Placement Considerations

Be mindful that you are an ambassador for LST in your placement role. Please read the LST's Doctrinal Basis to familiarise yourself with what we believe. It is crucial that you respect appropriate confidentiality and maintain appropriate relationships, especially with those under your care. 

The following are crucial, miscellaneous considerations as you enter placement:

Working with children and adults AT RISK

If you will be working in the context of children or adults at risk, we require of an organisation their confirmation that they have a working policy to safeguard children and adults at risk.

In this instance, we expect your supervisor to instigate the DBS process (Disclosure Barring service), to enable you to work unsupervised with children and adults at risk. A list of required documentation can be found here: Documents for a DBS.  In most cases the church/organisation will cover the cost of the DBS check, but if not it is the student's responsibility to cover this expense. We will take you through a compulsory basic training, which covers issues relating to working with these vulnerable groups.

Changing placements

If all avenues for reconciliation/resolving the problem have been exhausted with the student and placement provider, we will work with you to: 

1.     Formalise the close of placement verbally and in writing, requesting that the supervisor authorise completed placement hours  
2.     Write a brief summary of what happened and keep it in your student folder 
3.     Work with you to establish a replacement placement.
      
   

Expenses

You should expect no payment for your service on placement.  However, we suggest that, where possible, placement providers cover transport costs (this is not guaranteed). For residential students, the kitchen has agreed to provide packed meals on Sundays or mid-week if you regularly miss meals due to placement commitments.  Please let us know and we can organise this for you.

Pastoral care

The emotional, spiritual and academic wellbeing of LST students is our highest concern. Vocational Services works with other departments (Registry; Pastoral Care Team; Tutors) to pick up any concerns.  Please do not stay silent if you are struggling – we are here to help you. Occasionally the supervisor contacts Vocational Services with a concern, in which case this is sensitively communicated to the required people, who are best placed to work these through with the student.  All efforts are made to do this with the student’s permission. 

Confidentiality 

On consultation, LST’s Pastoral Care Team has stated that issues of student mental health or special needs (eg dyslexia) should normally remain confidential and shared with your supervisor only with your consent.  Where required, Vocational Services will take advice from the Pastoral Care Team/Committee. 

Complaints 

Vocational Services will provide support to both student and supervisor throughout the placement process.  In any instance of miscommunication or strained student/supervisor relations, Vocational Services will provide mediation.

If there is a complaint against a student by a supervisor Vocational Services will investigate the complaint, firstly with the student and then, if necessary with the supervisor and student together.  If necessary, Vocational Services will also make reference to the student’s Tutor and the Pastoral Care Team. 

If there is a complaint against a supervisor or a member of their placement church/ organisation by a student Vocational Services will investigate.  How this is done will depend on the nature of the complaint. Vocational Services is willing to withdraw a student if it is no longer deemed to be a suitable/safe placement environment. In this case Vocational Services and student will work together to find an alternative placement.