FBMPLC: Practice-based learning C

Module code: FBMPLC

Module provider: Food and Nutritional Sciences; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 0

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Mrs Dorothy Balhatchet, email: d.h.balhatchet@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: Mini placement

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 27 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Within this work-based learning placement module, you will be able to translate theory into practice in acute/ community clinical settings. You will develop your confidence in obtaining information from service users and give accurate dietary advice. You will also develop skills in collecting, assessing and recording information to complete a comprehensive assessment, as well as interpersonal and social skills to facilitate communication with service users and health care professionals both on an individual basis and in a group.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Communicate with a diverse range of individuals (dietitians, other healthcare professionals, service users), using appropriate interpersonal, social and counselling skills, in a confident and respectful manner
2. Manage a workload comparable to that of a newly qualified band 5 dietitian, in line with HCPC standards
3. Reflect, review and adapt practice and independently prioritise deadlines
4. Obtain information from service users and give dietary advice by delivering an explicit quality of service.

Module content

The module is a practical dietetic placement involving a 12-week clinical placement (Placement C). Within this work-based learning module students will begin to apply theoretical knowledge and develop a range of skills needed to work as a dietitian. Placement C takes place during the second year of the PGT MSc in Dietetics and will be primarily spent at an acute/ community healthcare setting between the period of February-May for 12 weeks. This placement will enable students to consolidate their learning and when successfully passed, completes the clinical components of training required to be a dietitian.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will primarily take place at the placement provider setting (NHS Trusts) allowing opportunities to practise and demonstrate relevant skills such as information gathering, communication skills, record keeping, analysing gathered information to complete a patient consultation as per the British Dietetic Association Model and process of dietetic practice. Students will work with a range of other health professionals within a multidisciplinary setting to develop team working skills which will support future interprofessional elements of modules and working as part of a team in a healthcare setting.

Study hours

At least 8 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

This module is marked on a pass/fail basis. 

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Written and verbal feedback provided during the 12-week clinical placement by trained dietetic clinical supervisors

Individual debrief with personal tutor following completion of all elements of Placement C

Reassessment

Additional costs