Student support

There is a fortnightly OT Student Support Group. 

The group, which meets for one hour and is facilitated by a Senior OT, aims to provide a supportive environment where you can share and reflect on your experiences.  You are encouraged to seek peer support and professional advice enabling you to develop action plans to implement in your clinical area.  The Support Group is a confidential environment where you can discuss concerns and difficult experiences related to your placement. It is acknowledged, however, that if something arises during the group that has safety or ethical implications it will be discussed outside the group in consultation with the student.

Following each Support Group is a one-hour, small group seminar, which is facilitated by an OT from within the Trust.  The seminars provide students with practical information on the application of the Occupational Therapy process with a range of people with different health and social care needs.  Seminar topics may include the role of OT in forensic, learning disabilities, eating disorders or community settings. 

The group will only take place if we have sufficient numbers of students on placement to make it viable. PPEs and students will be sent details for groups (if relevant) at the start of their placement.

Attendance is compulsory.

Additional Support 

If during a placement you experience personal or work related difficulties, which you feel are affecting your performance, it is important that you firstly discuss them with your practice placement educator.  If, however, the difficulties cannot be resolved, contact Jane Smith, Trust Placement Co-ordinator – 07976-218718

Relevant policies and documents

IM&T Governance policies:

• Confidentiality Code of Conduct (212 KB)
• Data protection (241 KB)
• Email policy (288 KB)
• Health & Social Care Records Policy (405 KB)
• Information Sharing Policy (234 KB)
• Internet Intranet Policy (235 KB)
• Safe Haven Policy (232 KB)

Acceptable forms of ID to apply for a Smartcard

pdf Parking terms and Conditions (284 KB)

Staff parking form application

Corporate dresscode policy

Computer access and RiO

Personal IT accounts including email and internet access will be set up for you before your placement starts. You must contact the IM&T help desk on extension 5454 to obtain your Trust password at the start of your placement. 

Before using the Trust's online system it is essential that you read our IM&T governance policies.  These can be found on our relevant policies page

In order to access RiO (electronic patient records system), you will need:

1. A Smartcard

2. To complete the RiO Overview e-learning module on COMPASS (e-learning system)

Smartcards

If you already have a Smartcard:

• Email jane.smith@swlstg.nhs.uk with your UUID Number (found on the smartcard) as soon as you are informed of your placement by the university.
• Our IM&T department will apply the necessary permissions so that you can use your existing card and Smartcard password to access RiO
• If you have forgotten your password you should contact the IM&T helpdesk (5454) when you start your placement.

If you do not have a Smartcard:

Your PPE will arrange for you to have a meeting with the Trust's Registration Authority (Email smartcards@swlstg-tr.nhs.uk ).They are based in the HR department at Springfield Hospital. Once you receive confirmation of your UUID Number by HR you should go to the Security Department, in the Gatehouse at Springfield Hospital to collect your Smartcard.

You must take at least three pieces of personal identification and your national insurance number with you to the meeting with the Registration Authority. These must be originals, not copies.  See Acceptable forms of ID to apply for a Smartcard

RiO Overview e-learning module

Once you have your Trust password you can complete the RiO overview e-learning module on COMPASS.  Your PPE will show you how to access this.

Once you have completed and passed the module you must email clinicalsystemstraining@swlstg.nhs.uk and request full access. Access to RiO will only be provided and linked to your Smartcard on completion of this training