OT7003 - Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (with Practice Placement C)

What will I learn on this module?

You will draw on your learning from previous modules and placements to consolidate your knowledge, skills and in values in preparation for practice and meeting the requirements for registration with HCPC. You will continue to develop your reflective skills and identify your own areas for development to focus your learning and support your transition in becoming a Professional Occupational Therapist; learning to assess and evaluate your own skills.
Your learning will be consolidated during a period of practice placement assessed at level 6 ; where you will be demonstrating the practical and professional skills required of a student making the transition to entry-level practitioner. Placement hours completed on this module contribute to the 1000 hours of supervised practice required to be eligible to register to practice on completion of the programme.

For this placement you may have the opportunity to work in a non-traditional or contemporary area of practice where there is currently no direct OT service. In private, independent and voluntary organisations. For example, previous placements have been within mainstream schools, charities and new NHS services.

You will learn to apply key skills of activity analysis and assessment to identify occupational need/opportunities and design, develop and implement occupation-based interventions/projects. Placements at this level will require you to think creatively and autonomously and apply entrepreneurship and leadership skills to promote the occupational therapy role. Part of being a professional in practice is managing workload and your own emotional responses to pressured environments and there will be opportunities to reflect on this both in University and on placement in order to develop physical and mental health self care strategies.

How will I learn on this module?

This module will focus on professional development as you make the transition from student to qualified practitioner with an emphasis on reflection and continuing professional development. You will learn through a range of blended learning opportunities including online workshops, interactive seminars and work-based learning designed to help you make the transition to practice with the requirement for life-long learning and continual professional development. This module will focus on professional development as you make the transition for student to qualified practitioner with an emphasis on reflection and continuing professional development.

You will learn through a range of blended learning opportunities including online workshops, , seminars and work based learning designed to help you make the transition to practice with its requirement for life-long learning and continual professional development. An introductory lecture will introduce you to key module concepts and the RCOT career development framework to guide a process of self-assessment and action planning for your transition into practice. You will work in small groups and independently to facilitate autonomous learning. Sessions will be led by the module team with contributions from expert clinicians. to introduce you to key module concepts and the RCOT career development framework to guide a process of self-assessment and action planning for your transition into practice. Practice Placement assessed through level 6 competencies will also be an integral part of learning on this module where you will apply and evaluate your knowledge and skills in an identified practice area, working autonomously with weekly supervision from a qualified Occupational Therapist who will act as your practice educator to facilitate your development as an independent, safe and effective practitioner. Tutorial sessions will also form part of your module learning, specifically to support you with the placement process. Tutorial sessions may be in the form of individual or small group tutorials, in university or in practice.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

The identified module tutor, alongside the programme team, will structure a blend of face-to-face and online learning opportunities to support your learning within the module and to assist you to work towards the module assessment. The module guide, the electronic reading list, and information communicated throughout the module within sessions and on the e-learning portal will all signpost you to resources to support your professional development. The formative assessment takes the form of a mock interview session engaging with local employers enabling you to identify areas for development prior to applying for employment following the conclusion of your programme.

Assessment preparation with the module teaching team will also be an integral part of the module.

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. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Of cohesive principles of self-assessment and development
2. Of the critical application of professional knowledge and skills to safe and effective practice

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. A Pro-active approach to planning and organising learning activities and accessing relevant resources and sources of support
4. Demonstrate independent professional reasoning and decision making by meeting identified practice competencies and demonstrating safe and effective occupational therapy practice skills
5. Critically apply entrepreneurial and leadership skills to occupational therapy practice

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
6. To demonstrate initiative and creative approach to problem solving
7. To demonstrate commitment to own personal and professional development in developing and promoting the future of the profession

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment –
A 10min presentation on the core values of occupational therapy followed by a 15 min mock interview for an entry level occupational therapy post. (All MLOs)


Summative assessment- Part A: Practice Placement
Students will be assessed on a pass/fail basis in line with specified level 6 competencies. You will receive written feedback from your practice educator regarding strengths and areas for development. Placement must be passed in order to pass the module. (All MLOs)

Part B:
A 4000 professional portfolio

Outlining the students' knowledge, skills and values in a critically reflective portfolio aligned to the RCOT career development framework including a detailed action plan for continuing professional development and a range of annotated evidence to support the reflections within the portfolio. (MLO 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6)

Individual written feedback will be provided following the summative assessment highlighting strengths and areas for development.

Parts A and B promote the achievement of all MLOs

Pre-requisite(s)

All previous modules

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

In this module you will consolidate your understanding of the ethos , values and professional practice of Occupational Therapy in preparation for your transition to a qualified and HCPC registered professional. You will be supported by the academic team to increase your confidence in further developing your own knowledge and skills of occupational therapy; this will be achieved through the structure of the RCOT Career Development Framework, with particular focus on reflecting on your knowledge and skill acquisition to date and the development of an action plan to support you continuing professional development in your first few years as a qualified occupational therapist.

In order to achieve this you will critically reflect on and critically analyze and evaluate your own knowledge, skills and values identifying areas for your professional development and planning/managing your own learning with support and guidance. This module will equip you with skills and experience of self-assessment and Professional Development Appraisal for continual professional development as required by Professional and Regulatory Bodies (HCPC and RCOT).

Your academic learning will be consolidated with a period of level 6 professional practice placement embedded within this module.

Course info

Credits 30

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 2 years Full Time

Department Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing

Location Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Useful Links

Find out about our distinctive approach at 
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp

Admissions Terms and Conditions
northumbria.ac.uk/terms

Fees and Funding
northumbria.ac.uk/fees

Admissions Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy

Admissions Complaints Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/complaints