Learning in practice
Placement education is an essential part of your learning.
It is a requirement of both the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) that students on healthcare programmes spend a considerable amount of time on practical learning opportunities.
Spending time in placement provides you with experience of a range of health and care provision and environments. Getting involved with patient/client care helps develop your confidence and abilities as a healthcare professional.
As it is a vital part of of your programme, when considering applying for a healthcare course it is important that you are familiar with what placements involve.
Clinical placements have been the highlight of the course for me. I have been lucky with willing mentors who have been happy to support my progress.
What do placements involve?
The amount of time you will spend on placement varies from programme to programme, but you will be expected to treat your placement time professionally on all programmes. Healthcare in the UK is provided around the clock, so placements will reflect real working patterns which may include shift and overnight working.
We work closely with a range of healthcare providers to provide a range of placement education opportunities across Wales. While some placements are available for some programmes in Cardiff, many will take you further afield and you may expect to travel and stay away for some placements.
Clinical placement is the most rewarding part of the course. It allows you to put into practice all the skills you have learnt at University in a safe environment, with clinical educators on hand to guide and progress your development as a future Physiotherapist.
Allocation of placements
Placements are allocated according to where you are on your degree programme, the type of experience required and the availability of appropriate support in clinical areas.
Students are not normally able to request to change a placement to which they have been allocated, other than in exceptional circumstances.