“Clinical Placements: Ready - Really? Set - Safe?  Go - Goodness only knows?”

Presenter: Dr Eileen Petrie

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Is the Student Ready - Really?The Policies That Guide Us

Policies are in place to reflect the responsibilities of both the university to the student and vice versa

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The Policies That Guide UsThe Policies That Guide Us

STUDENT CHARTER EXPECTATIONS PROCEDURE - (Policy Database Document Reference Number 117004D)

The purpose of this section of the charter is to establish students’ reasonable expectations of the University

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Para Para 9. Support for study & student life – 9. Support for study & student life –

equal opportunity equal opportunity

The University will endeavour to address the reasonable needs of all its students regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, disability or background.

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Para Para 10. Support for study and student 10. Support for study and student life – freedom from harassment & life – freedom from harassment & discrimination discrimination

The University will endeavour to provide an environment for students which is free from harassment and discrimination as set out by relevant University policy and State and Federal Anti-discrimination legislation.

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Para 12. Support for study and student Para 12. Support for study and student

life – support services life – support services The University will encourage a network of

support for all students to be developed which may include access to health services, recreational facilities, counselling services, learning assistance, child-minding facilities, graduate career planning, housing and accommodation information.

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Para 14. Assessment Para 14. Assessment

Academic performance in accordance with the requirements of the course is the only criterion to be considered in assessing any student’s eventual success or otherwise in the course, subject to due regard for exceptional circumstances of a compassionate or compelling nature.

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Para16. Confidentiality Para16. Confidentiality

At all times students can expect the University to hold confidential all personal information and to release it outside the University only with the consent and knowledge of the student or when legally required to do so

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The Policies That Guide UsThe Policies That Guide Us

STUDENT CHARTER POLICY (Policy Database Document Reference Number 117003P)

The purpose of this charter is to establish the responsibilities of students towards the University and students’ reasonable expectations of the University

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Policy Statement Policy Statement

The La Trobe Student Charter comprises a statement of students’ responsibilities towards the University and a statement of students’ reasonable expectations of the University.

The responsibilities and expectations of students are underpinned by core University values of responsibility, critical enquiry, integrity, participation and excellence.

Both staff and students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects these values.

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Policy StatementPolicy Statement

The conduct of the University and its students is governed by a number of pieces of external legislation such as Acts involving privacy, occupational health and safety, equal opportunity, discrimination and administrative law.

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STUDENT CHARTER RESPONSIBILITIES PROCEDURE - Policy Database Document Reference Number 117005D

The purpose of this section of the charter is to establish student’s responsibilities towards the University

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Para 1. Awareness of and adherence to University Statutes

Students are expected to be aware of their responsibilities under the Statutes of the University and to abide by these Statutes.

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Para Para 2. Awareness of rules and regulations Students have a responsibility to make

themselves aware of all University rules and regulations pertaining to their rights and responsibilities as students.

They can expect that the University will make such rules and regulations readily available to them to access and, where appropriate, to acquire

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The Policies That Guide Us

OHS MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE: FUNCTIONS, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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The Policies That Guide Us

Parent Policy Title: - La Trobe University Occupational Health & Safety Policy (Policy Database Document Reference Number 531010X )

The purpose of this document is to identify the occupational health and safety management structure functions, roles and responsibilities at all levels within the University.

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All Staff, Students, Contractors & Visitors

All students, contractors & visitors are:a. Responsible for following safe work practices consistent with

the extent of their control or influence over working conditions and methods

b. Required to cooperate with management in achieving a safe & healthy workplace

c. Required to take reasonable care for their own health & safety & of anyone else who may be affected by their actions or omissions

d. Encouraged to actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the University’s health & safety policies & procedures

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Is the Student Set – Safe?Where We Are NowWhere We Are Now

Currently we rely on Sections 23 & 24 of the OH&S Act to:◦ restrict or ◦ remove students from clinical placement

This is based on:◦ reasonable belief to act on our concerns

These include:◦ mental health issues identified that could cause

damage to the reputation of either the student or the university

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Is the Student Set – Safe?Where We Are Now

Reasonable concerns to restrict the student from attending clinical placement based on:◦Behavioural◦Other

The obligation follows:◦Refer to counselling◦Treatment

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Is the Student Set – Safe?Where We Are Now

How do we know?What do we look for?What do we do?

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How do we know?

The preparation of students for clinical placement relies on the lecturer to ensure the student is safe and competent to meet the requirements and expectations of our industry partners.

This means that the university or tertiary provider has established the required platform of knowledge required to ensure the student is not placed at risk at the clinical venue.

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How do we know?

Within the health sector the ethical concern is whether the client is placed at risk

Students who are unprepared may be inappropriate in client/student interaction based on ignorance

This is also true when we are ensuring the student is a safe practitioner; ◦ both mentally and ◦ physically 22

What do we look for?

Students at risk:Demonstrating unusual or inappropriate behavioursDemonstrating high anxiety levelsLow self-esteemDepressed moodStudents who have disclosed:

◦ a mental illness diagnosis & request special consideration when placement is concerned

◦ request assistance in managing placement demands◦ suicidal ideation

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What do we do?

At present we are basing the assessment for clinical preparedness of our students on the Occupational Health & Safety Act Sections 23 &

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This enables us to act on our concerns to:◦ Restrict the attendance to clinical placement◦ Withdraw our students

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Faculty of Health SciencesFaculty Academic Policies & Procedures Manual

8.5 Withdrawal from Placement8.5.1 Interpretation

◦ For the purposes of this policy and the procedures herein, the following definitions apply:

◦ ‘Placement’ is the placement of a student into an Agency as part of the course requirements in order to gain experience from a workplace environment.

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8.5 Withdrawal from Placement8.5.1 Interpretation

◦ ‘Agency’ is the facility or workplace environment in which the student undertakes professional placement and is deemed to be part of the Faculty

◦ These procedures cover situations involving unsafe or unsatisfactory student performance in such professional placements.

◦ Decisions taken under this section are unit to any special arrangements or agreements made between the Faculty and the relevant Agency

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Reasons for Withdrawal from PlacementA student may be withdrawn from a

placement where:

1. The student is consistently unable, after due instruction & guidance, to perform in a professional situation without an inappropriate or an unattainable degree of supervision from the Supervisor in relation to:◦ professional skills involving patient/client comfort or

safety◦ the performance of technical procedures already

taught, demonstrated and practised in a prior professional or practical situation;

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Reasons for Withdrawal from PlacementA student may be withdrawn from a

placement where:2. The student performs in a manner detrimental

to the learning experience of other students;3. The student breaches the legal, ethical or

professional codes relative to professionalwork;4. The student demonstrates gross negligence in

the performance of an assigned duty.

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Go - Goodness only knows?”

An expectations exists that the students will receive a certain amount of education from the clinical venues

Ethical concerns exist of placing clients at riskClinicians do feel compromised if required to

‘sign off’ our students when they have great concerns

Have had clinical venues call University to have the student removed based on mental health issues

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Where are we Now?How we are protecting the student?

Delegation undertaking an new University Statute to include the decision to exclude students from clinical placement due to behavioural issues associated with mental illness◦ Anticipated this will be sent as a ministerial in

December 2011◦ Relevant to our legal and ethical obligations◦ Will be incorporated into Semester 1/2012 in Health

Science La Trobe rural Health School

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Where are we Now?How we are protecting the student?

Project developed:◦ Placement Safety Program◦ Outcomes will be to provide education for students

prior to placement ◦ How to recognise threats on placement◦ How to respond to various situations aggression

management & disengagement◦ Reporting – who to contact◦ Looking after yourself – resilience & self care

strategies

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Where are we Now? (cont’d)How we are protecting the student?24hr hotline for studentsCentralised in MelbourneUniversity will contact relevant subject

coordinator & inform them of any incidentsAnticipate setting up peer support groups within

the class – similar along the lines of ‘watch your mate’

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Changes are afoot! - What are we looking at?

The type of assault or risk?What kind of placement?Response of agency?Response of the University?Response of the student?Outcomes?

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Thank you for your attention

Questions please?

Thank you for your attention

Questions please?

References

http://www.latrobe.edu.au/policy/all-policies?result_17810_result_page=W

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