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

“Clinical Placements: Ready - Really? Set - Safe? Go - Goodness only knows?” Presenter: Dr Eileen Petrie

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

The 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

Para 9. Support for study & student life – equal opportunity • The University will endeavour to address the reasonable needs of all its students regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, disability or background.

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

Para 12. Support for study and student 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.

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.

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

The 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

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.

Policy 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.

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

Para1. 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.

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

The Policies That Guide Us • OHS MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE: FUNCTIONS, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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.

All Staff, Students, Contractors & Visitors • All students, contractors & visitors are: • Responsible for following safe work practices consistent with the extent of their control or influence over working conditions and methods • Required to cooperate with management in achieving a safe & healthy workplace • Required to take reasonable care for their own health & safety & of anyone else who may be affected by their actions or omissions • Encouraged to actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the University’s health & safety policies & procedures

Is the Student Set – Safe?Where 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

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

Is the Student Set – Safe?Where We Are Now • How do we know? • What do we look for? • What do we do?

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.

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

What do we look for? • Students at risk: • Demonstrating unusual or inappropriate behaviours • Demonstrating high anxiety levels • Low self-esteem • Depressed mood • Students who have disclosed: • a mental illness diagnosis & request special consideration when placement is concerned • request assistance in managing placement demands • suicidal ideation

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 & 24 if we have reasonable belief there is a ‘safe to practice’ issue • This enables us to act on our concerns to: • Restrict the attendance to clinical placement • Withdraw our students

Faculty of Health SciencesFaculty Academic Policies & Procedures Manual • 8.5 Withdrawal from Placement • 8.5.1 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.

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

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;

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 professional • work; • 4. The student demonstrates gross negligence in the performance of an assigned duty.

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 risk • Clinicians 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

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

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

Where are we Now? (cont’d)How we are protecting the student? • 24hr hotline for students • Centralised in Melbourne • University will contact relevant subject coordinator & inform them of any incidents • Anticipate setting up peer support groups within the class – similar along the lines of ‘watch your mate’

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?

Thank you for your attention Questions please?

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

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