Code of Conduct for Students Undertaking Placement

 
This document is intended to provide guidance to all students undertaking a placement as part of a programme of study, regardless of subject, format or department. It has been approved by the Placement Tutors Forum.

Students should: 
- be aware of their responsibility to find a suitable placement by the due date, 
- be aware that their responsibility to prepare for and show commitment to placement begins upon enrolment, 
- make full use of individual departmental and central University assistance and support, 
- understand and adhere to any assessment requirements for placement, 
- attend ALL required placement briefings and debriefings organised by individual and central University departments, 
- behave appropriately at ALL times (before, during, after, in and out of work) acting to enhance the reputation of all parties involved.

Students should be aware of their rights to: 
- an appropriate learning experience, 
- a safe working environment, 
- be treated in accordance with applicable legislation.

During recruitment, students should: 
- ensure that all applications are well researched, presented and meet specified requirements, 
- contact their Placements Tutor and/or potential placement provider with reasonable notice should they wish to withdraw their application or are unable to keep an appointment for a valid reason, 
- be prompt in replying to communications from potential placement providers and departmental Placements Staff, 
- inform Placements Staff of any speculative applications and obtain approval for any placement offered PRIOR to acceptance, 
- recognise that both the offer of a placement and its acceptance – including a firm verbal acceptance via departmental Placements Staff – form a contract.

Once placed but prior to commencement, students should: 
- submit promptly all requested details and paperwork to the department, 
- recognise that it is their responsibility to find suitable placement accommodation, 
- comply with all reasonable requests from the employer and inform Placements Staff of any changes.

During placement, students should: 
- take every opportunity to optimise their learning experience, 
- return required contact details and paperwork within the timeframes set by the department, 
- act within the terms and conditions laid down by their placement provider and comply with relevant Health and Safety regulations, 
- not give notice to their placement provider without first consulting their Placements Tutor, 
- inform their Placements Tutor of any problems that cannot be resolved at a local level, 
- Before finishing placement, ensure all requirements of both placement provider and department have been met.

After placement, students should: 
- submit all required assessment materials by the due date and attend any organised debriefings, 
- reflect on and evaluate their placement and share their experiences with potential new placement students 
- comply with any terms and conditions that still apply after the placement has ended.