Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice

Gateways guidance: 13.3 Clinical placements

Practical sessions should be accessible to disabled students and should be regularly reviewed. Relevant questions include:

  • Have work placements been audited for accessibility? Are tutors aware of the barriers the environment may pose for disabled students?
  • Have work placement providers been trained in disability equality or how to work with disabled students?
  • Are students invited to disclose an impairment or health condition when placements are being organised? Are they asked about any particular needs?
  • Are disabled students supported in finding placements that meet their requirements?
  • Are arrangements made to ensure that disabled students can take personal assistants or purchase assistive technology if necessary?
  • Are placement providers clear on who will take responsibility for paying for and making adjustments?
  • Do tutors keep in touch with disabled students on placements so that they can take action if problems arise?
  • If a placement cannot be made accessible, what alternative learning opportunities are available?10

WEB LINKS: Clinical and practical work (including electives)

Relatively little has been written about disabled students and clinical placements. However, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy offers a comprehensive guide to Supporting Disabled Physiotherapy Students on Clinical Placement. This publication is available to Society members.

A further useful resource is Access to Practice: Overcoming the barriers to practice learning for disabled social work students (pdf).