NEWS
Majority of University of Lincoln ’ s first graduates opt to stay in area
The University of Lincoln celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of MSc ( preregistration ) occupational therapy students in December , with the majority opting to stay in the area .
The two-year pre-registration , post-graduate course was set up to help secure more staff in Lincolnshire , a rural area that often struggles to recruit staff . Of the 13 graduating students , eight are staying in the Lincolnshire system , with two more taking up work in bordering trusts . Two more would have considered staying in Lincolnshire had COVID-19 not led to them
Lincoln ’ s first cohort during their training going home during their studies . The programme was designed with significant input from the
The new course was developed to fit into an interprofessional Lincolnshire Strategic Leadership Occupational Therapy Team , an suite of courses provided at the university , with students taking approach that was praised in the course ’ s validation by the Health many of their modules with physiotherapy , nursing and social work and Care Professions Council ( HCPC ). students . The team helped to develop close working relationships between Carol adds : ‘ Our approach prepares students to think about practitioners and educators , which helped to ensure good working in a multidisciplinary world . While many courses are trying quality practice placements could be delivered , particularly with to embed interprofessional working into their programmes , we have circumstances changing rapidly in practice as a direct result of the been able to build it into the programme at the start .’ pandemic .
The course has also pioneered replacing a standard dissertation
While placements scheduled for last Easter were delayed , two module with service evaluation and transformation modules , cohorts were able to go out for long placements in the autumn , with evaluating an area of practice and then theoretically proposing a way some working remotely and others getting experience in a range to implement evidence-based change . of settings , including hospitals where many patients were testing The work was developed based on feedback from practice positive for COVID-19 . managers that they wanted graduates ready to head into
Carol Duff , the university ’ s occupational therapy lead , said : ’ Our workplaces as agents of change , and the course leaders hope that practice educators have been really creative in supporting our some students may be able to take forward their plans into practice students . It ’ s given our students the reality of what working is like or into extended research proposals . during a pandemic and the skills to work with it , and the students The first cohort graduated with nine distinctions and four have done amazingly with that .’ merits . The course is now expanding , with this year ’ s 25-strong The course has also drawn on local practitioners to deliver guest cohort including the course ’ s first international students , while the lectures , opening up opportunities to develop future academics and university is looking at other potential post-graduate opportunities for maintaining a focus on contemporary practice . occupational therapists in Lincolnshire .
Vaughan Gething backs RCOT calls to protect children ’ s therapy services in Wales
Vaughan Gething , the Health and Social Services Minister in Wales , has responded positively to RCOT ’ s call to protect children ’ s therapy services as services pivot to cope with the latest surge of COVID-19 cases .
In his response to a letter from RCOT calling for staff to be protected from deployment , the minister wrote : ‘ We should continue to provide essential and routine services and … I do recognise the potential harms in terms of developmental delay and long-term impacts for children and young people .’
Dai Davies , RCOT professional practice lead in Wales , said : ‘ We welcome Vaughan Gething ’ s response to our letter asking for assurance that children ’ s therapy services be maintained during the next phase of the pandemic .
‘ Our request was supported by Sally Holland , Children ’ s Commissioner for Wales , who highlighted that for those children who need it , access to therapies is fundamental to their ability to enjoy their childhood under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child .
‘ Vaughan Gething makes it clear that essential and routine services should continue to be provided , and that health boards should carry out risk assessments when making judgments about the deployment of staff , including occupational therapists .’
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