Pre Registration Midwifery Programmes Elective Observational Placements: Strategy and Good Practice Guidance Year: 2015/2016

Transcription

1 Pre Registration Midwifery Programmes Elective Observational Placements: Strategy and Good Practice Guidance Year: 2015/2016 1

2 Guidance for Elective Placements Long and Short Programmes Introduction An elective observational placement (EOP) offers the student an opportunity to observe the practice of health or social care with demonstrable relevance to midwifery within another National Health Service (NHS) Trust different from their host NHS placement, a different organisation within the United Kingdom (UK) or an international health or social care service provider. It is an optional experience that students can negotiate with their personal supervisors, with final approval being granted by the programme leader. The rationale for students being able to achieve such a visit includes: The opportunity to compare and contrast the delivery of care in another setting with that observed in their own host Trust To enable the development of knowledge of different pathways of care relevant to childbearing women and their babies To enable understanding of global health and social care services relevant to women and their babies To experience as an observer different cultural and social situations relevant to women during childbearing To develop awareness of professional issues in different contexts To enable choices to be made influencing future career development plans Pre-requisites When considering undertaking an EOP, students must discuss with their personal supervisors, their progress in achieving the following: Midwifery Skills Record of Competence EU Numbers Clinical and theory attendance (i.e. levels of sickness and absence) Assessment submission dates before elective placements are planned 2

3 Students should reflect on these requirements and consider their assessment profile with their personal supervisors in order to feel confident that they will achieve these requirements. Where there are concerns about academic performance and/or clinical practice these concerns will result in the student not being recommended for an elective placement. All Students will still be required to submit summative assessments at the scheduled times regardless of their undertaking an EOP. An EOP cannot be used as mitigation for poor performance in a theoretical or practical assessment or as a rationale for late submission of assignments. TIMING OF EOP An EOP may be planned to last for one to two weeks (the equivalent of 30 to 60 hours of practice) but must only occur in specific learning periods. Long programme students (156 WEEKS): During the second learning period of the final year (usually during the final period of practice). Students must usually agree the placement with their personal supervisor by the end of the second year. Short programme students (85 weeks): During the second half of the final year (usually during the final period of practice). Students must usually agree the placement with their personal supervisor by the end of their first year. Annual Leave Placements may be timed to coincide with a period of annual leave either preceding the beginning of the placement or following the end of the placement. This may be particularly useful for students undertaking overseas EOPs, so they may spend some relaxation and exploration in the region they are visiting. These timings must be discussed in advance. 3

4 Student responsibilities To achieve an elective placement students are responsible for: Writing their own learning outcomes for the placement (see appendices 4 and 5) Negotiating the experience with the receiving organisation Meeting all costs associated with the placement Liaising with the Faculty International Co-ordinator if the placement is outside the UK Providing verification of the time spent in practice (see appendices 4 and 5) What is an EOP? The EOP is a one to two week placement of your own choice in an unfamiliar health care setting (e.g. a different NHS Trust) to the one to which you are currently allocated, an organization overseas or in the UK that provides maternity care. Overseas EOPs Students opting to undertake an overseas placement must be aware that the University is not responsible for the safety of the student when undertaking the chosen placement. An individualised package, including risk assessment is designed for each specific overseas location, in collaboration with the Faculty of Health and Social Care (FHSC) International Coordinator (see risk assessment below). You may spend your EOP in any country you wish, providing there is no war or imminent danger of conflict breaking out. Home (UK) EOPs You do not have to go overseas to undertake an EOP: a placement in the UK can be as just as valuable. The nature of the experience must be purely observational except for practice placements audited by (or whose audits are accepted by) the University of Hull. Overseas and UK EOPS During the EOP students must be supernumerary to the work force and must be attached to a named supervisor from the host institution/ organisation. It is important to organise your placement as soon as possible, even if you plan to stay in the UK. Many placement areas become quickly saturated with students from other Universities planning elective placements/visits. 4

5 You will need to formulate your own learning goals so the most important thing to consider in planning a placement is whether and how you will be able to achieve these goals. These goals should be agreed by your Personal Supervisor. You must also be able to demonstrate that the experience will enable you to expand your knowledge of midwifery and health care in its broadest sense. It is crucial to develop a good set of learning goals for your placement as you will need to demonstrate how you did or did not achieve them with your Personal Supervisor through the written feedback report which is required on return from the placement. In addition, on return from the EOP you will be encouraged to share your experiences with your peers and other interested parties such as midwives and other health care professionals, and students from other parts of the Faculty and University. This is the process of dissemination. Planning your EOP The primary responsibility for planning, organising and funding the EOP lies with you. However, Personal Supervisors will be available throughout the planning period to offer advice and guidance. You must seek them out for this assistance. Identify an area of interest and develop a clear rationale for how an EOP might further those interests and your overall professional development. Formulate one or two initial ideas for the placement so that if your first choice is not available then a second choice could be pursued. Ensure that you are not travelling to areas of the world that are unsafe (e.g. war zones). It may be helpful if you can speak some of the language, or have an understanding of how to communicate in an overseas setting with the support of local contacts. Risk assessment Students have to consider their safety whilst on placement. Overseas Placements For an overseas placement, you must discuss risk assessment (see appendix 2) with the FHSC International Coordinator. In partnership with you and your programme leader, the International Coordinator will create an individualised package of information, including health and safety guidance, for the country of interest and the clinical area. This package will incorporate policy from the University of Hull Health and Safety Services, for Field Courses. Consult the guidance on the International Opportunities ebridge site for detailed information about travel safety. It is also 5

6 advisable to speak to senior students who have undertaken an EOP for advice, or to recently qualified midwives who have been through the process. If considering a placement overseas then explore one of the following popular resources/ providers: Work the World (medical & nursing electives) for a small fee, this organization will completely arrange the negotiated placement for you Peer Education Programme Against AIDS (PEPAIDS/SAPEP). This is an HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Support Project in rural Zambia. They are very happy to take negotiated placement student midwives. All placements must be arranged with PEPAIDS at Starfish Volunteers: This is a health centre in N.E Thailand, on the border with Cambodia. They welcome negotiated placements from individuals and groups they are contactable via A booklet has been prepared by HealthServe (the overseas mission ministry of the Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) in conjunction with Christian Student Nurses and Midwives (CSNM) to assist with preparing for an overseas midwifery negotiated placement at UK Placements For UK placements, you are permitted to participate in clinical practice, if the clinical area is audited by (or in partnership with) the FHSC at the University of Hull. Other UK placements must remain, purely observational. If your placement is in an area that you would not normally experience in your training then it would be acceptable to stay local. Looking further afield in the UK, think about influential or novel models of maternity care (or other aspects of health and social care) about which you have heard or read: try and contact them for a placement, having considered the following: What would you like to see? Where would you like to go? What would you like to learn? When can you arrange to go? 6

7 Funding the elective placement Ensure that you know exactly how much the elective placement is likely to cost. The following list provides some indication of some of the items you might need to consider. Consider the accommodation costs as these can be a major cost if it is not subsidized through the host institution. Many people do placements in areas where they can stay with friends or relatives. Consider the cost of travel. This is pertinent, whether you have a UK or an overseas placement. If you are a student receiving an NHS bursary or a grant, you may be eligible to some support with funding travel to placement for UK placements. Please contact Carol Robinson, C.I.Robinson@hull.ac.uk telephone: to find out if you are eligible. Check with your host whether or not they require an up to date DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. If they do, this can take some time to arrange. You would have been asked to ensure that you kept a copy of your DBS check safe, when you joined the programme, so you will need to locate this information. Ensure that you have the necessary visas. Ensure that you have professional indemnity cover and adequate health care, travel and personal insurance. Indemnity cover is an integral part of RCM student membership for NHS Trusts only. Further details are available at For overseas electives consult the guidance on the International Opportunities ebridge site. 7

8 Health Status For UK placements the receiving clinical areas/ Trusts, will normally require an up to date account of your occupational health reports, on aspects such e.g. Rubella and Hepatitis B immunity. Contact the University of Hull Occupational Health service, via the University website. They will provide this information for you. Where applicable, ensure that you have had the correct vaccinations. It is vital that you plan for this well in advance. Most vaccinations need to have been given at least three weeks prior to exposure to risk, in order to provide some protection. Others will give some protection following the second dose but immunity cannot be guaranteed for six months after the full course has been completed and a blood sample taken. Up to date information on health issues and vaccinations around the world can be found on the World Health Organisation s website at (information relating to travel and health). You may be required to pay for these vaccinations. Where applicable, ensure that you have a supply of anti-retroviral drugs in the event of exposure to HIV. You may be required to pay for these drugs. Please discuss with International Coordinator (see risk assessment above). It may be possible to obtain outside financial assistance for your elective placement. Any person or institution offering funding will want to know why and how the elective/negotiated placement experience will improve you personally and/or professionally. They may require extensive details about your aims and objectives, costs and accommodation. They will almost certainly expect you to send them a report of your elective placement when you return. They are unlikely to provide financial assistance until you have received confirmation and/or proof of the placement. 8

9 Sources of Funding: One of the advantages of planning your EOP early is that you can raise funds towards its costs. The following can be found in large public libraries: - Directory of Grant Making Trusts published annually by the Charities Aid Foundation The Grant Register published by MacMillan Press Charities Digest published by Family Welfare Association The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) offers a limited number of awards for electives under their Pampers student vision award at MMA HealthServe gives grants to UK based healthcare students seeking to do their elective in a Christian mission context. Those applying for the grants should be from medical, nursing and therapy schools in England and Wales. Where possible they should be going to a Christian mission type hospital (protestant) in a developing country situation and be committed Christians. To receive more information, them, giving your postal address: info@healthserve.org. The Iolanthe Midwifery Trust P O Box 34927, London SW6 5WQ Royal College of Midwives Annual Student Travel Award Bounty Midwives Professional Development Award The Swann-Morton Foundation Owlerton Green Sheffield S6 2BJ Student Support- Education Offices County Hall Northallerton North Yorkshire DL7 8AE Some useful websites: 9

10 You can also type grants into a search engine and trawl through Publications: The Educational Grants Directory The Charities Digest The Grants Register Directory of Grant Making Trusts Additional information on sources of funding can be found on the ebridge BSc/ PG Dip Midwifery programme site under Elective Placements and via the FHSC International Opportunities web page (which can be accessed via the BSc 10

11 Contacting the organisation to arrange the EOP Once a few potential elective/negotiated placement venues have been identified: - Compose an initial contact communication letter or and send this to the placement. Be prepared to write one or two courteous follow up letters/ s, or phone (phone cards are available which allow extremely cheap overseas phone calls. Calling direct may be quicker and easier) if a reply is not obtained. (See Appendix 1 Sample letter to Placement Provider). You should keep copies of all correspondence. Develop a clear set of provisional learning goals, or outcomes, for the placement (see appendix 4). Learning outcomes must clearly specify what you hope to LEARN remember most placements will be purely observational, so your learning goals will have to reflect this. Some of these learning outcomes will be about understanding and appreciating difference. You may be able to ask previous students about this. If a positive reply is received: - inform your Personal Supervisor and the Faculty s International Coordinator. Write your own letter of confirmation (and thanks) and begin a process of communication over issues such as accommodation, insurance, placement/work details, ensuring that you will be allocated to a named mentor/supervisor. Send a provisional copy of your learning goals to the placement once agreed by your personal supervisor. 11

12 Prior to Departure Ensure accommodation, travel, money, visa and insurance plans are arranged. Do as much background reading and research as possible to achieve the maximum potential of the elective/ negotiated placement. Ensure that your personal supervisor and your next of kin have your contact details while you are away (personal as well as work place). Ensure that you have completed the risk assessment process as explained by the international coordinator. During the Placement On arrival at the placement you must let your Personal Supervisor, and the International Coordinator know that you have arrived safely and then again at regular points during the placement. Whilst preparing for and during the elective placement you should keep an account of your experiences. This should include a personal diary and information about the experience and will provide the basis for your feedback. These may also feed into your portfolio of evidence. If possible, take a camera with you. Of course, you will need to obtain relevant permission before taking any photographs of clinical areas. Conduct and Behaviour Satisfactory attendance during the elective placement is a course requirement and a prerequisite for the award of Degree/PG Diploma in Midwifery and for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The hours worked during this period must be verified before your return and will then be added to your hours to meet NMC requirements. 12

13 While on your elective placement you are expected to be a good ambassador for the Faculty of Health and Social Care and the University of Hull Midwifery programmes; Comply with the host institution s rules and regulations. Ensure that you do not bring the name of the Faculty or the University into disrepute. Respect the personal privacy of members of staff of the host institution, and of other students. Respect the cultural and religious customs in the host country. Pursue your studies with diligence, and not hinder the study of other students. Take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and of other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions. Manage your own learning and professional relationships. Appropriately record your progress and achievements in your reflective diary. Follow the NMC (2008) The code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives wherever you are in the world. Alert the relevant members of the Faculty (personal supervisor, international coordinator) promptly of any problems that might prevent you from satisfactorily completing your negotiated placement. 13

14 Upon Return from the Placement Write a letter of thanks to your hosts, including a copy of your report (see appendix 5) and any nice photos. Prepare written feedback report for your Personal Supervisor using the following guidance. Students should also be prepared to disseminate information about their experience at either the annual FHSC student midwifery conference or the international student conference. Report format Students are required to compile a short report. This should be electronically created (i.e. word processed, rather than handwritten). This should be a maximum of 1000 words (no more than 2 sides of A4: font must be at least 10pt) that should contain the following details: Placement Title/Provider details. Rationale for choice of your elective placement. Preparation for the placement. Statement of learning goals. Discussion of the nature of the experience and achievement of learning goals. Discussion of the way in which midwifery care or other relevant clinical practice was organised. Discussion of the nature of the midwifery practice/ or other relevant clinical practice. If appropriate include, discussion of the country, locality, hospital/clinic, health care system, major health issues, midwifery education system, role & status of the midwife and other relevant professionals. Please see appendix 3 for a flowchart summarising the process, which you may use in partnership with your Personal Supervisor and/or Programme Leader (as appropriate) to check your progress. FINALLY: The Midwifery Programme Team wishes you a safe, prosperous, enjoyable and valuable learning experience during your EOP, whether in the UK or abroad. 14

15 Appendices 15

16 Appendix 1: Sample Initial Letter to Placement Provider Date Sample Initial Contact letter for potential placement providers Dear Sirs (or name if known), My name is <insert name> and I am a final year student midwife, on the Pre-registration, Midwifery Programme at the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. I am interested in undertaking an observational elective placement for one to two weeks within your healthcare setting. The reason I have selected this placement area is because. The nature of the experience would be purely observational. I will be formulating learning objectives. I would be most grateful if you would be most grateful if you would consider supporting me with this request. The proposed dates for this placement are either: The weeks commencing The weeks commencing I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully (if name not known)/ Yours sincerely (if name of person known), 16

17 Appendix 2: Health Protection If your elective placement is overseas, the FHSC International Coordinator will discuss Health and Safety issues, including the use standard precautions and access to HIV/ Post Exposure prophylaxis, pertaining to your specific placement area. If an area is considered to present an unacceptable risk to your health and safety, you will not be permitted to undertake a placement there. You must arrange to meet with the International Coordinator and your programme leader, together, prior to finalising your arrangements so that issues of health and safety can be discussed and approved. The primary route for immunisation and advice on infection avoidance should be via your GP. Additionally the Department of Health publishes health advice for travellers to anywhere in the world and copies of these leaflets are available free of charge from Post Offices and by telephoning NHS Choices have information on Healthcare abroad: Available: NHS Choices also has information on Travel Health: Available: Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) also publishes written health briefs for tourists and travellers. These are updated daily and validated by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. They can be contacted on The International Coordinator will create an information pack regarding your proposed placement area, which will include Health and Safety Guidance (See risk assessment, above). 17

18 Appendix 3: Flow diagram showing process for arranging elective observational placements Student requests to undertake an elective placement Student reads Elective placement strategy (see ebridge BSc/PGDip site) then meets with personal supervisor (PS) Pre-requisites met? (See page 2 EOP strategy) PS assists student to develop an action No plan Yes Potential placement identified? Advise student to visit ebridge programme site/ Placements/ Elective Placement opportunities No Yes Yes Is it a UK Placement? No No Does the student still wish to pursue alternative EOP? Yes Discuss with Programme Leader Advise student to contact FHSC International Coordinator No Yes Placement approved? Students, Programme Leader and International Coordinator meet to discuss Health and Safety etc, together Advise student contact placement organiser at receiving organisation No END PROCESS No further action No Placement agreed? Yes Yes UK Placement? Confirm dates and inform home placement coordinators Review learning 18 goals with student and monitor process through personal supervision

19 Appendix 4: Student Documentation for Practice Placement BSc (Hons) & PG Dip Midwifery Programmes Elective Observational Placement Documentation (Learning Goals, practice logs, and records of discussions) Student Name: Student Number: Dates of placement: From To 19

20 Initial Placement Discussion This should be a discussion around what the student wants to see and experience during the placement, as well as identification of the learning opportunities available. Learning Goals Student Signature: Placement representative: Date: Final Placement Discussion 20

21 Review of learning opportunities and student s participation. Student Comments Placement Representative Comments, suggested areas for comment are enthusiasm, motivation, timekeeping. Student Signature: Placement representative signature: Date: 21

22 Confirmation of dates and times of attendance Please give the dates when students attended the placement and the number of hours on placement. Date No. of hours in placement Signature(s) of placement representative Student Signature: Placement representative signature: Date Thank you for assisting in the education of our students 22

23 Appendix 5: Student Report from placement BSc (Hons) & PG Dip Midwifery Programmes Elective Observational Placement Documentation Student report from placement Student Name: Student Number: Placement Name: Placement Provider (Institution/ Organisation): Placement Location: Country Region City Dates of placement undertaken 23

24 Compile a short report electronically created (i.e. word processed, rather than handwritten). This should be a maximum of 1000 words (no more than 2 sides of A4: font must be at least 10pt) that should contain the following details: Rationale for choice of your elective placement. Preparation for the placement. Statement of learning goals. Discussion of the nature of the experience and achievement of learning goals. Discussion of the way in which midwifery care or other relevant clinical practice was organised. Discussion of the nature of midwifery practice/ or other relevant clinical practice. If appropriate include, discussion of the country, locality, hospital/clinic, health care system, major health issues, midwifery education system, role & status of the midwife and other relevant professionals. 24

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