Placements
Health and social care placement providers
Learn about partnering with York St John University to host healthcare students on placement at your organisation.
Hosting healthcare students on placement contributes to the development of the future workforce while bringing fresh perspectives and enthusiasm into your organisation.
Placements are a vital part of healthcare education. They enable students to apply their learning in real world settings, develop professional skills and gain valuable experience alongside experienced practitioners.
York St John University works in partnership with placement providers to ensure students and supervisors are well supported. We provide guidance, resources and ongoing communication to help create high-quality placement experiences that benefit students, staff and organisations alike.
York St John University has benefitted from a social care expansion project, funded through NHS England. This was part of the clinical placement expansion programme. One of the drivers was to link to the government initiatives for change in the way NHS care is delivered: i.e. moving care out of hospitals into communities and nearer to people's homes.
Offering placements to health students supports the Council of Deans and Skills for Care strategy. The focus is on empowering people to have more control and say in their care. Therefore, our future health and social care student workforce needs to embrace the changes ahead, and consider alternative career options.
About hosting placement students
Providing opportunities for students
Explore the types of opportunities you could provide for students, and how to identify learning opportunities.
Becoming a placement provider
Information on requirements and how to apply to become a placement provider for our students.
Preparing to host a placement
Guidance on how to prepare to host placement students at your organisation.
Supporting students through feedback
Guidance on providing feedback to support students on placement at your organisation.
Induction checklist for placement providers
How to carry out a well-planned induction to help students settle into placement at your organisation.
York St John University Nursing open day
Learn more about the benefits of providing placement opportunities to students and how this helps them to prepare for work in the healthcare sector.
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Hosting a student
Shape the future workforce: By providing placement opportunities, you play a direct role in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. Students gain insight into the realities of practice, while organisations have the opportunity to influence and support their development from an early stage in their careers.
Support recruitment and retention: Placements can help raise awareness of career opportunities within your organisation and sector. Many students choose to seek employment in services where they have had positive placement experiences, helping to build a pipeline of future talent.
Bring fresh perspectives: Students can contribute new ideas, current evidence-based knowledge and enthusiasm for learning. Their presence often encourages reflection on practice, supports innovation and creates opportunities for shared learning across teams.
Strengthen learning cultures: Organisations that host students frequently report benefits for existing staff. Supporting learners can enhance supervision, mentoring and leadership skills, while creating a culture that values professional development and continuous improvement.
Contribute to better outcomes: Quality placements help ensure that future healthcare professionals are equipped with the skills, confidence, and experience needed to deliver safe, compassionate and effective care. By investing in student learning, organisations contribute to the long-term sustainability and quality of healthcare services.
