Practice makes perfect? Implementing a whole university code of practice for placement learning Terry Dray Director of Graduate Advancement and Employer Engagement Dr Deborah Pownall Employer and Alumni Engagement Manager

The rationale for the introduction of the Code of Practice for Placement Learning QAA /Health and Safety requirements Development process Big Issues Lessons Learnt Impact Feedback

Institutional Success Factors for Careers Development Strategy Institutional Management Factors Curriculum Development Factors Engagement and Partnerships Factors Careers Information Advice and Guidance Factors Graduate Employability

Why a Code of Practice? Institutional Factors LJMU Strategic Objective – One University Universal reference point for staff and students Strategic plan ‘Risk’ identified External Factors QAA compliance Safeguarding students Health and Safety compliance

QAA Compliance UK Quality Code outlines what is expected of all HEIs UK Quality Code HE Review of LJMU in will judge this Chapter B3: Learning & Teaching Chapter B10: Managing Higher Education with Others (replaces collaborative provision and work-based & placement learning) Placements which contribute to learning outcomes NOT voluntary placements or work experience

“Higher education providers, working with their staff, students and other stakeholders, articulate and systematically review and enhance the provision of learning opportunities and teaching practices, so that every student is enabled to develop as an independent learner, study their chosen subject(s) in depth and enhance their capacity for analytical, critical and creative thinking.” B3: Expectation

B3: Indicators L&T resources provide effective opportunities to achieve LOs Learning environments are safe, accessible & reliable Students have clear and current information Students understand responsibilities Student feedback

B10: Expectation “Degree-awarding bodies take ultimate responsibility for academic standards and the quality of learning opportunities irrespective of where these are delivered or who provides them. Arrangements for delivering learning opportunities with organisations other than the degree-awarding body are implemented securely and managed effectively”

B10: Indicators Governance arrangements – CoP Risk assessment assessed at outset Written agreement confirming responsibilities – H&S/learning agreement Rigorous processes for delivery of placement learning – CoP Students provided with information about their rights and responsibilities – student conduct/H&S agreement

Health and Safety Requirements of health and safety law Duty of care to students Sector best practice UCEA guidance LJMU (1999) Safety Code of Practice Endorsed by University's lawyers Continuously subject to review, particularly in 2010 Consultation with Health and Safety Committee and network Forms are consistent with those in Placement Learning Code of Practice

Placements Management - Standardised Paperwork Appendix 1: University Risk Assessment Appendix 2: Placement Health, Safety and Learning Check List (Employer) Appendix 3: Student Placement, Health, Safety and Learning Agreement Appendix 4: Student Feedback on Health and Safety Arrangements during Placement Learning

What Type of Placement is Covered ? Industrial placements LJMU managed study or working abroad placements Short periods of work place learning Part-time students or research degree programmes

Agreeing Definitions Placement Coordinator Academic Programme Leader Subject/Module Leader Placement/Project Supervisor Administrative Placement Support Staff

Agreeing Definitions

Agreeing Monitoring

Agreeing Paperwork and Processes

Directors of School/Department and Heads of Operation must be certain that all members of staff involved with placement learning are competent to be so. This includes, for example, health and safety, risk assessment, learning, teaching and assessment pedagogy. Risk Assessments - Low /High /Medium Defining Responsibility

Student Information Student Rights Essential information for students Information that is needed to be in module guides Also considered: insurance; dealing with complaints; and emergency roles. Overseas placements

Monitoring and Evaluation Appendix 4: Student Feedback on Health and Safety Arrangements during Placement Learning Previously health and Safety reps who were technicians Annual Module monitoring to include placement Learning

Student Completes and returns Appendix 3 Register with LJMU Insurance Team once approved by Directors of School/Department Organisation Recorded on Central Register. Hosted by the World of Work Careers Centre, Employer Engagement and Alumni Team Placement Coordinator to complete Appendix 1, Drawing on information from Appendices 2 and 3 The organisation providing the individual placement learning opportunity completes and returns Appendix 2 Director of School/professional Service Team gives approval UK placement NO Directors of School/Department Approval required? YES Student Feedback on Health and Safety Arrangements during Placement Learning Appendix 4 Health and safety Issues to be dealt with immediately by the Faculty Head of Operations and the World of Work Careers Centre, Employer Engagement and Alumni Team should be informed If there are no issues, AMR to be completed YES Learning Placement takes place NO

Timescale September June 2014 Thorough consultative Working Party Defining Placements, minimum monitoring requirements and paperwork January July 2014 University committee processes SMT/Education/Quality/Health and Safety

July 2014 to September 2014 Briefing staff, 1 to 1 meetings with Directors Reporting back to Education Committee and SMT March 2015 Review of implementation Presentation to working party and then submission to Education Committee Timescale

Colleagues having limited knowledge of LJMU information: – Emergency phone number – Disaster planning Challenges Not getting documentation back from employers ‘My students are different’ syndrome Change of leadership mid-way

Lessons Learnt Tried to be too inclusive Road test the documents More one to one meetings required Quality and Health & Safety Departments need to be on side Comments or complaints aren’t personal Document control

Impact Many staff have embraced the code School Directors are aware of their responsibilities Sharing of best practice e.g. forms Reviewing curriculum, moving placement opportunities into the curriculum which had previously been outside

Introduction of or redirecting staff resources Clarity of roles in Faculties -relief from some that they now know what to do (administrators) Development of the an on-line form to register overseas placement students Central register of placement hosts Reviewed April 2015 Impact

Feedback “Speaking in my role as Erasmus coordinator, the new code of practice finally provides an institutional response to the health and safety and insurance requirements of the European Commission. The new process takes a sensible approach to managing partnerships rather than burdening staff with excessive administrative ‘baggage.’’ Michael Harland

‘’As a member of Staff who is new to a placement supervisor role, I received great clarification on what I will be required to do with regards to the Code of Practice’’ Feedback