Will I be able to give a preference for placements?
Only final year students can submit a preference to the Placements Team for the last placement of final year; we won’t accept preference requests if you’re in an earlier stage of your studies.
For final year students:
- Before your placement starts you’ll be asked to submit your preferences via a survey.
- If you submit your preference request early, we won’t consider these - as each student’s placements are tailored toward the rounded experience they need to complete their programme.
- Honouring preferences is also always dependent on capacity in the Trust, and you will still need to meet the rounded experience guidelines.
Important to know: If you have particular health requirements which may affect where you're placed, please let us as soon as possible, either by visiting the Student Hub or by emailing us.
How can I find details about my placement?
Where can I find my placement information?
Your placement information will be available in your InPlace account and is usually posted 4 weeks in advance of the start of placement.
For more information on how to use InPlace, please check our guidance.
Where can I find my Trust Induction information?
Your trust will share induction information to you directly through your KCL email account, or on your Trust KEATS page. We recommend checking both regularly for details and updates.
How will health adjustments be applied to my placement?
When we receive a report from Occupational Health, with your permission we then liaise with your trust to discuss the recommendations made by Occupational Health.
You should also complete a Change of Circumstances - Health Risk Assessment Form whenever you have a change in circumstance that impacts your risk in relation to COVID-19, so that this can be considered when allocating your placements. To find this form please go to your Practice Learning page on KEATS.
Others have received their placement details, why haven't I received mine?
Don’t worry if others in your cohort have already received information about their placement. This just means that we are still liaising with your Trust and will inform you of your placement as soon as arrangements are confirmed.
You will always be informed if there is a delay in releasing your placement.
What happens if I don't receive DBS and/or occupational health clearance before placement?
You may only start placement once you have received clearance from the Faculty following satisfactory DBS and occupational health reports, as well as completing our Health Risk Assessment.
We will notify you and your placement area once you are clear to attend placement. If you are unsure or have any questions, contact your Personal Tutor or Cohort Lead.
Is there accommodation onsite? Are there childcare arrangements?
Please contact your placement area as this will depend on local arrangements at your placement and we would expect each ward to be different.
If your placement is outside London and you need to move, you may this article helpful: I’m moving out of London during my course.
For further guidance around accommodation, check out Housing & accommodation support.
Can I expect any remuneration?
Students don’t get paid for their time on placement. You might be entitled to claim expenses for your travel costs, but this can vary depending on your circumstances and year of entry.
Information on this can be found on KEATS.
How can I claim travel expenses to my placement?
If you are receiving support from the NHS Learning Support Fund, you can claim expenses for the additional costs of travel to placement if the return journey to your placement is more than your normal daily return travel costs to university.
More information about Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses funding is available on the NHSBSA website. Please also read the Guide for students and universities.
For all students submitting a travel claim, please remember to download your Oyster card history or receive it via email from TfL as otherwise you can only see a maximum of 8 weeks into the past.
Important to know:
- You may only use your own vehicle to travel to placement in exceptional circumstances, and you must contact the Programmes Team and be approved before you use your own vehicle. No refund of mileage will be made to students who have not been approved in this way.
- If you choose to use your own vehicle for travel during a community placement, you must confirm with the placements team that you have business cover through your insurance company before you begin the placement activity.
- You can find out more about this at:
What is InPlace?
InPlace is an online system for allocating, administering and managing student placements.
To access:
- It can be found at InPlace.
- Click on the Staff and Students button; this will take you to the KCL login page
- Enter your student K-number and password, and then click the sign-in button
To help you use InPlace, including tasks like submitting your hours, please access our InPlace User Guide on KEATS.
What do I do if I'm locked out of InPlace?
If you have problems accessing InPlace, please contact the IT Service Desk.
Why is my placement not showing as completed on InPlace?
The Placements Team manually update your record to show your placement has been completed. If you have recently finished a placement, please be assured that this will be updated shortly.
The reason this is not automatic is because students often need to make up additional hours before their placements can be marked as complete.
If you cannot attend your allocated placement, please contact your practice area immediately.
How do I report an absence on placement?
You need to complete an absence notification form and provide evidence concerning the reason for your absence.
When reporting your absence, please ensure that you:
- Identify the Trust where your placement is based
- Give the area from which you are absent, e.g. from Antenatal Clinic or Cardiac
- Provide the name of the person you spoke to on the unit when reporting your absence, and include the time and date of the message.
Absent for more than 7 days:
If you are off sick for more than 7 days, you must produce a medical certificate to cover the full period of sickness and submit this by email to the Programme Team at the Nightingale Student Hub. You should also discuss this absence with your personal tutor or programme leader.
Important to know: If you are absent for a total of more than 10 days in any 1 year period, or more than 4 weeks in a single episode of absence, you may be required to obtain occupational health clearance before you will be permitted to undertake any further practice placement.
We don't require full reason details for the absence notification form, but you may wish to discuss these with your personal tutor if you feel you require support. Information submitted may be shared with King's College London staff and affiliates, and used to follow up any issues identified.
How do I report incidents/accidents on placement, such as disease or injury?
If you ever have an accident when on placement, such as a needle stick injury, a splash incident or fall, you must:
- Report it in your placement area
- Complete the accident reporting form
If you have suffer a body fluid exposure incident, please make an appointment with Occupational Health immediately.
If you are involved in an incident but have not sustained an injury, this is known as a ‘near miss’ and you are still required to complete an accident report form.
If you need advice or require any support please do not hesitate to contact any member of staff, for example your Personal Tutor, Programme Leader, Link Lecture, the administrative team within the Nightingale Student Hub or by emailing us.
If you contract a disease
You’ll need to make an appointment with your Occupational Health Provider, and inform your Personal Tutor and Cohort Lead (contact details on KEATS).
For MSc students
Contact King's College Hospital
- Telephone: 020 3299 3387
- Email: kch-tr.kclohkings@nhs.net
For BSc students
Contact Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital
- Telephone: 020 7188 4152
- Email: KCLugsoh@gstt.nhs.uk
If you have a needle stick injury
Contact your Occupational Health Provider urgently using the contact details below, and inform your Personal Tutor and Cohort Lead (contact details on KEATS). .
For MSc students
Contact King's College Hospital
- Telephone: 020 3299 3387
- Email: kch-tr.kclohkings@nhs.net
For BSc students
Contact Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital
- Telephone: 020 7188 4152
- Email: KCLugsoh@gstt.nhs.uk
I have concerns about my placement; can I make changes?
Can I change my placement?
You are not able to change your placement unless you can provide evidence of exceptional circumstances.
If you need to change your placement allocation, you should read the Change of Placement Guidance and complete a request form.
Can I change my host Trust?
You are not able to choose which trust you are placed with. If you have extenuating circumstances which are affecting your ability to complete your programme of study at your allocated trust, you can contact your Cohort Lead or Programme Lead to explain your situation and request a transfer.
For more details about our policy on this, please refer to the Host Practice-Learning Organisation Transfer policy.
Why I have been given a placement outside my host Trust?
Most placements will be within your Principal Trust. You may be allocated to placements in a private hospital, or you may be allocated to an NHS trust that is not your Principal Trust.
This gives you an opportunity to experience working in a different environment. It avoids overcrowding on the clinical areas in your Principal Trust and will give you the opportunity to achieve the relevant nursing proficiencies in a different setting.
What if I get a placement I've already done?
Please let us know by emailing us.
What if I have to repeat a placement?
Your Cohort Lead and/or Personal Tutor will meet with you to put together an action plan.
I still have concerns about my placement, who can I talk to?
In the first instance, please speak to your Key Account Manager or Cohort Lead.