Session 48: Engaging with the community in Liverpool through civic engagement placements

Abstract

In this session, we will showcase our approach to building strong relationships with our local community and highlight our community of practice. We will demonstrate how this approach is aligned with the strategic vision of the University-transforming lives and futures by placing students at the heart of everything we do. We will draw attention to the elements that binds our community and University together.

Civic engagement placements were introduced to promote inclusivity and provide valuable student experiences. Through partnerships with organisations in Liverpool, we have built meaningful relationships with our practice partners, fostering empathy and compassion in our future nurses. Experiences such as collaborating with baby hubs, food banks, housing associations and refugee support networks empower our student nurses to communicate with vulnerable populations.

By increasing awareness of support systems, students are developing confidence to social prescribe for their patients. Our seasonal newsletter celebrates the success of our community practice partners and students. When hundreds of businesses closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, charities continued to support people in need.

Civic Engagement placements have become popular with student nurses due to their community focussed nature, providing diverse student experience. The students gain in depth knowledge of social inequalities and the complexities of people’s lives, enhancing their clinical practice. We are equipping our diverse learners with relevant skills and networks which will impact our community for generations.

The allocation of our students to Civic engagement placements, supports our partners to drive positive change within our community. Our student nurses are adopting good practices which create a valuable, more equitable and thriving environment.

Delegates will take away a deeper understanding of how community engagement enriches the educational journey of students which can be experimented by other disciplines in the university. The session will also supply audience an insight of transferrable skills that can be developed through civic engagement placement and have exposure to examples of good practice to supply valuable learning experience for students in community.

Engaging with the community in Liverpool through civic engagement placements PowerPoint. Only LJMU staff and students have access to this resource.