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T-Level Industry Placements in Mid and South Essex

The Health & Care Academy are working to support the creation of NHS and Social Care Industry Placements for T-Level students studying at further education colleges across Mid and South Essex.

T-Levels are a new, two-year vocational qualification for 16-18 year olds and are equivalent to three A-Levels.  T-Level programmes support young people to build their transferrable skills and industry knowledge through a mandatory industry placement of 315 hours (approximately 45 days) in a real workplace setting.

More and more colleges and sixth form settings across Mid and South Essex are offering T-Level programmes and there are a wide range of subjects for young people to choose from including:

  • Health
  • Healthcare Science
  • Engineering Design and Development
  • Digital Business Services
  • Legal
  • Finance and Accounting
  • IT & Digital Production
  • Catering
  • Leadership & Management
  • Administration

The Academy have prepared some helpful frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) below which will support teams across our system to plan and create NHS and Social Care T-Level industry placement opportunities for young people so that we can build our workforce of the future.

Further information about T-Levels can be found here:  T Levels | The Next Level Qualification

 

What do T-Level Programmes Look Like?

Why do we need to create T-Level Industry Placements in the NHS and Social Care?

By choosing a  T-Level programme, students have made a significant commitment to vocational learning that directly aligns their education with the demands of the workplace. T-Level qualifications provide a robust framework that combines practical industry experience with theoretical knowledge, equipping students with the skills necessary for today’s job market.

As the nation’s largest employer, the need for a skilled workforce in the NHS is paramount and we must ensure that we are attracting and inspiring our future workforce now.

The NHS and Social Care are increasingly seeking individuals who not only possess academic credentials but also practical and professional competencies that can contribute to their operations from day one.  T-Level programmes bridge this gap by fostering collaboration between educational institutions and employers, ensuring that students receive relevant training and exposure to real-world challenges immediately. 

Employer commitment in supporting a student through an industry placement not only enhances the employability of the student, but also supports the workforce development potential for teams across our region.

Which NHS and Social Care teams are you looking for support from?

We are looking for teams who are working in both clinical and non clinical areas of the NHS and Social Care who could provide an opportunity for a young person to support the team on a regular 1 day a week during term time placement for the duration of their college programme. 

Any team or department can provide a placement that is age-appropriate, but hosting a T-Level industry placement offers a unique advantage. Over the course of the T-Level programme (two years), teams have the opportunity to closely engage with students, allowing them to not only mentor but also observe the student’s skills, work ethic, and cultural fit within the organisation, positioning themselves strategically to fill future vacancies with individuals who have already proven their capabilities. 

 

Is there a financial cost to my team/department?

There are no financial costs to the team or department and no payment made to the young person as the industry placement is a mandatory requirement of their college course.  The team would however be making an investment in the young person by providing the time of a supervisor or mentor to oversee the placement and team activities when they are onsite.

Young people fund their own travel to and from the workplace and provide their own lunch or this is supported by their college if they are in receipt of free school meals or other financial assistance.

 

 

How do we find out more about offering a placement?

You can speak to a member of the Mid and South Essex Health & Care Academy team who are working closely with our regional colleges to place students.

Email Kate Merritt – Health & Care Academy Manager using kate.merritt1@nullnhs.net to express an interest and get started.

How do T-Level Industry Placements work?

Students are required to undertake a minimum of 315 hours (approximately 45 days) over the duration of their programme.

For the majority of the colleges in our Mid and South Essex region, young people are on placement for 1 day a week from January-July with 3 additional block weeks throughout each academic year. 

Are T-Level students DBS checked?

Yes.  DBS checks are completed by the colleges when the young person registers for their programme.  If additional checks are required by teams/departments, the colleges will complete these for their students.

What responsibilities does the team/department have for hosting a T-Level Industry Placement?

The team/department where the student undertakes a placement must ensure that:

  • They provide a safe working environment
  • They provide a local induction as with any new member of staff that explains relevant policies and procedures for the environment
  • Provide opportunities for the young person to develop their technical and transferrable skills while on placement
  • Provide a member of staff to supervise the young person and provide support and mentoring where necessary
  •  Provide formal feedback to the Academy on a regular basis on the students progress while on placement
Are we able to support more than one student in our team?

Yes, this would be suitable provided that the host team are able to offer meaningful activities that support both of the students to development the required skills. 

Is it just clinical departments that can host a T-Level placement?

No, any department or team in the NHS or Social Care can host a placement as there are many different T-Level programmes on offer that can be related to the workplace.  We are looking for host teams from all areas including IT & Digital, Estates, Communications, Hospitality, Finance and Engineering too.

What is the impact on staff time?

T-Level students on placement will need to be supervised.  Their supervisors do not have to be clinicians or managers.  Each team can organise their own student supervision to make it suitable for their setting.

What paperwork will teams need to complete?

Once the placement is set up, there is minimal ongoing paperwork to be completed by those supervising students.  Students will come with a DBS check and the supervisor will be required to complete a local induction as part of the starting process.  From there, supervisors will be required to confirm that students have attended their placement as agreed and the hours that have been completed will need to be confirmed with the Health & Care Academy on a weekly basis for tracking purposes. 

What are the Health & Safety requirements for students on industry placement?

There is no requirement to complete a separate risk assessment for young people under 18 and Employer’s Liability Insurance already covers young people.  If your team/department have not hosted a young person recently, you will need to review the risk assessment that is in place in your area to take into account any specific considerations for young people.

Teams/departments must consider whether the work the young person will be undertaking is:

  • Beyond their physical or psychological capacity
  • Involves any exposure to harmful or toxic substances
  • Involves any exposure to radiation in any form
  • Involves risk of accidents that cannot reasonably be recognised or avoided by young people
  • Has any risk to a young persons health from extreme cold temperatures, heat, noise or vibration
Will T-Level placement students have access to IT systems or programmes?

Yes, students can be given access to limited areas of IT systems and programmes providing that all appropriate safeguarding and GDPR policies for your organisation have been taken into account and it is relevant to the young persons role.

How do I report student absences?

If your T-Level placement student is absent for their arranged placement day, please let the Health & Care Academy team know so that this can be followed up with the college.

Do T-Level placement students bring tariff funding?

No, but they will have a DBS check in place and an Occupational Health check that will be paid for by the education provider.

Interested in supporting a T-Level placement student in your team?

The Health & Care Academy are looking for proactive teams from providers across our Integrated Care System who would like to develop their future workforce by offering a young person the industry placement they need to succeed.

If you are interested in finding out more or expressing an interest in hosting a placement, please complete the Health & Care Academy’s expression of interest.

T-Level Expression of Interest Form (opens in a new window)