handling; Violence and aggression de-escalation; Adult support and protection and child protection; Equality and diversity; Duty of candour; Healthcare Associated Infection Scottish Infection Prevention and Control Education Pathway (SIPCEP Foundation Layer); and Whistleblowing. 

Who should I contact if the student is struggling? In the first instance, please contact Lorraine Barry (l.barry2@napier.ac.uk), who will offer support and, if appropriate, signpost you to another member of the University team, such as the student’s Personal Development Tutor (PDT).