What will I learn on this module?
This is your second practice-based learning module and will support you to build on knowledge and skills developed in your ‘Assisted practice based learning’ module in year one. With supervision, you will develop core practice skills, work collaboratively, and explore how the environment can support or limit people’s participation. The target placement hours for this module are 300 hours of supervised practice, contributing to the 1,000+ hours required for Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration. 100% attendance on placement is expected in order to meet required practice hours. Absences will be reported to the placement area and the University, and if required, opportunities to catch-up with missed time negotiated at the next most appropriate opportunity.
To meet ‘Supported’ practice-based learning outcomes, you will be encouraged to take a more active role in occupational therapy practice and to translate learning from previous modules and placements to new learning situations. You will take increasing responsibility for identifying your own strengths and learning needs through reflection and supervision.
People with lived experience have been involved in identifying core values. As you gain more diverse experiences in practice, you will continue to reflect on the values that matter to service users and carers in order to work towards person-centred services which help to meet a range of needs.
As part of your inter-professional education, you will reflect on your own role within teams and organisations and think about your contribution to collaboration and shared decision-making, keeping people at the centre of services.
At level 5, the use of the ePortfolio will further develop your analytical and reflective skills. You will continue to develop as a reflective, evidence-based practitioner and link theory from your Year 1 and 2 modules to your practice experiences.
How will I learn on this module?
This module has integrated components to teaching and learning:
• Small number of workshops to support preparation for practice placement
• A period of practice placement in a professional area working alongside qualified occupational therapists
• Specific small group training and online training in mandatory skills, e.g. Moving & Handling, Basic Life Support, Safeguarding.
There will be a mid-placement workshop which is an opportunity for peer support during placement, to integrate theory with your practice experiences and to reflect on working together in teams.
You will have the opportunity to gather examples of activities and evidence of your learning, self-appraisal and reflection to contribute to your student ePortfolio. This aims to enhance your learning by taking you beyond the limits of the individual module, and helping foster lifelong learning, as portfolios support inquiry, reflection and integration of learning. Items for your ePortfolio could include placement assessment documents, reflective records, case studies or informal presentations from placement. At a ‘Supported’ level, learning on placement will include encouragement to develop your reasoning and problem solving within delegated tasks through more self-directed approaches such as coaching-style questioning, reflection and supervision.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
You will be supported throughout your placements by your module tutor and other academic staff, with key points of contact before, during, and after your placement.
In practice, a qualified occupational therapist will be your practice educator. They will guide your learning and help you make the most of your placement experience. You will also be encouraged to connect with other professionals and team members in your placement setting to broaden your learning and support network.
Attendance at university mid-placement workshop provides opportunity for peer learning and support.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Understand how people engage in everyday activities and the role of occupational therapy in supporting this within your placement setting
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Use core occupational therapy theories and concepts to develop your professional reasoning throughout the therapeutic process.
3. Safely and effectively apply key OT techniques and skills under supervision, meeting the required placement learning outcomes.
4. Use research evidence to inform and improve your practice.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Show awareness of the wider policy context and the importance of communication, teamwork, and collaboration in delivering person-centred care.
How will I be assessed?
Formative assessment:
Ongoing formative assessment of practice where strengths and areas for development are identified. This will be supported through regular supervision meetings between you and your practice educator and will be summarised during a mid-point contact with an academic tutor.
Both weekly supervision and the mid-point contact will be summarised in writing and any additional action plans documented and added to the assessment documents as part of ongoing supervision records.
Summative assessment
8-week placement with achievement of all Level 5 Practice Placement Learning Outcomes
You will be assessed by your Practice Educator on a pass/fail basis in line with specified level 5 learning outcomes. You will receive written and verbal feedback on your strengths and areas for development from your Practice Educator.
Your summative assessment mark and feedback will be returned to you within the University standard of 20 working days, normally accessed through the module eLP site.
In the event of a fail outcome, the Occupational Therapy Practice Assessment Document (OT-PAD) will be completed in full, with final assessment summary detailing action plan for resit placement. Your personal tutor will support you to develop your action plan based on the feedback.
The summative assessment will promote achievement of all MLO’s
Module abstract
This module builds on your previous placements by taking a more active role in delivering occupation-focussed practice. This experience will contribute to the 1,000 hours of supervised practice required for professional registration. It begins with university-based learning to help prepare for placement and make links other modules.
Over 8 weeks, you will work as part of a team in a specific area of practice, learning from and with service users, occupational therapists, and other professionals. This module builds on your previous placements and university learning, helping you integrate theory with practice, continue to develop knowledge and skills and demonstrate the learning outcomes expected at this stage of your professional development and as you make the transition to registered occupational therapist. University-based sessions before, during, and after placement will help you prepare, reflect, and plan for your ongoing development.
The practice-based learning placement will take place in Semester 2 although this is a year-long module to enable time for preparation and consolidation before and after the placement period.
Throughout placement, your learning will be supported by your practice educator, with regular supervision, feedback, and guidance to help you work towards the required placement learning outcomes. These are assessed on a pass/fail basis.
