endanger the wellbeing of staff . Sharing the student responsibility across several staff was identified as an approach to reduce the ‘ load ’.
Eligibility to facilitate clinical learning
Occupational therapists recognised that disciplines other than ours and organisations beyond health and social care could be part of the solution . Another important aspect was that student expectations were realistic .
One person suggested : ‘ Universities [ need to ] recognise [ and advise students ] that a placement educator could be another profession [ this is , not a registered occupational therapist ].’
There is the potential for some of the practical issues raised by the survey respondents to be mitigated beyond traditional settings . For example , completing some placement experience within the voluntary and independent sector could facilitate wider learning opportunities and alleviate staff demands .
Another said : ‘ Having service-wide placements , rather than just one [ student ] within one team ; this would relieve pressure on staff and possibly make them more willing to have students .’
A new way forward ?
A new way of providing occupational therapy student placements to ensure sound , sustainable and additional capacity for clinical learning is required .
All occupational therapy practice settings could potentially support workforce development for delivering occupational therapy into the future by :
• Sharing placements : for example , enabling multiple students in one clinical setting , thereby creating a peer support environment for students .
• Including other disciplines in supporting the clinical education of occupational therapists .
• Splitting placements to widen experience and to share the load when staff are pressured .
• Using technology / digital placement activity to engage students in clinical work .
• Utilising new placement environments beyond NHS settings , for example in voluntary , public , and independent sectors .
• Providing occupational therapy student action learning sessions in practice settings : these sessions enable student learning , development , and peer support , as well as assist educators and help achieve additional placement capacity ( Phelps and Melton 2021 ).
Changes to organisational process , along with implementing innovative ways of working is fundamental to the continuation of student placement provision , ensuring a sustainable workforce ( NHS England 2020 ).
It has never been timelier to revolutionise student placements in the occupational therapy profession .
Phelps C and Melton J ( 2021 ) Creating solutions to expand the quantity and enhance the quality of occupational therapy student placements . Royal College of Occupational Therapy Virtual Conference , 2021 , 30 June-1 July .
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service ( UCAS ) Students aim high with university applications for next year . Available online at : https :// bit . ly / 3EjBdBf [ Accessed 22 September 2022 ]
Words This article was written by HANNAH GANNON , Practice Education Facilitator , NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board , with co-authors DR ANNE DAYKIN , Lecturer in Physiotherapy , University of Gloucestershire , ALEX JONES , Research Associate , University of Worcester ( formally Research Assistant at the University of Gloucestershire ), CAROLINE PHELPS , Clinical Lead Therapist , Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , MELISSA REED , Consultant Occupational Therapist for Recovery and Inclusion , Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust , EMMA ROSE Academic Course Lead BSc ( Hons ) Occupational Therapy , University of Gloucestershire and PROFESSOR JANE MELTON , Strategic Research Lead Health and Care , University of Gloucestershire .
With acknowledgement to all those involved in the academic practice partnership , including those in our multi-agency , Navigation Team . Our thanks are also extended to Health Education England Southwest and One Gloucestershire NHS Integrated Care Board and the University of Gloucestershire for their support and funding . Lorraine Dixon , Lucy Blandford and Marion Andrews-Evans are recognised for their vision and encouragement .
48 OTnews November 2022