Guidelines for Placement Providers

Department of Social & Policy Sciences

Undergraduate 3rd Year Placements

www.bath.ac.uk/soc-pol

Guidelines for Placement Providers

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INTRODUCTION

The Department of Social & Policy Sciences is internationally recognised with a strong focus on policy and practice and a commitment to contribute to social well-being and social justice. We draw together academic staff with backgrounds in Social Policy, Sociology, Social Work and International Development and work closely with colleagues in Psychology, Economics and Health. The Department has an international reputation, having been rated excellent in both teaching and research assessment exercises.

In addition, University of Bath is The Sunday Times University of the Year for 2011/12.

About two thirds of our students take up the opportunity to do a four-year sandwich degree course, which includes a one-year placement. Students spend their third year working in a public or private company or organisation.

These guidelines are not intended to be definitive, but incorporate ideas and feedback gained from placement providers and students as to what constitutes a successful placement. We hope this information will be useful, especially if you have not employed a placement student before.

In some cases the placement may be the first real job a student has undertaken; he or she may not have been part of a formal organisation before. The guidelines laid out here represent good employment practices and as such will already be followed by you.

THE DEGREE PROGRAMME Social Policy (previously named Social Policy and Administration)The degree is designed to enable students to analyse the new developments that are transforming the Welfare State - and creating a more diverse system of welfare - and to relate these changes to societal, technological and economic changes in Britain and Europe.

Social SciencesThe degree offers a broad-based training in the Social Sciences. It is especially appropriate for students who, while interested in the social sciences in general, do not wish to specialise in one particular discipline. In the first year students can follow units in sociology, social policy, psychology, economics, politics and languages. Students may specialise in the later years.

SociologySociology is concerned with the study of society in all its aspects - how society coheres, how social institutions develop and operate, and how societies change. Through an appreciation of sociological concepts and theories the student develops a critical and historical understanding of social relationships.

Sociology and Social PolicyThe main aims are to enable students to develop a critical understanding of how social institutions develop and operate and how societies change; to enable students to analyse the new developments that are transforming welfare provision (in the UK and in other countries) and to relate these to changes in wider society, technology and the economy.

Sociology with Human Resource Management This is a programme that combines the study of sociology with theory and practice in human resource management. The degree shares many of the core elements of the degrees in Sociology, but is distinguished by the compulsory requirements it makes in the second and final years and by the fact it offers units taken in the School of Management.

BSc (Hons) Social Policy(previously named Social Policy and Administration)BSc (Hons) Social SciencesBSc (Hons) SociologyBSc (Hons) Sociology and Social PolicyBSc (Hons) Sociology with Human Resource Management

The Department of Social & Policy Sciences is part of the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

Guidelines for Placement Providers

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SKILLS THAT A STUDENT CAN OFFER

• All students will have completed two years of their degree, during which time they will have gained a solid grounding in social research methods, policy making issues or human resource management

• All students are competent in using a variety of well- known business software, spreadsheet packages and research tools such as SPSS

• They are able to demonstrate initiative, to assimilate information quickly and to take on an increasing degree of responsibility

• They are effective communicators with good analytical skills, and are well accustomed to working in teams

• They will have undertaken oral, visual and written presentation of research topics

• They will have developed both qualitative and quantitative research skills

STUDENT PLACEMENT OBJECTIVES

These can be divided into five main areas:

1. To gain practical experience in the application and usefulness of knowledge gained at university.

2. To develop personal and transferable skills such as:

• Communication – speaking/writing/listening

• Planning and time management

• Problem solving and analytical skills

• Decision making

• Working as part of a team or responding to leadership

• Initiative and creativity

3. The further development of business skills such as:

• Using computer packages and databases (including in-house systems) to analyse and interpret data. Creation of graphs, charts and similar methods of displaying data, possibly web site creation, desktop publishing etc

• Undertaking research

• Writing reports in a professional manner

• Making presentations in a business setting

• Undertaking business correspondence

• Project management

• Attending team meetings, seminars etc, and listening, and listening, evaluating and contributing where appropriate

4. Learning as much as possible about the profession in which they are working.

5. A dissertation is an optional part of the degree programme. Some students may wish to base their dissertation on an aspect of their placement. It is much appreciated if they can be assisted with this where possible.

“Katie’s HR models, along with research and evaluation techniques aided a fast start in her placement role and were relevant skills and experience to bring to bear in practice. She has been a delight to work with and has impressed our HR department and the business unit that we serve. Katie shows much potential and I hope she will be successful in finding a future career with IBM.”

IBM, London

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RECENT PLACEMENT PROVIDERS

Social Research & PolicyNHS TrustsPolice forces House of Commons & House of LordsCentral government departmentsEurochambersLocal government departmentsCitizen’s Advice BureauxCharities Market research companies Social research consultanciesBritish Chambers of CommerceHewlett PackardIBM

Human ResourcesJohn LewisMorgan StanleyEstee LauderGE HealthcarePfizerSyngentaAmazonIntelSwindon Borough CouncilWillisSimmons & SimmonsCYTECPrice WaterhouseGlaxoSmithKlineThe HR Dept LtdMicrosoftIBM3M Healthcare

WORK CONTENT OF PLACEMENT The work programme devised for students should give them the opportunity to learn and develop, and to assume an appropriate degree of responsibility, so that they can maximise their contribution to the organisation.

A significant amount of the work should be relevant to the student’s degree programme, although it is accepted that most placements will also involve some more routine work.

In past placements, students have conducted research, presented findings in the appropriate form, given talks, organised events and meetings, taken notes, set up and administered databases, taken responsibility for projects and generally alleviated the workload where needed.

TIMING OF PLACEMENT Students start to apply for placements during October, with a view to starting work during the following summer (between July and October). The minimum duration for a placement is 30 weeks, but most students complete a whole year. The time can be split between two departments or two different organisations. The student is expected to work a conventional working week of at least 30 hours.

FINANCE IN THE PLACEMENT YEAR Students are currently required to pay a tuition fee of £675 for the placement year. This will change to £2,500 for students starting degrees in 2012. They are eligible to receive a proportion of the student loan.

REMUNERATION Most employers pay the student a salary commensurate with age and experience. In the business and finance sector, the majority of salaries currently range from £16,000 – £26,000 per annum.

In the political and charity/NGO sector, students sometimes undertake unpaid placements, but we ask that in such cases an allowance is provided to cover their daily travel and subsistence costs.

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THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS Students start to seek their placement at the beginning of their second year. The Placements Officer has an initial briefing meeting with the whole group and individual meetings with each student. The student discusses the type of placement for which he/she would like to be considered and any general location choices/requirements.

JOB DESCRIPTION Placement providers are required to supply a brief (single page) job description and web links. It should list the main duties and also the skills or attributes required. It might also describe the company/organisation and its function. It will be displayed on the University placements website.

Students apply for those placements in which they are interested under the guidance of the Placements Officer.

MAKING APPLICATIONS There are two main methods of application:

• Sending a CV and covering letter to the employer by email. The Placement Officer can collect and email all applications in one batch, if preferred.

• Applying online through the employer’s website

INTERVIEWS Interviews are usually conducted at the company premises as this gives the students a chance to see the workplace, although they can be arranged on campus if the employer prefers this. Occasionally, telephone interviews are a practical alternative.

Interview travel costs, if agreed, should be reimbursed to the student(s) on production of travel receipts.

OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT

Students selected by the employer can be contacted by mobile phone initially. A written offer should follow, and a contract of employment provided, setting out terms and conditions. In the case of unpaid or overseas placements, a placement agreement is drawn up by the Placement Officer.

Normally, the supervisor and student agree start and finishing dates, holidays. The Placement Officer can liaise with the employer to set up a suitable work programme.

PRE-PLACEMENT BRIEFING Before going on placement the students are briefed on their responsibilities to the employer, work etiquette, ethical issues, the correct use of internet and email at work and areas such as confidentiality at work. The briefing also informs students about the reports we require from them, and how to keep in touch with the University over the placement year.

TRAINING

It is particularly useful if students can be helped to attend training courses in IT and other areas relevant to the work they are doing. Visits to other departments, if time permits, are also very useful, enabling students to see the wider context of the work.

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ROLE OF THE SUPERVISOR & INDUCTION

It is important that the student has an induction to the organisation in whatever form is appropriate. Aspects which have proved most useful in the past have been:

• A handover period between the existing placement student and the new one, if possible.

• An overview of the entire host organisation, explanation of departmental structure, an introduction to members of staff and an explanation of their roles and the communication channels.

• An introduction to the use of equipment, e.g. computers, copiers, scanners, books, resources, telephone system

• Expectations about punctuality, attendance and a clarification of working hours.

• Sickness and absence reporting, how to book any leave, appropriate dress and other practical issues. Disciplinary and grievance procedures should be explained. Most problems on placement arise because expectations about such ordinary aspects of day-to-day behaviour are not made explicit.

• Supervisors should, very early on, discuss with students their expectations about the work programme, set aims and objectives with the students and allow time for regular reviews.

• Supervisors should integrate the student into project or teamwork, and facilitate contacts with colleagues in related fields, providing a level of social contact.

• Often it is valuable for the supervisor (who may be the director of the project or unit) to delegate the day-to-day supervision of the student to another member of the staff, with whom they may more readily relate and who may be more available.

• It is good practice if the student and the supervisor can meet on a regular basis to discuss progress of the placement, any future plans, how the work is developing and to monitor progress.

• Students will need guidance about background reading, and information on where they can acquire the skills that will be of use in their placement work.

Students are expected to develop their own initiative and find out what is going on in the place of work, but they may need help initially in their new environment.

ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY WHILE STUDENTS ARE ON PLACEMENT

All students are assigned a Placement Tutor with whom they should keep in regular contact. If any problems arise, both student and supervisor are urged to contact the Placement Tutor as soon as possible.

VISIT BY PLACEMENT TUTOR

The Placement Tutor will visit the student (if UK-based), usually between November and February. In place of a visit, students overseas will be contacted by telephone and/or e-mail.

The visiting tutor will arrange the visit in advance with both the student and his/her supervisor to ensure sufficient time is set aside for it, normally not more than one hour. The student is expected to liaise with the visiting tutor and organise this as part of the placement experience. Students will also have been informed about the purpose and format of the visit and are encouraged to be prepared to discuss the points listed below with the tutor and the supervisor.

During the visit, the tutor will usually ask to speak to the student separately first and will then, if appropriate, also speak to the supervisor separately. That is followed by a joint meeting with both student and supervisor where progress can be discussed.

The visit is designed to help the student and placement provider to identify opportunities for learning, for doing useful work for the host institution and for the student to relate the placement to the degree course.

The visit is an important means of keeping students in touch with the University during the placement period, to inform them of any changes which may affect their final academic year and generally to offer advice and support.

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The main purposes of the visit can be summarised as:

For the Student

• To enable the tutor to see how the student has settled with the host institution.

• To check that a work pattern has been established, mutually agreed by the student and supervisor

• To ensure the work programme is suitable and contains sufficient variety and responsibility.

• To discuss the development of the work programme over the remaining months

• To ensure that relationships with the supervisor and co-workers are satisfactory, and offer advice on how to resolve any difficulties if they have arisen.

• To make sure that practical matters, such as accommodation, travel, etc., are satisfactory.

• To discuss any plan the student may have formulated for their final year dissertation.

For the Placement Provider

• To establish closer links with the University Social & Policy Sciences department

• To discuss whether the arrangement is progressing satisfactorily and is one which maximises the student’s contribution to the organisation.

• To discuss whether a satisfactory supervisory relationship with the student has been established.

• To identify any problems and discuss possible action.

• To explore the possibility of taking further placement students, either in the original department or in other areas of the institution

It is hoped that good two-way communication between student and supervisor will be established early in the placement and that there will be time for regular reviews, formal or informal, of the student’s progress. However, should any problems have arisen, the placement visit can be extremely valuable in clarifying any misunderstandings that may have occurred regarding the suitability of the student’s work programme and in general improving the communication flow between the two parties, so as to ensure that both receive maximum benefit from the placement.

ASSESSMENT OF PLACEMENT

The placement year is assessed on a pass/fail basis.

First Placement ReportA two-part form to be completed by both student and supervisor after about 10 weeks, describing the student’s work, their progress and plans for the rest of the placement. This report will form the basis of discussions during the visit.

Final ReportA 2000 word report to be written by the student at the end of the placement

Employer’s Placement AppraisalA few weeks before the student finishes the placement, the Supervisor will be sent an Appraisal form. The Supervisor is asked to set aside some time to go through the appraisal form with the student and complete the form. The student will benefit from this process and can also add comments at the end in the student section. This is a very useful learning process for the student, and helpful for the department.

Placement Poster EventStudents are required to create a poster in PowerPoint, describing their placement experience. This is displayed to prospective placement students and academic tutors at the beginning of the final year.

In summary, to pass the placement, the student must:

• Complete 30 weeks minimum

• Submit the first and final reports on time

• Submit a placement poster

• Receive a satisfactory appraisal from the employer

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PLACEMENTS ABROAD

Students may do their placements overseas, but they must already be fluent in the language used by the host organisation. Overseas placements are subject to visa requirements being met

ACCOMMODATION

It is the student’s responsibility to find suitable accommodation. However, any help employers can provide is appreciated. If you have other students working with you, we suggest you make students aware of this so that they can arrange to link up to find shared accommodation.

INSURANCE

For the purposes of Employment Law, students, whether paid or unpaid, should be deemed ‘employees’ and be included on the Employer’s Liability Insurance Schedule. The University of Bath carries indemnity insurance which covers injury or damage to a third party caused by any negligence of placement students. A copy of the schedule is available on request. The University provides no cover in relation to the legal liability or negligence of the placement company.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Students must be provided with a safe environment in which to work. They must be informed about health and safety regulations that apply to your premises; fire exits and emergency procedures, first aid facilities, accident reporting procedures etc.

Any accident must be reported in accordance with your organisation’s procedures.

We send placement providers a Health & Safety form and letter, which must be returned within two weeks of the placement start, signed by the student and the supervisor.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES/ ANTI-HARASSMENT The University of Bath has an Equal Opportunities policy which states that ‘It is the University’s aim that students are treated fairly on the basis of merit regardless of age, disability, family responsibilities, gender, HIV status, marital status, mental health problems, nationality, race, religious or political views or affiliations, sexual orientation, socio-economic background or transsexualism’. Further details are available at:

http://www.bath.ac.uk/universitysecretary/equalities/policies/08dignityrespectpolicy.html

The University also has an Anti-Harassment code of practice. We ask that employers uphold these policies with regard to placement students.

“Peter has been involved in a wide range of policy and research projects across a range of our theme areas, from economic and social policy angles including health, children and young people, sport and third sector. I’ve been very impressed by Peter: Good attention to detail, very perceptive, good attitude, both efficient and effective. He’s at the forefront of my mind whenever looking for capable staff.”

ECORYS Policy & Research, Birmingham

NOTES

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www.bath.ac.uk/soc-pol

THE PLACEMENTS TEAM

If you would like further clarification or any additional information, please contact:

Aste DahlWork Placements OfficerEmail: A.Dahl@bath.ac.ukTel: 00 44 (0) 1225 384099

Department of Social & Policy Sciences University of BathBuilding 3 EastBathBA2 7AY

http://www.bath.ac.uk/soc-pol

Department ofSocial & Policy Sciences

www.bath.ac.uk/soc-pol