Preparing for Long Arm Supervision Placements

Establish Roles & Responsibilities: Clarify all roles and responsibilities (refer to the Roles and Responsibilities section for more information).

Single or Combined Model Approach: Consider whether a single or combined placement model approach would be most suitable for the placement (refer to Combining Practice-Based Learning Models for more information on why and how to combine different PrBL models).

Learning Outcomes: Learning outcomes will be pre-set in alignment with the learner’s stage of training and curriculum requirements. Practice Educators should familiarise themselves with these and collaborate with the mentor on how they can be met and assessed. Individual goals should be agreed with the learner at the start of the placement.

Induction and Placement Planning: Practice Educator and mentor to prepare orientation information (e.g. induction checklist, timetable, Microsoft Teams channels, etc.) and introductions to the setting, team, and expectations.

Plan Communication: Agree on supervision frequency, format (e.g. video calls, emails), and documentation tools (e.g. learning logs).

Risk Assessment & Safeguarding: Practice Educator to link with the host site to ensure support is in place with the identified mentor, and ensure that relevant risk assessments are in place to cover all individuals involved.

Ensure Relevant Insurance is in Place: Placements using long-arm supervision may occur in diverse settings. It is essential to ensure that appropriate insurance arrangements are in place to protect service users, learners, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), host settings, and Practice Educators during all practice-based learning activities.

• Practice Educators must hold professional indemnity insurance as required by HCPC registration. This is usually provided by an employer, professional body, or a separate policy. Each individual is responsible for confirming and maintaining their cover and understanding its scope—particularly whether it covers supervising learners remotely.
• Host settings must verify that their employer liability and public indemnity policies extend to include volunteers and learners within their service.
• Clinical negligence and liability cover may come from multiple sources, including professional body, insurance providers for both the Practice Educator and employer (e.g., CNORIS), and some AHP professional bodies also provides insurance cover with their student memberships.
• Before the placement begins, all parties—HEI, learner, host setting, and Practice Educator—should confirm and agree on insurance arrangements to ensure they are appropriate for the placement.
• Learners are responsible for their own personal belongings and, where applicable, car insurance. All parties should take reasonable steps to mitigate potential loss.