Dr Mark Wareing did a three-month operational tour in Iraq while serving in the TA before entering the word of academia.

Now, the Director of Practice Learning has written a guide to support students going on work placements in the health and social care sectors.

Dr Wareing said: “An increasing number of students are undertaking health and social care studies that include placement learning.

“This book gives them a thorough understanding of the challenges and opportunities of practice and work-based learning that requires a range of skills, strategies, techniques and attitudes.”

The book – Becoming a learner in the workplace: a student’s guide to practice-based and work-based learning in health and social care – is for students at higher apprenticeship and foundation degree level as well as those studying traditional undergraduate health courses such as nursing and midwifery

Dr Wareing says the book will also be useful for those undertaking practice-based learning in radiography, social work and the therapies.

Each chapter contains a range of activities that requires the reader to think about their own experience and the skills needed.

Dr Wareing added: “The purpose of the activities is to bring each chapter to life and enable the reader to engage with the text actively rather than passively.”

Dr Wareing completed his nurse training at Birmingham College of Nurse Education and held a number of posts in medicine and surgery before setting up the specialist urological nursing service in nursing in North Oxfordshire as a clinical nurse specialist.

He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and holds academic associate membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

His book is published by Quay Books and is available from www.bebc.co.uk