This experience has been valuable for securing my first job following graduation , as it highlighted my strengths that related to the job requirements , which made me stand out among other candidates .
STUDENT EDUCATION FEATURE
I do feel really lucky to have a placement here and to be the first student from the University of Derby , so I think it ’ s wonderful that Seashell have been able to reach out to universities from further afield to help out students with a fantastic placement opportunity in this time where they are limited .
Although , case studies are fundamental from a learning perspective , I feel being part of a real-life project has been more beneficial to gain a deeper understanding of service user needs and valuable experience for future practice .
• develop their presentation skills in a professional context ;
• appear as a co-author on a poster or published article ; and
• bring their studies to life in a more powerful way of using ‘ real life ’ projects , rather than hypothetical case studies .
Benefits to the department included :
• increased capacity to conduct service evaluation using qualitative analysis ;
• enhanced access to the current evidence base through the student ’ s access to university library portals ;
• raised profile of the organisation through successful acceptance of study to European Academy of Childhood Disability conference ; and
• raised awareness of the client group and organisation for newlyqualified occupational therapists , promoting recruitment .
Comments from the students included : ‘ I do feel really lucky to have a placement here and to be the first student from the University of Derby , so I think it ’ s wonderful that Seashell has been able to reach out to universities from further afield to help out students with a fantastic placement opportunity in this time where they are limited .’
‘ This experience has been valuable for securing my first job following graduation , as it highlighted my strengths that related to the job requirements , which made me stand out among other candidates .’
And : ‘ Although , case studies are fundamental from a learning perspective , I feel being part of a real-life project has been more beneficial to gain a deeper understanding of service user needs and valuable experience for future practice .’
Following successful completion of this project , the occupational therapy team at Seashell will continue to offer an increased number of practice placements to students from a variety of universities .
The benefits of this are twofold : Seashell Trust will have enhanced opportunities for service development and improved capacity to increase the service to children and young people ; and occupational therapy students will have additional opportunities to undertake practice placements within this rewarding client group and contribute to service development projects enhancing their continued professional development .
References
Braun V and Clarke V ( 2006 ) ‘ Using thematic analysis in psychology ’, Qualitative Research in Psychology , 3 : 77-101
Camden C and Silva M ( 2021 ) ‘ Paediatric telehealth : opportunities created by the COVID-19 and suggestions to sustain its use to support families of children with disabilities ’, Physical and Occupational Therapy In Paediatrics , 41 ( 1 ): 1-17 .
GOV . UK ( 2021 ) Coronavirus : how to stay safe and help prevent the spread . Available online at : www . gov . uk / guidance / covid-19-coronavirusrestrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do # contents [ online ] Accessed 09 / 05 / 2021
Rachel Johnson , lead occupational therapist , and Kate Duggan , director of service development , Seashell Trust , and Sofia Lallo , occupational therapy student , University of Derby . With thanks to Emma Moore and Kelly Mtonga , occupational therapy students from Leeds Beckett University
© Lightcome via Getty Images
OTnews August 2021 41