Placements, fieldwork and work experience

Student placements

Student Placements are an important part of many degree programmes as they provide a learning and development experience for the student within a work environment.

People entering work for the first time are more vulnerable than others and for many students, a placement can be their first experience of full-time work. Everyone involved has a responsibility to do what they can to reduce the chance of harm to the student and the harm that a student may do to others. University managers and staff can influence this and the Student Placement Procedure provides a framework with a broad set of principles that should underpin current practice for managing placements and the potential risks associated with them.

Health and Safety is only one part of the support and development of students on placement and it needs to be an integral, rather than a stand-alone part, of the whole experience.

The University Student Placement Procedure and relevant templates can be found in the following sections.

Student placement procedure

The University Student Placement Procedure sets out a risk-based approach so that control measures are proportionate to the level of risk. Please note that the draft procedure is completed and will be provided once approved. If you need a copy, then please contact the University Health and Safety Advisor.

The procedure covers placements:

  • Which are a planned, integral part of a student’s programme of study, whether paid or unpaid and are suitable for placements that are subject to professional standards and to those involving significant hazards such as construction or chemical industries.
  • Where the student is enrolled at the University during this period
  • Where there is the transfer of direct supervision of the student to a third party
  • Where the placement is in the UK or abroad

Student placement assessment

The risk assessment form for student placements is a formal record to show that all risks associated with the student placement have been assessed, appropriately managed and approved. Information gathered from the Placement Provider and student will help to inform this using the six factors in the risk profile and risk-reducing table (for example, work factors, individual student factors such as disability, location/travel, insurance etc).

The risk table provides examples of specific actions that can be taken based on the level of risk. In many cases, the risk will be low and no further action will be needed.

Further information on insurance can be found in the extract on insurance taken from the USHA Guidance on health and safety of placements.

If you need any information regarding GCU insurance, then please contact insurance@gcu.ac.uk

If groups of placement with similar risk profiles or levels of risk can be identified, it is acceptable to group them together into a single risk assessment form.

This Guide on Stakeholder Responsibilities can be sent to the placement provider to clarify the arrangements and responsibilities with regard to health and safety-related issues for the student, the placement provider and the University so that each party is aware of their role and responsibility. Where a placement agreement is required or available this information can be easily included alongside the agreement.

Resources

USHA guidance on health and safety of placements for higher education students

ASET good practice guide for managing the health, safety and welfare for student placements (2021 Revision)

ASET good practice guide for work-based and placement learning in higher education (2013 Revision)

ASET good practice guide for supporting students with disabilities on placement (2016 Revision) (Please note that this document is a bit out of date as it refers to DDA rather than the Equality Act however the principles are still relevant)

Department for Education and Skills document Providing work placements for disabled students

ASET good practice guide to successful work-based learning for apprenticeships in higher education (2019 Revision)

ASET Toolkits

Health and Care Professions Council – provides information on reasonable adjustments on student placements