Healthcare programmes are characterised by periods of time spent in practice placements. This 'circuit' varies depending on the course of study. Spending time in a real practice setting is an invaluable experience for students, as you work alongside qualified professionals who pass on their experiences and can assess your skills and progress, whilst you work.

Healthcare in Leeds is provided by 3 different NHS Trusts:

  • The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) provides the majority of secondary care for adults with general health problems, children and pregnant women. It includes a number of hospitals; The Leeds General Infirmary and St. James Hospital are the two largest hospitals, but there are also Seacroft Hospital, Wharfedale Hospital and Chapel Allerton Hospital, and the Dental Hospital.
  • The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (L&YPFT) provides both primary and secondary care for people with mental health problems and learning disabilities. It has sites at several of the hospitals above, as well as in community and other settings in the Leeds area.
  • Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (LCH)Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (LCH) was formed in 2011, to provide community healthcare services for the people of Leeds. LCH delivers services in or close to people's homes and works with the whole family, throughout the life course. The 3000 strong workforce includes nurses, therapists, pharmacists, non-registered and registered clinical staff - all supported by a corporate head team. LCH works in partnership with social care providers, the criminal justice system and the charity/voluntary sector. With an overall aim to create joined up services which give people the care and support they need. LCH also provide some specialist services across the Yorkshire and the Humber region.  LCH has 3 business units: Children’s Business Unit, Adult Business Unit and Specialist Business Unit. Healthcare students may access a variety of clinical placements across the 3 business units with each clinical placement tailored to individual learning and programme needs.

    While on placement within LCH, all healthcare students have access to support from the Practice Learning Facilitator (PLF). The PLF plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality of placement provisions for these students. Their primary responsibilities include supporting students in clinical settings and ensuring the seamless application of theoretical knowledge to practice. The PLF collaborates with higher education institutions and partner healthcare providers to create and maintain high-quality learning environments. Additionally, the PLF promotes best practices within all clinical learning settings and assists teams in fostering a culture of professional development, ensuring that all placements are effective, enriching, and aligned with NMC, HCPC, and GMC educational standards to enhance the competency and confidence of future healthcare professionals.

     

    Contact details:

    Nursing PLF for LCH: hayley.ingleson@nhs.net

    AHP PLF for LCH: chris.garside1@nhs.net

    Within LCH all students also have access to the variety of staff networks , to promote a psychologically safe working environment, creating a sense of belonging to #TeamLCH. These networks include; Race Equality Network, LGBTQ+ Champions, Neurodisability Network ,Mens Network, Menopause Network and the more recently developed Multi professional student network. These networks provide a safe space for registered, non-registered and student colleagues to “speak up” and be listened to. The trust Freedom to Speak up guardian is accessible and welcomes conversations with students about any concerns/worries they might have on clinical placement.

    Freedom to Speak up Guardian: John.walsh@nhs.net

 

Whilst the three Trusts provide the majority of healthcare in the city, it's not the whole story. Both Nuffield and SPIRE have hospitals within the city, and there are numerous other non-NHS places, such as nursing homes and clinics, social care placements and separate GP surgeries. In fact we place students just about everywhere that patients are cared for!

To be considered for a placement in certain specialist areas, students are required to apply using the forms provided on the Specialist Circuit page.

The majority of nursing and midwifery placements are within Leeds, as each University tends to work closely with the Trusts in its locality, so as not to encroach on areas further away.

Information and profiles of individual placements can be found on the PARE website, Online PARE