As an employer, you have a particular responsibility to ensure that students entering the workforce receive the information and support they need to be able to practise safely.
They are entering the healthcare system at its most challenging time. Ensuring that they can practise safely will protect you, them, patients and colleagues.
Students entered on the temporary register who chose to enter the workforce and practise under their professional title are expected to meet their Standards of conduct, performance and ethics and their Standard of proficiency, as far as they relate to their scope of practice. They are also expected to practise within their own scope of practice.
Our joint statement on how we will support and enable the student allied health professional workforce to respond to COVID-19 explains that students entered on the temporary register can be invited to join the AHP workforce (indicative banding Agenda for Change band 5).
You should ensure students are inducted appropriately to your organisation and their role. You should, as far as possible, use the existing support and development processes you would usually use when taking on a newly qualified AHP. Ensure they clearly understand the expectations you have of them, their role and responsibilities and any limits placed on their practice.
You will need to carefully explore with them their practice scope, education and training experience when determining what role they can fulfil, where they may practice and the supervision they may need. Ensure they are provided with the support and guidance they need from their line manager, also consider pairing or buddying students with more experienced colleagues of the same profession.
It is crucial that students receive an induction and training on COVID-19 infection and prevention control and that they understand their responsibilities in this regard before they begin to practise. Our Managing risk: infection prevention and control information leaflet will help.
We will be adding further information on applying our Standards during this time and so please ensure all your AHP staff are aware of these and can access them. They are located on our COVID-19 hub here.
Our frequently asked questions for students can be found here.