Benefits of Effective Placements
Effective clinical placements will meet the needs of the Community Health Services (CHS), educational institutions and students. The benefits for each of these stakeholder groups will vary and are summarised below.
Benefits for Community Health Services
Benefits for Educational Institutions
Benefits for Students
Benefits for Community Health Services
Increased understanding by students and higher education sector about community health and the social model of health
Improved links and relationships between the tertiary training sector and community health which could lead to professional development opportunities for CHS staff, for example guest lectureship and workshop facilitation
More research projects undertaken with community health as partners
Assistance with recruitment and retention of suitably qualified staff
Provision of quality and effective services and programs by appropriately skilled practitioners to meet the needs and expectations of the community
Contribute to students learning and development of their professional competence
Practitioners gain supervisory and teaching experience and skills
Increased job satisfaction for staff working with students
As students are taught the latest developments in health, they will sometimes challenge agency staff which can prompt reflection of their own practice and encourage them to consider alternative models of practice
Promotion of ongoing professional development
Benefits for Educational Institution
Awareness, knowledge and understanding of community health and the services and programmes it undertakes
Be informed of and develop an understanding of the social model of health
Improved links and relationships with community health which could lead to professional
development opportunities such a guest lectureship, workshop facilitation
Increase the number of research projects with community sector
Confident that students are adequately prepared to gain employment as a graduate
Course curriculum requirements met
Benefits for Students
Awareness, knowledge and understanding of community health and the services and programmes it undertakes
Informed of and develop an understanding of the social model of health
Build an understanding and gain experience of the benefits of working in multidisciplinary teams and workplaces
Competent practitioners with well developed clinical/professional skills
Able to express the theoretical perspective that informs professional practice
Enhance teamwork and communication skills
Understanding of holistic care and the value of being client focused rather than system focused
A Summary Table
