Becoming a placement provider

Become a Placement Provider for Health and Social Care Students

Make a Difference - Shape the Future Workforce

At the University of Derby, we’re proud of our long-standing commitment to educating the next generation of health and social care professionals. Awarded GOLD in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023, we are dedicated to making a positive impact through outstanding teaching, innovative research, and a strong focus on sustainability.

By offering placements to our students, your organisation plays a vital role in preparing learners for the realities of professional practice while also gaining a range of benefits.

Why Host a Placement?

Supporting student placements can bring real value to your organisation:

Enhance your profile within the health and social care community.
Foster a culture of lifelong learning among your team.
Attract future employees by showcasing your workplace to emerging professionals.
Gain fresh perspectives and evidence-based insights from learners.
Support staff development through involvement in supervision and assessment.
Shape future learning through feedback and evaluation shared by our students.
Access funding - many of our health programmes include a tariff payment from NHS England for hosting learners (note: funding arrangements differ for apprenticeships).

The Benefits of Student Placements

This video was developed by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, but is relevant to all areas.

Educators and students give their views on the benefits of supporting a student on placement, to both themselves and the service.

What Support Will You Receive?

We’re here to guide you every step of the way:

An academic staff member will visit your site to complete a learning environment audit and discuss suitable learner placements.
We will co-sign a learning agreement and create a placement profile to help students understand your setting.
All students are fully prepared, having completed occupational health checks, DBS clearance, and preparation for practice sessions.
Each student has an academic tutor to support both the learner and your team.
Our dedicated Placement Team manages learner allocations, funding agreements, and ongoing support.
If any concerns arise, we have clear processes in place to support both learners and placement providers.

Placement FAQs

How long is a placement?

Placement lengths vary by programme. Some are part-time over several months, while others are full-time blocks lasting 4–10 weeks. Students typically follow your working hours, including shifts and weekends where appropriate.

What preparation will learners have undertaken?

All students complete mandatory training aligned with NHS or professional standards. They also attend preparation sessions covering professionalism, confidentiality, assessment processes, and profession-specific skills. Uniforms and specialist equipment (e.g. radiation monitors for radiography students) are provided where needed.

What programmes could we offer placements to?

How do we get started?

Contact us by emailing the Placements Team.
We will arrange a conversation to explore which learners you can support and co-sign a standard practice agreement.
An academic staff member will visit your site to complete a learning environment audit and develop your placement profile.
Our team will set up a funding agreement if applicable.
You’ll be allocated your learners and begin your journey as a placement provider.

This video includes people discussing the benefits of hosting art, drama and music therapy on placements within the NHS.