OT5009 - Supported Practice Based Learning

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.

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.

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)

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.

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

All level 4 modules

N/A

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.