Faculty of Health, Education
and Society
School of Health Professions
Occupational Therapy Programmes
Practice Placement Handbook
For Students and Educators
For Practice Placement Modules
Pre-registration MSc, PG Dip and BSc (Hons)
Occupational Therapy from Sept 2013
DisclaimerPlease note:
All Students undertaking programmes delivered by the Faculty of Health, Education and Society are reminded that any alteration to University documentation, including practice portfolios, involving forgery/falsification of an Educator’s comments or signature/initialling will be investigated. This investigation could lead to disciplinary action, which may lead to a Student being unable to achieve professional registration.
All the information in this handbook is correct at the time of printing. Programmes are regularly reviewed and updated so details may change. Occasionally, a module listed in the Handbook may be replaced or withdrawn.
Plymouth University is proud of its teaching and research and it undertakes all reasonable steps to provide educational services in the manner set out in this handbook and in any documents referred to within it. It does not, however, guarantee the provision of such services. Should industrial action or circumstances beyond the control of the University interfere with its ability to provide educational services, the University undertakes to use all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to those services.
If you require any part of this publication in larger print or in alternative format please contact:
Plymouth University
Peninsula Allied Health Centre
Derriford Road,
Plymouth,
PL6 8BH
Telephone number: 01752 588800
Dear Student
Important: please read
If you have a disability
The University is very supportive of Students with disabilities, and year–on-year we are making adjustments to assist Students with special needs. It may be that we have already put in place changes which will assist you – but unless we know what your needs might be, we cannot guarantee that that will be the case. If we can identify your needs sufficiently far in advance of when you intend to start a programme at the University, we are better able to put in place appropriate arrangements – or, if there is a health and safety issue or an issue about the expectations of Students on the programme, to advise you on alternative options. However, we may not be able to do so if we do not know in advance.
If you have not told us about your disability
Please do contact the University’s Disability Assist Services on Plymouth 01752 232278 to discuss your needs. While we are making reasonable adjustments to our provision, we may not be able to meet your individual needs if we do not have the opportunity to assess them in advance, and that could impact negatively on your experience on the programme or even your ability to take up your place.
If you have told us about your disability
You may be asked for additional information or invited to attend an interview with Disability Assist Services. This is in order that we can properly assess your individual needs and ensure that we have the best possible chance of meeting them. Please do provide any information requested and come in to see staff if asked to do so, since otherwise you – and we - could find ourselves in a position in which it is difficult or even unsafe for you to take up your place.
So please tell us about any disability – even if you do not think it will affect you while you are at the University – and respond positively to any requests for further details or for an information interview. If you do not do so, you may find yourself unable to take up your place or unable to complete the programme because we have not been able adequately to meet your needs.
Occupational Therapy Team
CONTENTS:
PART ONE
Disability Notice 2
INTRODUCTION 6
1. THE PURPOSE OF THE HANDBOOK 7
2. OVERALL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAMMES STRUCTURE 8
3. TEACHING AND LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES 9
4. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRACTICE PLACEMENTS OVERVIEW 11
5. APPROVAL AND MONITORING OF PRACTICE PLACEMENTS 13
6. EDUCATOR ACCREDITATION, DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT 15
7. PLACEMENT ALLOCATION PROCESS 17
8. TRANSFER OF INFORMATION 18
9. PLACEMENT PRACTICALITIES 19
10. THE ASSESSMENT OF COMPETENCE IN PRACTICE 21
11. THE PRACTICE PORTFOLIO AND LEARNING CONTRACT 27
12. SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS ON PRACTICE PLACEMENTS 30
13. SUPERVISION 34
14. STUDENT HEALTH AND SAFETY ON PLACEMENT 37
CONTENTS:
PART TWO
1. DESCRIPTIVE MODULE RECORDS (DMR)
PLACEMENT ONE BSC 42
PLACEMENT TWO BSC 45
PLACEMENT THREE BSC 48
2. DESCRIPTIVE MODULE RECORDS (DMR)
PLACEMENT ONE MSC / PGDip 52
PLACEMENT TWO MSC / PGDip 55
PLACEMENT THREE MSC / PGDip 58
3. ASSESSMENT FORMS
PLACEMENT ONE 61
PLACEMENT TWO 68
PLACEMENT THREE 75
4. DECLARATION FORM 82
5. STUDENT INFORMATION FOR EDUCATORS 83
6. PLACEMENT INDUCTION LIST 84
7. SUPERVISION PREPARATION FORM 85
8. SUPERVISION RECORD 86
9. LEARNING CONTRACT 87
10. REFLECTION TOOL 88
11. HALF WAY CONTACT RECORD 89
12. CAR USE FOR PLACEMENT 93
13. STUDENT EVALUATION FORM 94
14. PLACEMENT AUDIT TOOL 99
15. WORK PLACE AGREEMENT 110
16. FITness to Practice Procedure 120
17. GLOSSARY OF TERMS 128
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Practice Placement Handbook 2014. This handbook is intended for use by Occupational Therapy Practice Educators and students for the pre-registration programmes:
BSc (Hons), MSc and PG Dip Occupational Therapy (pre-registration pathways). These programmes (and the post-registration programme MSc Advance Practitioner Occupational Therapy) emanate from the first provision for occupational therapy in the South West at St Loye’s Foundation Exeter that began in 1944 (Wilcox 2002). In September 2008 the Occupational Therapy programmes were relocated from Exeter to Plymouth, as part of a contemporary provision in a modern university and a vibrant School of Health Professions. Occupational Therapy is now sited at the Peninsula Allied Health Centre (PAHC), Plymouth University on the St Mark and St John (Marjon) campus in North Plymouth. This enabled further development of the inter-professional education agenda, by providing students ready access and opportunities to learn alongside other allied health professional student colleagues, both within the PAHC building and the large main Plymouth University campus at Drake Circus in the city centre.
Development of the Practice Placement modules for approval in 2013 were informed by the Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Proficiency (HCPC, 2012), Standards of Education and Training (HCPC, 2012), College of Occupational Therapists Curriculum Guidance for Pre-registration Education (2009) and College of Occupational Therapists Pre-registration Education Standards (2008). This handbook serves as a Module Handbook for each of the three practice placement modules required for pre-registration Occupational Therapy programmes at Plymouth University. It contains information about the organisation, structure and assessment of practice placements and explains what is expected of students and practice educators in order to enjoy and successfully complete them. Practice placements are an essential component for both professional and academic development of all pre-registration Occupational Therapy students. They provide the opportunity to develop and apply understanding of the theoretical concepts, skills and attitudes required of an Occupational Therapist. The College of Occupational Therapists state: “Practice education is central to the curriculum as a means of achieving the programme outcomes, namely fitness for award, practice and purpose” (COT, 2004). Over the course of the programme and with effective supervision and guidance from practice educators, students will develop the skills required to meet the expectations of a registered Occupational Therapist in terms of professional accountability, autonomy and application of underpinning theory to practice. The programme team are very grateful for the broad range of excellent opportunities and experience offered by service providers throughout the South West. It is hoped that for practice educators the opportunity to contribute towards the students’ education provides exciting challenges and rewards. Practice education can promote new approaches to practice, facilitate the acquisition of management and supervision skills and embraces the concept of continuing professional development. The College of Occupational Therapists have stated the following with regards to participating in practice education: “You have a professional responsibility to provide regular practice education opportunities for occupational therapy students where possible, and to promote a learning culture within the workplace” (COT, 2010).
If you are an educator with experience of taking students from Plymouth University prior to September 2013, the main differences you will see in this handbook are: the development of postgraduate pre-registration routes; the position of placements within the curriculum; changes to the assessment form and greater emphasis on the learning contract. Thank you for your support for practice education, please contact us with any questions.
We hope that you enjoy your experience of practice placement!
Occupational Therapy Team.
1. THE PURPOSE OF THE HANDBOOK
1.1 The Practice Placement Handbook for the pre-registration BSc (Hons), MSc and PG Dip Occupational Therapy programmes is designed to be used by students undertaking practice placements and the educators who are supporting and assessing students. It provides information about all aspects of practice placements from preparation, induction, learning outcomes, expectations, assessment of competence, support and supervision in practice settings and evaluation of the learning experience.
1.2 It explains the wider considerations of the other modules taught on the Occupational Therapy programme. It explains how placements are managed and how students are assessed in practice and the key role of the practice educator and student in this process.
1.3 If you have any queries about the content of this handbook, please contact a member of the Occupational Therapy team.
Contact details:
For any enquires relating to placement allocations please contact:
For any enquires from educators and service providers relating to Practice Environment Profiles on ARC (placement database) please contact:
For any enquires from students relating to Placements on the Web on ARC (placement database) please contact:
To speak to a member of the Occupational Therapy team or programme administrators please phone: 01752 588800
Plymouth University
Penninsula Allied Health Centre,
Derriford Rd.
PL6 8BH
2. OVERALL occupational therapy PROGRAMMEs STRUCTURE
2.1 To be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council, students are required to successfully complete all campus based assessments together with completion of all placements.
2.2 These programmes are approved by Plymouth University, the Health and Care Professions Council and accredited by the College of Occupational Therapists. Students are required to complete a minimum of 1000 practice hours of successful assessed practice in accordance with WFOT guidelines (Hocking and Ness 2002).
2.3 The pre-registration Occupational Therapy programmes comprise of theoretical, experiential and practice studies. Learning and teaching can take place in an inter-professional or Occupational Therapy specific group at the University or on practice placement.
2.4 There are a minimum of 90 weeks of study in total for each pre-registration programme divided across two to four years depending on the programme route.
2.5 The academic base that underpins practice placement will be emphasised and integrated with the practice placements throughout the programme. The programme structure also facilitates progressive development of key transferable skills.
2.6 Learning is delivered by modules throughout each programme.
2.7 Detailed information concerning the module aims, the assessed learning outcomes and indicative syllabus content for each module is recorded on the definitive module record (DMR) on page 40.
2.8 Copies of all the DMRs for each programme and level of study are included in the programme handbooks available on POPPI (Plymouth Online Practice Placement Information) www2.plymouth.ac.uk/poppi. (If you require any support to find these or any other documents on poppi or ARC please contact the placement administrators on: ). (A pdf of this document can also be found on poppi)
· Occupational Therapy BSc (Hons) Programme Handbook (from) 2013
· Occupational Therapy MSc and Post Graduate Diploma (pre-registration) Programme Handbook (from) 2013
3. TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES
3.1 The Pre-registration Occupational Therapy programmes have been developed to recognise and promote individual diversity and use knowledge about the wide range of needs of learners and how these can be met equitably in academic and practice settings.
3.2 The Occupational Therapy team has close links with the Learning Development Service and the Disability Advisory Service based within the University. This learner-centred focus enables students to receive direct experience of an environment that sustains its community, promoting health through everyday actions.
3.3 Learners, practice educators and tutors are empowered to develop a healthy learning environment. Learners are encouraged to take a proactive approach to the tutoring process and the development of their professional portfolio. This proactive approach is actively transferable to the process of practice and practice supervision, in which the skills are further refined through the use of learning contracts.
3.4 The Occupational Therapy team recognise the need for learners to become increasingly self-directed. The academic curriculum, practice placements and interaction in the community provide opportunities for action, self-evaluation and development. The transition into, within and out of each practice placement includes support from the Occupational Therapy programmes team.
3.5 Student centred learning is essential for progress and a positive learning experience in this BSc (Hons), MSc and PG Dip curriculum. The opportunity to develop readiness and acceptance of responsibility in the learning process is seen as essential for student practitioners (Clouston and Whitcombe 2005). This supports the development of reflective and creative skills needed for both learning and practice environments (Riley and Matheson 2005).
3.6 Students on these programmes will be encouraged to engage increasingly in problem based learning. This will mean that students will be guided to use information in approaching professional problems and will be expected to research, evaluate and critique the evidence provided to develop and reflect on the knowledge and skills required of them as practitioners.
3.7 The inter-professional shared learning elements encourage progressive and forward thinking students, and prepare them for professional roles in health and social care, leadership, education and research. The emphasis is on high quality professional practice, preparing for future trends as well as meeting current health and social care needs. There will be some opportunities for shared learning in practice placements. However, the specific nature of these will depend on the type of placement undertaken.