Support during placements

Where to find help and guidance if you experience issues during your clinical placements.

Knowing where to get support helps you address challenges effectively and continue your professional development.

Who to contact with placement issues

If you experience issues during placement, you should contact:

your placement supervisor for day-to-day concerns
your university's placement coordinator for logistical issues
your personal tutor for academic concerns

Do not wait until things get worse: support is available and it's normal to need help during your studies.

Speak to your course tutor about:

escalation routes if initial contacts do not resolve issues
timeframes for expected responses to concerns
documentation required when raising placement issues
boundaries between university and placement provider responsibilities

Process for raising concerns about patient care

Patient safety is paramount in healthcare settings.

The HCPC has published a useful video case study on reporting concerns along with guidance about what to do to limit the risk of harm to service users, carers and others.

If you have concerns:

discuss them with your supervisor if appropriate
follow local whistleblowing procedures
document your concerns objectively
contact your university if the concern isn't addressed

The HCPC has also published a recording of a webinar, which looks at the requirements set out in the HCPC standards around safeguarding, as well as a blog about how to report concerns about safety.

Safeguarding is defined by NHS England as “protecting a citizen’s health, wellbeing and human rights; enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect”.

Those who are particularly vulnerable to safeguarding concerns include:

children and young people
adults with impairments, health conditions or those cared for at home

Watch the NHS Safeguarding video to get a better understanding of safeguarding and what it involves and your responsibilities as a healthcare professional.

It can be very difficult to speak up about something that has gone wrong or to raise a safeguarding concern. That’s why most organisations, including the NHS, have produced guidance to protect whistleblowers.

Speak to your course tutor about:

documentation requirements for reporting concerns
protections for students raising legitimate concerns
emergency reporting pathways for serious concerns
follow-up processes after concerns are raised

Resources for challenging situations

Speak to your course tutor about:

specific resources available to you to report challenging situations
access procedures for support resources
common challenges faced on podiatry placements
strategies for managing difficult clinical scenarios
peer support that may be available to you

Support services

As a student member of the Royal College of Podiatry, you can access:

confidential counseling through Health Assured (24/7 service)
health e-Hub app with wellbeing resources
an online wellbeing portal

Support is also available from:

your clinical supervisors for practical skills
your university academic tutors for theoretical learning
your university personal tutor for general guidance
your university student support services for additional help
us, for career development

Remember that seeking appropriate support demonstrates professional responsibility and commitment to safe practice.

Speak to your course tutor about:

specific support services for podiatry students
how to access different support services
confidentiality policies for support services
availability of support outside university hours
specialised support for placement-related stress]

Interrupted or changed placements

Speak to your course tutor about:

formal procedures for requesting placement changes
acceptable reasons for placement interruptions
documentation you may need to complete for placement changes
implications of placement interruptions and any impact this may have on your progression
processes for returning after placement interruptions