We value our relationships with students and learning institutions and are proud of the quality of the placements we are able to provide. This is what some of our Students and Universities have to say about our placements…

UNIVERSITY FEEDBACK

Lucy Patten and Orchard Community Trust have provided the most wonderful placement year opportunity to our students.  Our students have been involved with an impressive variety of tasks throughout and I have noticed a real growth in terms of their skill set, including their confidence and communication.  The support that Lucy and the Trust have provided has been impeccable and Lucy has been in regular contact with the students and myself; Lucy has really encouraged our students to take their own intiatitive, as well as developing their skills in working professionally as part of a bigger team. These are skills that are undoubtedly going to be valuable for our students when they return to us to complete their final year of studies, as well as equipping them with vital skills for future careers and employment.

The students have been welcomed into the schools and have been very much made to feel part of the team.  What has stood out in particular is Lucy’s commitment to ensuring that the students get the most out of their time on placement, encouraging them to push themselves when appropriate and always happy to help provide and support opportunities when they arise.  The quality of the support and the overall experience that the students have been provided with has really exceeded our expectations and we thank Lucy, the schools, the teachers, and the Trust for this and do hope that we can continue to work together in the future.

Dr Jennifer Taylor
Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Placement Year Lead

School of Health, Science & Wellbeing
Staffordshire University
Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent  ST4 2DF

Tel: 01782 294000
staffs.ac.uk

STUDENT FEEDBACK

Course: MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy

What attracted you to the placement opportunity: 

As a former teacher in Malaysia, I set out to train as a counsellor to work with children and young people (CYP). This placement offered me the opportunity to not only improve my counselling skills with CYP but also work within a multi-agency setting to see how different members of a community could work together to support the children’s well-being.

What difference you feel you are making to children/ families: 

I’ve been able to provide a safe place for the children to explore their feelings in a confidential setting that they might not have elsewhere in their lives. I’ve enjoyed immensely the trusting relationships I’ve built with them and watching them grow to be more confident and open.

What you like about the placement: 

I feel supported in my placement, being able to refer to members of staff whenever I have doubts or concerns. At the same time, I’m afforded a lot of independence and agency in my work which makes me feel trusted. I also like that I get to learn more about working within a collaborative community setting and it’s something I want to be able to bring to the communities I work with in Malaysia when I return home.

SOCIAL WORK

In relation to the students from Staffordshire University that you have supported you have provided them with an opportunity to embrace social work values working in a real-life situation where the full gravitas of their involvement in people’s lives can be better appreciated.

You have supported students to make links from their teaching to practice within your classrooms which is invaluable.

Your whole school has been welcoming and supportive of students and provided a “community” feeling making it easier for our students to engage in their placement with you.

We look forward to working with you in the future.

University Level 4 Academic Lead
Simulation Lea
Lecturer in Practice Learning
Placements Coordinator