If your course involves a work placement, you may be encountering practical work stressors such as staffing issues, alongside your academic work. You might also be caring for patients who are suffering or in pain.
These stressors, combined with the normal challenges of student life, can have an impact on your wellbeing.
My placement is not what I expected; what can I do?
If you feel that your placement is not meeting your expectations in some way, it may be that you have not been adequately informed about what to expect, or it could be possible that an aspect of your placement area is not meeting the required standard.
Regardless of the concern, please raise this with your Personal Tutor at the earliest opportunity so you can get the support and guidance you need as soon as possible. To learn more about the role of your Personal Tutor, and how to contact them, read our article Who is my personal tutor & what do they do?
I’m having difficulties with a situation or colleague on placement; what can I do?
Relationships in the workplace are an important part of day-to-day life. We hope the people and working atmosphere at your placement will be supportive and positive, but if you’re experiencing difficulties with a colleague then please reach out.
We advise you to discuss your concerns with your Personal Tutor in the first instance. If the situation remains unresolved, you should then approach the placements team within your faculty for help.
I’m feeling stressed and overwhelmed managing my workload; who can I talk to?
Juggling placement work with academic study can be challenging. Levels of support from your placement colleagues may vary.
At times you may be treated like a student but, at others, you may feel as if the working expectations on you are enormously high. You might also be caring for patients who may be suffering or in pain.
These stressors can all have an impact on your wellbeing. Self-care and accessing support is essential.
To see what help is available, go to Mental health support at King's.
I’m lonely and isolated on my placement; what can I do?
We hope that you will have a great experience on placement. However, some students can find it overwhelming to be in a new place, meeting new people and balancing the academic aspects of training with the practical elements.
This can be particularly challenging when you’re doing shift work. You may not know your schedule in advance or may be working in a different time zone to your fellow students. This can make it hard to contact support services at King’s during the standard UK working hours of 9.00 – 17.00.
We have a range of support services available if you need help out-of-hours. The following articles let you know about how to access help 24/7:
I’m worried about money and can’t afford my bills; what can I do?
If you have any worries about money whilst on placement, visit the article I'm having money difficulties, where can I find support?
I’m experiencing bullying and/or harassment at my placement; what can I do?
If you are experiencing bullying, discrimination or harassment whilst on placement, please use our Report + Support service to access information and report your experience.
Faculty Wellbeing Advisors
The Faculty Wellbeing Advisors are available to support you whilst you’re on placement. You can meet with your Faculty’s Wellbeing Advisor to discuss how they can support you with any concerns you may have.
You can learn how to contact your advisor in our article Who are the Faculty Wellbeing Advisors?
If needed, the Wellbeing Advisor can support you to access other services such as mental health, finance, housing or the visa team.
Support with placements for the students at the Faculty for Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care (NMPC)
Your Practice Supervisor is available for discussion and support if you’re struggling with a difficult colleague or situation on placement.
If your concern remains unresolved, get in touch with the Practice Learning Partner (PLP) education team and your Link Lecturer. Your placement will also have a Freedom to Speak Up guardian you can contact.
If you need financial support, read our article to find out more about our Hardship Funds.
Please don’t wait to raise urgent concerns in the placement evaluation survey as they will not be dealt with in time to help you.
Support with placements for the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES) students
Your NMES Global Placements team are available for any initial discussions and as a first point of support if you’re struggling on placement. Email the Global Placements team to get in touch with them.
The Academic Placement Leads are additional points of contact who are directly accessible at the Global Placements hub.
Your Personal Tutor can also provide support and guidance. To contact them, log into Student Records and find their details within the ‘My Tutor’ section.
Support with placements for King’s Business School (KBS) students
Your KBS Global Placements Adviser is available for any initial discussions and as a first point of support if you’re struggling on placement. Email the Global Placements team to get in touch with them.
The Academic Placement Leads are additional points of contact who are directly accessible at the Global Placements hub.
Your Personal Tutor can also provide support and guidance. To contact them, log into Student Records and find their details within the ‘My Tutor’ section.
Support with placements for the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine (FoLSM) students
You will have been assigned a supervisor at your placement site and they should be your first point of contact if you’re struggling.
If you have any difficulty contacting your supervisor, then please get in touch with your Programme Placement and Assessment team via Keats or contact FoLSM Student Support.
Where can I get advice for self-care while on placement?
The following articles contain tips on how to look after yourself whilst juggling a busy workload:
Where can I get support within the wider King’s community while on placement?
If you'd like to meet more people, there are many different clubs and groups at King’s. Read our article Community & extracurricular activities to learn about the different activities on offer.
There is also a range of support groups and services available:
- King’s Chaplaincy is a resource for all members of the King’s community, of all faiths and none. To learn more about the help available, check out our article How can the Chaplaincy support me?
- The Campus Conversations Team are a team of students trained to support others. They run workshops and socials where you can find new ways to boost your wellbeing and meet new people.
- The KCLSU Wellbeing Pages focus on the King's Ways to Wellbeing and they explore different resources, events and services that help you thrive.
Where can I get specialist mental health support while on placement?
If you’re struggling with your mental health and feel you can’t manage without help, you don’t need to face that alone.
We have a range of specialist support available. Our article What specialist mental health services can I access? outlines the difference kinds of help we offer.
I’m really struggling with my mental health, where can I get support?
If you or someone you know is really struggling with their mental health, please read our articles to get help: