Workplace Agreement (WPA)
An agreement between the °µÍø½âÃÜ and a Placement Provider outlining roles and responsibilities in relation to student placements
What is the Workplace Agreement (WPA)?
The WPA is an agreement between the °µÍø½âÃÜ and a Placement Provider detailing the respective roles and responsibilities of the parties in relation to student placement. It is a mandatory requirement for all placement providers, and has been developed by the °µÍø½âÃÜ to comply with the various statutory and regulatory bodies’ (and University) requirements for practice placements, particularly the NHS Funding Agreement.
The WPA defines the role and responsibilities of both the °µÍø½âÃÜ and the Placement Provider during practice placements undertaken by students on our health and social care programmes that require them to gain practice hours under clinical supervision as part of their professional registration.
Further information
Why isn’t the University using the Standard Placement Agreement (SPA) template provided by NHSE?
The University’s standard WPA has been developed and updated over many years and reflects the regulatory requirements of the University and its programmes. In undertaking this refresh, we have considered whether to adopt the NHS template placement agreement which has been suggested as an option where providers had no suitable alternative. However, the University has determined that its own WPA remains the most appropriate agreement as it provides more clarity of each party’s responsibilities and liabilities, and includes provisions specific to UoP’s offering and obligations, and it is therefore in everyone’s interests to use the University’s WPA. Similarly, the University is not able to accept a placement provider’s own template document.
Are the clauses negotiable?
Unfortunately, to ensure consistency and fairness across providers, compliance with internal and external regulations, and to expedite the process, the clauses are not negotiable. However, we understand that some organisations may have smaller levels of cover in their insurance, so insurance limitations may be altered to suit if deemed acceptable by the Programme Lead. If there are provisions which you are unable to comply with for some reason, please let us know and we will consider any applicable exceptional circumstances.
Who needs to sign the WPA?
The WPA needs to be signed by an authorised signatory of the legal body entering into the WPA, which will not normally be the individual department or unit hosting the placement.
Insurance
- The University’s insurance covers the actions of its students on placements only in the limited situations where the loss or injury arises directly from the University’s failure to comply with its educational responsibilities as detailed in clause 7.2. In all other circumstances, liability and responsibility for the Students sits with the Placement Provider as detailed in clause 7.1.
- The ‘Definitive Document’ is the Course Specification which can be located within the Programme Course Details on the university web pages or from your academic link.
- Whilst professional bodies may offer insurance to enable self-employed or sole practitioner members to support and supervise students on placements, it remains your responsibility to check that your professional body offers this, that such cover is sufficient including covering supervision activities, and that you have the appropriate membership.
Next steps
Once you have received a copy of the WPA for signing, please complete all areas shaded grey on pages 1, 2, and 12.
The WPA must be signed by an authorised signatory at institutional level on page 12 and returned to us by email. We are happy to accept electronic signatures, however if you wish to leave a handwritten/physical signature, please only print the WPA after completing all other fields and removing the ‘enter electronic signature’ text from the signature field.
Will I receive a copy after I’ve signed and returned the WPA?
After we’ve received the signed WPA, it will be countersigned and dated by the University’s Dean of the Faculty of Health, and we will forward a copy to you for your records.