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Life Sciences Study

Placement Provider Roles and Responsibilities Guidance

The guidance below has been created to support employers offering placement opportunities to students of the University of Warwick.

The responsibilities listed form part of a larger Placement ResponsibilitiesLink opens in a new window document, that details responsibilities for each of the parties involved with placement work (University, academic departments, placement practitioners, student, placement provider) and is based on principles and good practice provided by ASET, the Work Based and Placement Learning Association.

Placement Student ResponsibilitiesLink opens in a new window

Click the link above to refer to the advised responsibilities of students undertaking placements

School of Life Sciences Responsibilites

Click the link above to refer to the advised responsibilities of employers offering placements to Warwick students

Pre-placement

  • Provide a clear job description setting out the role and responsibilities, skills and experience required, working hours, salary, and working arrangements
  • Remuneration should be stated at the outset, either as a set figure, an appropriate range or expressed comparatively to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage
  • Recruit and select students using the same methods and standards that apply to regular recruitment
  • Understand and fulfil legal responsibility as an employer with regards to recruitment and equality legislation, including Right to Work checks
  • Provide an employment contract to the successful candidate(s)
  • Seek to become familiar with any relevant university processes, as advised within placement communication
  • Provide required information in relation to health and safety, insurance, and due diligence
  • Prompt and monitor the completion of risk assessments
  • Ensure that sufficient insurance cover is in place (held by the Placement Provider and the student, if appropriate) for the activities of the placement student and to others who could be affected by the placement student’s actions or inactions
  • Be familiar with and agree to the responsibilities and expectations for all parties through a formal signed agreement
  • Arrange an induction programme and appoint a named line manager or supervisor who will act as the first point of contact throughout the placement, supervise the student, and liaise with the practitioner

On placement

  1. Provide a sufficiently safe, professional working environment where appropriate, including the provision of guidelines for home working if necessary
  2. Accept liability and responsibility for students on placement in the same way as for all other employees
  3. Provide a structured induction and induction materials including information regarding equality and diversity and health and safety
  4. Provide suitable supervision, training and support throughout the placement
  5. Agree learning objectives with the placement student and include regular opportunities for two-way discussion, feedback and review sessions
  6. Allow time, where possible, for the student to reflect on learning, or undertake any other tasks relevant to the academic assessment of their placement.
  7. Support the student to manage their own learning, by ensuring sufficient access to resources, support, and materials 
  8. Comply with health and safety legislation and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
  9. Treat the placement student as a regular employee, excepting the additional needs of the placement
  10. Maintain good communication with the academic department by responding promptly to emails and other requests for information
  11. Report any issues or concerns that arise during the placement to the student (in all cases) and to the academic department (issues that threaten the continuance of the placement, unexplained absences) following agreed reporting procedures
  12. Facilitate at least one placement visit by the practitioner or their representative, and ideally at least one further check-in by email if longer than one term
  • Complete a final review with the placement student that includes an objective evaluation of their performance, effectiveness in consolidating the knowledge and skills to the workplace, and the learning that they have gained from the placement
  • Complete any evaluation forms provided by the academic department

Wellbeing Resources for Students on Placement

Below are some links to resources that you can sign post your University of Warwick placement student to, if you feel they needs some additional support.