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Hello, my name is Karen Wakelin...
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..and I'm one of the Improvement
and Development managers...
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..at Social Care Wales.
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This presentation is going to take
you briefly through a tool kit...
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..we have developed to support...
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..successful work placement
opportunities.
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Health, social care, playwork, early
years and childcare services...
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..are all about making a positive
difference to the lives of others...
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..with a huge range of roles
available.
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This makes it
a highly rewarding career.
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Experience of work in these services
is crucial to bridge the gap...
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..between education or training
and the world of work.
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At its best,
it can open people's eyes to jobs...
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..they had never thought of,
inform career decisions...
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..and provide valuable work
experience for job applications...
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..and entry to higher education.
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As employers,
you may be wondering...
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..why we are promoting opportunities
for work placement at a time...
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..when you are facing the biggest
challenges to our health...
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..social care and childcare services
in living memory.
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Many of you may have watched
Rhod Gilbert's work experience...
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..in a care home.
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This programme did so much to raise
the profile of social care...
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..and the perception
of what the job is about.
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A few of Rhod's quotes
from the programme are...
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"Low skilled, says who?
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"If we valued our carers
even 1% as much as we should...
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"..it would be the most rewarding
job you could do.
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"It's been a privilege
and an honour...
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"..and one of the toughest
experiences, but one of the best.
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"I came into it expecting it
to be tough, and it is tough.
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"I didn't expect it
to be this happy, this joyful.
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"I didn't expect it
to be this rewarding".
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We need to find a way to keep
attracting people into the sector...
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..but as a valued career
of choice...
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..not because nothing else
is available.
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We have developed a tool kit
which we hope will help you...
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..make work placement a positive
experience for you as employers...
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..for the individuals
who use your services...
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..and for the person coming in
to experience work in your setting.
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So, what is work placement
and who needs it?
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Experience of work through placement
in health, social care...
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..playwork or early years
and childcare settings...
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..may be used for many reasons,
for example...
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..employers who want to invest in
and support the development...
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..of the future workforce,
motivating and inspiring people...
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..to work in the sector.
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..for pupils and students, people
looking for a change in career...
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..or those returning to work
to explore job opportunities...
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..build confidence and develop
knowledge and skills...
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..which prepare them for work
in the sectors...
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...for learners undertaking
formal qualifications...
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..through FE colleges, higher
education institutes, schools...
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..or other learning providers, to
apply knowledge and understanding...
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..gained through study
in a practical environment...
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..and develop the skills needed
to achieve competence.
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So, what are the benefits
for employers?
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Offering work placement
opportunities can bring you...
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..a wealth of benefits.
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Tapping into a potential pool
of workers and contributing...
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..to the development
of the next generation...
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..of a highly skilled workforce.
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Learning from feedback and
reflection of learners...
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..to improve your service.
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Routinely reviewing standards
and practices to ensure...
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..they are up to date
and of good quality.
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Promoting the value of the sectors,
the range of roles available...
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..and motivating people to work in
health, social care or childcare...
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..as a career of choice.
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Promoting your own service
and what it has to offer.
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And, supporting the development
of your own workforce...
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..through mentoring.
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So, this slide and the next one
are just a screen shot, really...
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..of the work placement guide
on our website...
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..so you know what to look for
when you're there.
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So, for ease of use, the guide has
been divided into three parts...
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..employers, learning providers
and learners.
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Each part contains the same
information...
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..which has been tailored
for the audience.
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You may want to look at the
information provided to learners...
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..as well as the part
developed for you...
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..as this will help you understand
expectations they may have.
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Each part has seven sections
providing detailed information...
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..from how to prepare
for work placements...
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..to providing feedback
when they have finished.
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We're going to look
at each of these sections...
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..in a little more detail next.
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Section 1.
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The benefits of work placement.
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As already outlined, offering work
placement opportunities...
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..can bring a wealth of benefits.
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Working in the sectors can be both
rewarding and challenging.
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It gives learners an opportunity
to try out and learn on the job...
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..and promote the value of the
sectors, and motivate people...
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..to work with you
as a career of choice.
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They can also give you
an opportunity to reflect on...
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..the practice at your work
setting and make sure...
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..your standards are up to date
and of good quality.
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Section 2.
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Preparing for work placement.
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Preparing for work placements is one
of the most important aspects...
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..of offering these opportunities.
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Being clear about the types
of activities learners can...
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..and cannot be involved in, can
remove the risk of misconceptions.
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Providing information which helps
learners understand...
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..what is expected of them
and what they can expect of you...
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..will support a smooth process
and positive placement experience.
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Section 3.
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Getting the most out of work
placement opportunities.
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Investment in work placement
opportunities...
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..will take careful planning
and it is important...
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..you are able to maximise the
benefits for your work setting.
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You may want to offer the learner
a chance to visit the setting...
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..before their placement starts.
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This will help them know
what to expect.
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You may also want to conduct
an interview...
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..to see whether they are suitable.
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If it is difficult to do this
face to face...
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..as a result of Covid-19
restrictions...
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..think about giving them a digital
guided tour with opportunities...
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..to say hello to other workers.
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Each person's learning needs
will differ...
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..depending on their reason for
undertaking the work placement...
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..for example, gaining a vocational
qualification...
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..or a taster for young people
in school, or building the skills...
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..and confidence of those looking
for employment in your sector.
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It is important to be clear
about their objectives...
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..and what you can offer to make
sure there is a good match.
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There are a number of things
you should consider...
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..and we have provided a checklist
which will help.
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One of the most important
is the allocation of a mentor...
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..who will be available
to support a learner...
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..for the duration
of their placement with you.
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The mentor can support by making
sure the learner is clear...
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..about expectations,
providing feedback...
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..reassurance and encouragement.
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Section 4.
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This section provides important
information on regulations...
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..standards and legislation you must
meet, such as safeguarding...
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..health and safety and data
protection and confidentiality.
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Section 5.
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Where learners are undertaking
placement with you...
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..as part of a course
or qualifications...
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..there will be specific
requirements...
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..they will need to meet
to develop their practice.
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It is important for you to talk
to the learning provider...
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..arranging the work placement
to make sure you can provide...
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..sufficient opportunities
for the learner to develop...
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..and have their practice assessed.
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Section 6 - Providing Feedback.
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Robust, constructive
and clear feedback...
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..can help learners develop and also
provide an opportunity for you...
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..as an employer to reflect
on your practice.
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We've provided a template
which will help you think about...
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..the best way to do this.
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Unfortunately, there may be times
where you need to provide...
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..negative feedback if you are
concerned about the practice...
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..behaviour or the suitability
of learners to work in the sector.
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Make sure you have agreed processes
for reporting concerns...
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..to the learning provider including
stopping the placement if necessary.
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Section 7.
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This section contains a number
of templates for checklists...
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..and placement agreements
which you might find helpful.
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Top tips for making placements
'Covid safe'.
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A Covid risk assessment
should be completed for anyone...
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..coming on placement with you.
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Think about what you would do if you
had a brand new member of staff...
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..starting with you,
and apply the same expectations...
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..to learners on placement.
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Other things to consider are...
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..having pre-placement training
to make sure they understand...
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..how they must behave in the
setting such as social distancing...
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..hand washing and the use of PPE.
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..having block placements available
for students...
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..completing qualifications, instead
of a couple of days a week...
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..just to reduce footfall
through your setting.
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..using standard health
questionnaires...
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..for example,
has the person experienced...
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..or been in contact with anyone
who has symptoms...
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..or tested positive,
have they been abroad...
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..or into a high risk area
in the last 14 days etc...
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..and taking their temperature...
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..before they enter
the building each day.
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..think about any risks associated
with tasks or activities...
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..they may be undertaking
whilst on placement and make sure...
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..that these are low risk rather
than high risk, wherever possible.
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If you want to advertise
placement opportunities...
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..in your work setting, Wecare Wales
is developing a function...
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..which can be used
to let learning providers...
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..and learners know about these.
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If you decide to offer placement
opportunities...
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..please share
your experiences with us.
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We are keen to include employer
testimonials...
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..and real life case studies which
will bring this tool kit to life.
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Thank you for listening.