WORK08016 2019 Work Placement

General Details

Full Title
Work Placement
Transcript Title
Work Placement
Code
WORK08016
Attendance
75 %
Subject Area
WORK - Work Placement
Department
HEAL - Health & Nutritional Sciences
Level
08 - Level 8
Credit
10 - 10 Credits
Duration
Semester
Fee
Start Term
2019 - Full Academic Year 2019-20
End Term
9999 - The End of Time
Author(s)
Maire McCallion, Azura Youell
Programme Membership
SG_SPUBL_K08 201900 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Public Health and Health Promotion SG_SHEAL_H08 201900 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Health Science and Physical Activity
Description

The 10 week full-time work placement is also preceded by a classroom-based preparatory training block, where students experience a range of activities designed to develop skills and confidence for the workplace.

The entire module affords students opportunities to execute and develop key skills and competencies in health promotion and public health practice, to facilitate learners to secure work in the area. The module also serves to establish the foundations of a network of contacts in the public health and health promotion arena, and develop the students confidence, autonomy and professional competence for a work environment.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;

1.

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

2.

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.

3.

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

4.

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.

5.

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

6.

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.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

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.

Module Assessment Strategies

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.

Repeat Assessments

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.

Indicative Syllabus

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.

Coursework & Assessment Breakdown

Coursework & Continuous Assessment
100 %

Coursework Assessment

Title Type Form Percent Week Learning Outcomes Assessed
1 Student feedback regarding task performance during the preparatory block. Formative Performance Evaluation 0 % OnGoing 1,2,3
2 Work Placement Proposal Pass/Fail Individual Project 0 % Week 7 2
3 On-going feedback from the work placement employer/supervisor during regular meetings on the placement. Formative Performance Evaluation 0 % OnGoing 3,4,5,6
4 Employer Evaluation(s) of Student Performance on Placement Pass/Fail Assessment 0 % Any 1,2,3,4,5,6
5 Final Placement Report & Activity Logs Pass/Fail Individual Project 0 % End of Term 2,4,5

Full Time Mode Workload


Type Location Description Hours Frequency Avg Workload
Workshop / Seminar Classroom Flexible Seating Group Learning / Training 2 Weekly 2.00
Independent Learning Not Specified Self Study 1 Weekly 1.00
Directed Learning Offsite Facility Fulltime Placement for 12 Weeks 35 Weekly 35.00
Total Full Time Average Weekly Learner Contact Time 2.00 Hours

Required & Recommended Book List

Required Reading
2004-08-27 Managing Your Placement: A Skills Based Approach Palgrave
ISBN 0333987284 ISBN-13 9780333987285

Managing Your Placement provides business and management undergraduates with a comprehensive guide to making the most of the opportunities available to them on a work placement. The book will guide students through everything, from the questions to ask to admission tutors on university open days, to selecting the best placement and securing a job upon graduation. Managing Your Placement will provide business students with the tools to assess their own skills and critically evaluate their career options. A must read for anyone about to embark upon a business course in Higher Education, about to make a placement selection or looking for their first job after graduation. Also available is a companion website with extra features to accompany the text, please take a look by clicking below - http://www.palgrave.com/business/herbert/index.asp

Required Reading
2004-08-24 Work Placements - A Survival Guide for Students (Palgrave Study Skills) Palgrave
ISBN 1403934347 ISBN-13 9781403934345

Work Placements

Required Reading
2007-12-16 Surviving Your Placement in Health and Social Care: A Student Handbook Open University Press
ISBN 0335222595 ISBN-13 9780335222599

SURVIVING YOUR PLACEMENT IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE: A STUDENT HANDBOOK

Required Reading
20/09/2019 Making the most of your placement SAGE Publications Ltd.

Recommended Reading
Work Experience, Placements & Internships Palgrave

Required Reading
2010-04-30 The Essential Work Experience Handbook Gill Education
ISBN 0717147592 ISBN-13 9780717147595

Specifically written for the mandatory FETAC Work Experience module, this handbook aims to serve students as reference during their work placement. It guides them through the process of building their own work experience portfolio, and provides an awareness of interview and job finding skills, and legislation equality issues.

Module Resources

Non ISBN Literary Resources

 

 

Journal Resources

None

URL Resources

The Course Page on the VLE will be signposted in workshops.

Grad Ireland

 

Other Resources

Student Agreement

Employer Agreement

IT Sligo Agreement

Additional Information

Resources to support the provision of recognised specialist training opportunities and guest speakers/visiting lecturer to input to elements of the preparatory block in this module are an asset to prepare students for the realities of the world of work.

The allocation of hours to a work placement coordinator across the academic year to arrange and coordinate student placements (in addition to the student contact hours) is pivotal and occurs currently as 1 hour/week for every 10 students to be placed.  Additional resources need to be made available to cover expenses incurred during on-site visits.

A key element in retaining existing employers and recruiting new organisations to facilitate/host placements in health-related areas is linked to face-to-face contact from an IT Sligo representative via the midway on-site visit when the midway student evaluation is conducted.  This interaction builds relationships with external organisations by showing on-going interest in, and support for the student on placement and the host organisation alike.