Case Study : MSc in Mental Health Nursing

Case Study : MSc in Mental Health Nursing – Withdrawn from programme having failed placement - Academic Appeal Partially upheld.

MSc student studying Mental Health Nursing (‘our client’) failed the Retrieval Management Placement and was withdrawn from the nursing programme. Our client lodged a preliminary stage appeal with the university which was rejected. RT Coopers were instructed to advise on the second stage appeal. In this regard, an initial consultation was held, and our client was advised on how to particularise the grounds of appeal in order to have a chance of winning the case and worked on the draft appeal with our client.

Background

Our Client started a repeat placement during COVID having failed the previous placement as the placement providers claimed that our client had not met the professional values regarding the leadership and self-reflection domains. Our client was unable to take on the role of nurse in charge having missed the handover in the previous placement and this occurred in the Retrieval Management Placement during COVID. Following the initial interview in the Retrieval Management Placement, a detailed plan of what had to be achieved was placed on the Practice Assessment Document (‘PAD’) by the Practice Education Facilitator to ensure our client got the correct support.

The following domains had to be achieved in the Practice Learning Mental Health Nurse - Completion of PAD:

Leadership skills; and
Critical self-reflection and supervision to gain insight.

At the end of the Retrieval Management Placement, our client was not signed off in the Practice Assessment Record & Evaluation (‘PARE’) Tool in the final stage of placement.

The point is that there were limited opportunities during COVID to gain the requisite experience and, in addition, our client had personal extenuating circumstances. Our client did not apply for a deferral.

Grounds

The university rejected the preliminary stage appeal claiming academic judgment for failure of the placement and amongst other things that our client ought to have applied for a deferral. RT Coopers advised our client to appeal on grounds of procedural irregularity and personal extenuating circumstances providing advice on how to structure the appeal i.e., the best way in which to particularise the grounds of appeal.

Procedural irregularities centred around issues such as our client was assessed by the Clinical Assessor on the specific domains at midpoint not in the final stage. The Leadership skills and Critical self-reflection domains were signed off at mid-point by the Clinical Assessor as our client having met the Nursing document placement milestones. The Clinical Assessor stated that our client had made improvements despite the limitations of COVID but failed to sign off the PARE Document in the final stage as the Clinical Assessor believed our client needed a few more weeks to develop more nursing competencies before qualification, which was what had led to withdrawal from the programme.

Outcome

Our client was seeking to be reinstated on the programme. The Academic Appeals Board

agreed that the appeal was successful in part. Our client studies were reinstated.

Our client was asked to enrol online for the next Academic year. The certificate for the exit award of a Postgraduate Diploma was rescinded. For the parts of the appeal that were dismissed our client was given the option to request a review of the decision of the Academic Appeals Board.

Testimonial

‘RT Coopers Solicitors got back to me quickly and made it a seamless operation, especially as when I was facing time constraints to submit academic appeal to my University. With the help of RT Coopers Solicitors my appeal was upheld against the decision of the board of examiners and I am able to progress with my studies. Thanks very much. Im so happy with your services and the people you are going to help. I highly recommend to any one who need help with academic appeals writing and advice. Big thanks to your team!’ FCBM

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