As with all students taken on formal work placements, a placement contract should be drawn up so that all parties are clear on what is expected from them. This could cover:
- Adherence to relevant employment legislation - e.g. health and safety at work
- Remuneration for the student’s living/ travel expenses
- Agreed start and finish date
- Named supervisor to oversee the student’s work
- Liaison with university tutor to monitor progress
- Suitable induction to the company and job
- Agreement to support company-based assignments
- Appropriate training
- Appraisal of work undertaken
- Opportunity for skills development
- Provision of a reference at the conclusion of the placement
For disabled students, additional areas may include:
- Reasonable adjustments to allow the student to engage fully in the placement – e.g. physical access, scope of duties, availability of adaptive technology, etc.
- Persons responsible for assessing the above needs. This could be a combination of: the student themselves, the disability advisor and placement tutor within the university, and you,the placement provider.
- Who will be responsible for providing / paying for any of the above if required.
- Disclosure : whether or not the student wishes their disability to be made known to other staff. If so, how this will be handled.
- Procedures for responding to difficulties encountered by the student as a result of their disability, including: attitudes, complaints and health emergencies.
