Creating safe and effective T Level placements in community nursing

Overview

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust (SCHT) partnered with local colleges to offer Health T Level students placements with district nursing teams. A memorandum of understanding ensured placements were safe, supportive and aligned with local policies, helping students gain real-world experience while supporting community care.

Key benefits and outcomes

• T Level students contribute to safe, high-quality patient care.
• District nurses gain support with daily tasks, freeing up capacity.
• Students develop practical skills and confidence in clinical settings.
• A clear framework ensures safe, well-managed placements.

What the organisation faced

SCHT recognised the need to invest in the future healthcare workforce and saw Health T Level placements as a valuable opportunity. However, there were several challenges to address before placements could begin. There was a widespread misconception that under-18s could not work in clinical settings, which created hesitation among some staff. Additionally, there was a need for a clear, structured approach to ensure placements were safe, meaningful, and aligned with both educational and clinical standards. The trust also needed to ensure that all staff involved were aware of their responsibilities and that students were adequately supported and supervised.

What the organisation did

To address these challenges, SCHT took a collaborative and structured approach. The chief nurse played a pivotal role in developing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with community and education teams, including Telford College and Shrewsbury Colleges Group. This MoU established a clear framework for safe and supportive placements, covering everything from supervision responsibilities to insurance for transporting students and the use of patient cameras.

The trust also created a local-level ‘at-a-glance’ quick guide that clearly outlined the responsibilities, duties, limitations, and scope of practice for T Level students. This included tasks students could perform, such as assisting with personal care, supporting nutrition and hydration, and recording baseline observations based on what they had already learnt in college.

The MoU and quick guide were designed to be accessible and practical, helping to manage expectations and ensure consistency across placements. SCHT also engaged with the integrated care system and worked closely with clinical and education teams to dispel myths and build confidence in the placement model.

Results and benefits

• Students gained hands-on experience in community settings, applying classroom learning to real patient care.
• District nurses reported that students were enthusiastic, capable, and contributed meaningfully to care delivery.
• Staff were motivated by the opportunity to mentor future professionals.
• The placements helped build a pipeline of skilled, confident healthcare workers.

“Working in partnership with our local colleges, we have been welcoming T Level student placements since September 2023. Fostering these relationships builds the students’ skill base in a supportive environment and helps us to grow and nurture generations of healthcare professionals to come”. - Simon Whitehouse, Chief Executive Officer, SCHT

Overcoming obstacles

One of the main obstacles was the belief that under-18s were not allowed to work in clinical environments. This misconception was addressed head-on through the development of the MoU and the quick guide, which provided clear, evidence-based information about what students could safely do. These resources helped to reassure staff and clarify the legal and procedural framework supporting the placements.

“The belief that under 18s cannot work in clinical settings is simply not true. An at-a-glance quick guide complements other resources and provides clear and easily accessible advice to practitioners and students on the tasks they can carry out, such as manual handling, and those they cannot, such as administering medications”. - Ruth Field, T Level Industry Placement Coordinator for Health

Another challenge was ensuring that all staff were aware of and comfortable with their responsibilities in supervising students. The MoU clearly defined supervision roles and expectations, which helped to build staff confidence. Practical issues, such as insurance for transporting students and the use of patient cameras, were also addressed in the MoU to remove any ambiguity.

By proactively identifying and addressing these barriers, SCHT created a placement model that was not only safe and effective but also welcomed by staff and students alike.

Takeaway tips

• Develop a memorandum of understanding and quick-reference guide to clarify roles and responsibilities.
• Engage early with clinical and education partners to co-design placements.
• Address common myths, such as under-18s not being allowed in clinical settings.
• Ensure policies are in place to protect students and support staff, including transport and equipment use.
• Give students meaningful tasks to build their confidence and support your team.

Contact details

For more information about the work in this case study, contact: Jeanette Harding, Senior Practice Education Facilitator and Community Nursing Specialist District Nurse.