WORK08016 2019 Work Placement

Self represent personal and professional skills and competencies through compilation of a CV, job application or interview, and identify strengths and weaknesses in personal work performance through reflective practice

Exhibit workplace specific knowledge and skills in the areas of proposal and report writing and maintain detailed records of work placement activity, reflecting on practice.

Demonstrate a professional attitude at work showing a willingness to seek out opportunities and deliver work to a standard commensurate with employer expectations and student experience

Operate professionally and constructively within a multidisciplinary team environment, cooperating with others and actively contributing to real work situations within allocated responsibility, demonstrating competence, ownership and autonomy in applied learning.

Apply basic practical skills to the work environment demonstrating competence, creativity and an appreciation for relevant organisational policies and procedure.

Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills to integrate into the organisation, and form the foundations of a network of professional contacts and recognise future career opportunities.

This module is delivered full-time in the 2nd semester of year 4, which is an abbreviated semester designed to facilitate students leaving to undertake placement. 

Classroom-based learning is typically preparatory and undertaken on an individual basis or small-group setting, either as a workshop or other applied setting e.g. mock interview, panel discussion.  Learners benefit from formative feedback weekly on task performance.

Applied learning is through guided task performance in the placement setting, working towards achieving the aims for the work established in the Work Placement Proposal, with timely feedback on performance from supervising/mentoring staff.

This module is 100% Continuous Assessment.

Due to the many differences between the various work placement opportunities, direct comparison of placements is complex.  Differences between placements exist in terms of work experiences offered, student autonomy afforded at work, level of supervision on placement, level of challenge offered to students and other changing factors, thus this subject is assessed as Pass/Fail. 

A number of opportunities exist for formative assessment and feedback during the preparatory training block e.g. CV preparation and mock interview aswell as in-class tasks.

Student evaluation during the placement block off-campus consists of; (i) students work placement proposal document, (ii) employer assessment and (iIi) student self-assessment (iv) reflection on practice through logs (v) interviews with employer and student on location and (vi) students final placement report. 

Failure of the module may include any/all of the following: (a) consistent failure to attend 12 weeks of placement punctually on scheduled days and (b) consistent failure to actively engage with and contribute to the work of the host organisation or cooperate with co-workers (c) failure to deliver any of the listed elements above by the deadline stated and/or (d) erratic attendance (except where there are extenuating circumstances) and consistent non-compliance with scheduled preparatory block activities or consistent lack of active participation in workshops.

Students failing will be required to repeat the specific elements that they have failed which may involve repeating all /some of the placement time or one or all of the assessment tasks/assignments.

Classroom-based Preparation (10 weeks):

- Self-assessment of knowledge, skills and professional competencies aimed towards;

• CV development and
• Self-representation at interview

- Interpersonal & Communication Skills for the workplace workshop

- Proposal & Report Writing Skills and work placement assessment

- Record keeping for work placement activity and reflective practice

- Guidelines for working with children & vulnerable adults

- Perspectives of recent graduates on career progression pathways, job application processes, interview tactics, networking and further study

 - Guidance on managing, meeting & surpassing expectations on placement

 - Identify work placement goals and career projection

Placement-based Learning & Validation:

Specific skills and competencies are developed in specific placements depending on the nature of the opportunities in any given year.  The mix of skills required is placement specific, while some placements involve the use of research skills predominantly, other placements might require a greater mix of planning and implementation skills.  However the majority of placements involve the development of competencies in communication, leadership and health-related research.