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Introduction for Parents – Work Placement Programme Dear Parent/Guardian,

Stoke on Trent College provides vocational education and training from entry level to higher education. Our students learn by doing as well as by studying, using resources that are typical in the work place. We aim to make all our students work-ready and employable. A relevant work placement is really important in helping our students achieve the necessary employability skills, attributes and mind-sets that are essential in the workplace. To this end, all full-time students will complete an external work placement during their course of study. Your support in encouraging your son/daughter’s engagement in the work placement programme is important to us. The benefits to them are enormous, employers look for relevant experience in a real work situation during the recruitment/interview process, and whilst your son/daughter will be engaged in working in real, fully operational working environments within college, it is impossible to replicate all of the possible industry scenarios that are available in the working world.

Benefits for students:

Students will have the opportunity to develop General Employability Skills: Working independently and as part of a team Communicating clearly and confidently Contributing creative and innovative solutions Using numerical skills to solve problems and present information Using technology with confidence Contributing to a successful and sustainable workplace Following safe working practices

In addition, the opportunity to develop the following Attributes and Mind-sets: Respecting all customers & colleagues Working to the best of their ability A willingness to listen, learn and contribute Honesty and reliability Being punctual and meeting deadlines Presenting themselves to meet the standards expected of the workplace

Stoke on Trent College is very grateful for your support of the work placement programme that we offer to students. You can rest assured that work placement providers are checked to ensure the safety and security of all students.

N.B.There is a possibility that part time work (if vocationally relevant) undertaken by students may be considered as a work experience placement.This requires the cooperation of the employer in order to allow a period of working time to be used as work experience and providing that during this time, the student is ‘stretched and challenged’ above their normal paid duties.Please contact a Work Experience Officer or Coordinator for further details.

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Placement Programme All learners are encouraged to seek an employer willing and able to take them on placement for a minimum of 30 hours. Students should contact their Personal Tutor or Work Experience Officer for confirmation of their placement requirement. This might be on a day release basis or on a block basis (i.e. Monday – Friday). Individual tutors will confirm with your son/daughter the required method of attendance.

Details (Student details, name of company; address; contact name and telephone number or email) should be passed on to the Work Placement Officers at Burslem or Cauldon via completion of a ‘Work Placement Agreement Form’ a copy of which is at the end of this article. The Work Experience Officers will then ensure that the employer has the required insurances in place, that a Health & Safety Checklist is completed and also liaise with the employer regarding all aspects of the placement.

Students will be notified that the employer has completed all necessary documentation and then advised of the placement start date, times, who to report to, what clothes to wear etc. by the Work Experience Officer and Personal Tutor.

During the placement, students will need to keep a note of the induction they receive and details of what they do each day in their Student Diary. At the end of the placement, this diary should be returned to the student’s Personal Tutor so that they can be forwarded to the Work Experience Officer to be held on file together with a monitoring report from the employer. These documents are valuable to support applications for future employment and are available for copying from the Work Placement Officers.

Some frequently asked questions regarding experience of work

1. Are students insured whilst on placement?

Students on work opportunities are employees of the organisation under law with regards to the Health and Safety (Training for Employment) Regulations 1990 and Employers Liability Insurance (ELI). 2. Are work experience students classed as employees?

Under the Health and Safety (Training for Employment) Regulations 1990 students participating in work opportunities are regarded as employees of the organisation (business, company, charity) for the purposes of health and safety, therefore the Health and Safety at Work Act applies to them as employees. 3. Where can I obtain further advice on the health and safety of young people on work experience?

Advice on health and safety of young people on work experience can be obtained from the HSE: www.hse.gov.uk/youngpeople/workexperience/placeprovide.htm Issued September 2016

Commitments and responsibilities

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The employer agrees to:• Provide the student with an induction that will cover Health & Safety, Equal

Opportunities, Company Policies and procedures and welfare details• Provide a supportive and safe working environment that meets Health & Safety

requirements• Ensure that the student will be supervised at all times by a suitable member of staff• Offer the student a variety of tasks which will enable them to practice and learn work

skills• Assist by countersigning student timesheet records• Give constructive feedback on students’ performance, skills and behaviour• Provide feedback and a written reference for the student at the end of the placement• Contact the college named person in the event of any accident, query or concern

The college agrees to:• Ensure that the student is suitable for the work experience placement• Agree in advance to the proposed dates, times and schedule of attendance• Provide relevant student health information to the employer• Provide student with placement details regarding attendance dates and times, non-

attendance/lateness procedure, clothing/PPE if required• Provide feedback opportunity for the employer and student, both during and after the

placement• Set aims and objectives for the student• Provide a main contact for both the employer and student in the event of any issue or

concern

The student agrees to:• Attend the placement on the agreed dates• Attend punctually• Advise the employer and college contact of any lateness or absenteeism as soon as

possible, by phone not by text• Follow all company rules as indicated in induction• Play a full and active role in all tasks assigned to them• Inform the employer and college contact of any accident/injury• If unsure about anything…ask!

Contact details for Work Experience Officers & Coordinator are;

Diane Hutchinson (Construction, BES, Engineering & Motor Vehicle)

07741291240 or Diane.hutchinson@stokecoll.ac.ukLeanne Kael (Sport, Public Services, Applied Science, Travel & Tourism, Child, Health & Social Care)

07786114084 or Leanne.martin@stokecoll.ac.ukVicky Lavender(Hair, Beauty, Hospitality, Business, IT, Media, Perf. & Prod Arts, Music, Art & Design)

07786113870 or Victoria.lavender@stokecoll.ac.uk

Or if you wish, you can contact the Work Experience Coordinator Neil Hamilton on;07786113915 or Neil.hamilton@stokecoll.ac.uk

Work Placement Agreement FormStudent Name ID. No.Date of Birth Faculty

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Course Lecturer QualificationCourse Code

Placement Type External Internal SectorReason for internal placement

Employer NameAddressPostcodeContact NameTelephone No.Student Supervisor

Start Date Finish DateDays Hours of Work

As student named above I agree to take part in this work placement scheme. I also agree to:i) Hold in confidence any information about the Employer’s business which I may obtain during this work period and not to

disclose such information to another person without the Employer’s permission. ii) Observe all safety, security and other regulations laid down by the Employer and made known to me either by the Employer’s

representative or by displayed instructions;iii) Inform the Employer and the College as soon as possible of any absence from the work placement.iv) (a) I do not suffer from any physical or medical condition including allergies and special dietary requirements which could

result in an unnecessary risk to my health and safety or that of another person.(b) I suffer from the following physical or medical condition including allergies and special dietary requirements and this information should be conveyed to the employer

Signed (Student) Date

SECTION FOR PARENT/GUARDIAN IF STUDENT IS UNDER 18 AT THE TIME OF THE PLACEMENT

As parent / guardian / carer of the student named above, I confirm that:I have read and understood this form and agree to him / her taking part in this scheme and undertake that he/she will observe the conditions set out (see over).

Name of Parent/Guardian/Carer (Delete as appropriate)

Signed Date

Contact number in the event of an emergency

The employer agrees to:• Provide the student with an induction that will cover Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities, Company Policies

and procedures and welfare details• Provide a supportive and safe working environment that meets Health & Safety requirements• Ensure that the student will be supervised at all times by a suitable member of staff

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• Offer the student a variety of tasks which will enable them to practice and learn work skills• Assist by countersigning student timesheet records• Give constructive feedback on students’ performance, skills and behaviour• Provide feedback and a written reference for the student at the end of the placement• Contact the college named person in the event of any accident, query or concern

The college agrees to:• Ensure that the student is suitable for the work experience placement• Agree in advance to the proposed dates, times and schedule of attendance• Provide relevant student health information to the employer• Provide student with placement details regarding attendance dates and times, non-attendance/lateness

procedure, clothing/PPE if required• Provide feedback opportunity for the employer and student, both during and after the placement• Set aims and objectives for the student• Provide a main contact for both the employer and student in the event of any issue or concern

The student agrees to:• Attend the placement on the agreed dates• Attend punctually• Advise the employer and college contact of any lateness or absenteeism as soon as possible, by phone not

by text• Follow all company rules as indicated in induction• Play a full and active role in all tasks assigned to them• Inform the employer and college contact of any accident/injury• If unsure about anything…ask!

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