At the end of a placement

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• At the end of a placement

You have reached the end of the placement. It is important that you complete all activities required before the students leave.

Communication

Communication continues to be the most important element to ensure a smooth transition at the completion of the placement. Consider communication with both the student and University Representative. By communicating effectively with both throughout the placement, this will ensure a smooth completion of the placement.

Feedback/Assessment

The final feedback session encompasses the final formal assessment and can be a lengthy challenging experience. The key to success is the planning.

The following are essential to consider when planning the final feedback session:

1. Time - Allow sufficient time to ensure all communication can be completed thoroughly and to the satisfaction of both parties (i.e student and clinical educator).
2. Venue – Find and book a room which has sufficient space and to allow comfort for both parties.
3. Content – Plan for content. Write some notes to guide the session. This will ensure you do not forget anything.
4. Evidence – Have some written evidence describing particular student experiences which you utilised to arrive at your feedback.
5. Complete formal assessment as per profession guidelines. It can be helpful to give the student a copy of the assessment to complete prior to this session. This will give you an opportunity to see if the students self-reflections match your assessment.
6. Think about the tone and language of the conversation. At all times you need to ensure the process is professional. Avoid emotive statements. Also, you will need to consider the individual student as you are aiming to be clear, concise and factual with your feedback. Ensure you use language which they understand.
7. Allow time for the student to ask questions.
8. Always be aware of your body language throughout the session.

Required Paperwork

Ensure you have read the relevant university manual and are aware of all paperwork that is required. Remember, if you forget something, it may be challenging to complete once the student has left.

Always check that the student has completed the necessary patient/client documentation prior to leaving the placement.

Patient Handovers

Always think about what happens next in your workplace. Does the student need to complete written and/or verbal handovers for continuation of their patient/clients' treatment?

Student Environment

Remember the check the student’s environment. Have they cleaned and tidied the area? Have they filed all paperwork? Have they shredded documents with confidential information that are no longer required? Is the environment ready for the next student/s?

Is there any information you would like

When the student has left, it will be time for you to reflect and evaluate the placement in order to help you prepare for future placements. Consider, is there anything you could do now that will assist this process e.g. feedback from student?

Housekeeping

Prepare a list of the things you need to collect from the student to ensure you do not forget e.g. keys, identification badges.