- Practice Placement Needs Agreement
- Should I tell my placement about my disability or health condition?
- What cant be changed?
- Why should I discuss my needs?
- What adjustments could help?
- Who can I talk to?
Practice Placement Needs Agreement
A Practice Placement Needs Agreement (PPNA) can help you identify and arrange reasonable adjustments for a disability, mental health difficulty or medical condition while you are on placement.
Student Wellbeing can help you decide whether to share information about your needs and discuss the support that may help you on placement.
Should I tell my placement about my disability or health condition?
Telling your placement supervisor or mentor about your disability, mental health difficulty or medical condition can help them understand your needs and arrange appropriate adjustments.
You may not feel comfortable sharing this information. Unless withholding information could present a risk to you or others, you will not be required to discuss your disability or have information shared without your consent. You can also change your mind about sharing information during your studies.
Occupational Health is different. If you need Occupational Health clearance, you must disclose relevant information about your health or disability as part of the fitness-to-practise process.
What can’t be changed?
All students must meet the required criteria for their course.
Many professional programmes include competency-based assessments. These requirements cannot be changed, but reasonable adjustments may help you demonstrate your abilities.
Why should I discuss my needs?
Talking about your needs before or during your placement can help your placement provider understand the support or adjustments you require.
You may be concerned about being treated differently or receiving what could be seen as special treatment. However, discussing reasonable adjustments can help remove unnecessary barriers and give you the opportunity to demonstrate your abilities.
You can choose to discuss your needs before your placement begins or change your mind later.
What adjustments could help?
Adjustments depend on your individual needs and the requirements of your placement.
Examples of adjustments that have supported students include:
- adjusting placement hours where medication causes tiredness
- allowing additional opportunities during the day to complete written records
- using equipment to help with recording information
- discussing working patterns or shift arrangements
- using a consistent workspace
- keeping equipment in consistent locations.
Adjustments must still allow you to meet the required competencies and assessment criteria for your programme.
Who can I talk to?
Student Wellbeing
An Adviser in the disability or mental health team can help you:
- think about whether you want to discuss your disability or health needs
- consider which reasonable adjustments may help
- discuss how your information could be shared
- start a Practice Placement Needs Agreement.
Your Practice Placement Needs Agreement is separate from the Study Needs Agreement used for your taught studies.
Your Placement Lead
Your University Placement Lead, or equivalent, can:
- discuss which adjustments are appropriate for your placement
- liaise with the placement provider where needed
- complete your Practice Placement Needs Agreement
- support you with sharing it with your placement provider.
Your placement provider, supervisor or mentor
You may also need to discuss your needs directly with your placement provider, supervisor or mentor so that agreed support can be put in place.
Where possible, discuss your requirements before your placement starts.
If you are unsure whether to share information about your disability, mental health difficulty or medical condition, speak to Student Wellbeing or your Placement Lead for advice.