University Of Huddersfield : BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy The BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy programme is designed to meet the needs of those who wish to become occupational therapists in order to work with people to improve their quality of life and health through the use of meaningful occupation. The recent and current changes across and beyond health and social care are creating many challenges for occupational therapists, requiring them to work ever more flexibly and creatively; initiating, managing and responding to change as well as developing professional leadership, business acumen and entrepreneurial skills. The course team, working in partnership with service providers aim to ensure that occupational therapists graduating from this course have the skills and competencies needed for their professional practice delivered in these constantly changing and increasingly challenging environments. It is a vocational degree programme designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to meet the Standards of Proficiency for Occupational Therapists as set out by the Health Professions Council (HPC). On successful completion of the course, graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the HPC. Additionally as the course is accredited by the College of Occupational Therapists (COT), graduates are also eligible to apply for membership of COT. The mode of delivery is full time over a minimum 3 years, maximum 5 year (COT Education Standards 2008). The course aims to ensure that students achieve the academic and practitioner standards as laid out in the QAA Benchmark Statement relevant to Occupational Therapy. 16 students are recruited onto the course on an annual basis. The academic year runs from September to July. Further details on the specific University of Huddersfield course and recruitment process can be found via the following link. http://www.hud.ac.uk/courses/2013-14/full-time/undergraduate/occupational-therapy-bsc-hons/ The main aims for the programme are to : Develop academic ability and professional competence enabling graduates to be eligible to apply for registration with the Health Professions Council as an Occupational Therapist and membership the College of Occupational Therapists. Extend the development of intellectual skills to facilitate critical enquiry and an analytical approach to practice. Develop skills of professional leadership by enabling students to anticipate, influence and respond to changes in policy and legislation affecting delivery to health, social care, communities and populations. Develop awareness of and sensitivity to the benefits and challenges inherent within interdisciplinary and inter-agency practice. Encourage and support students to use knowledge, skills and reflection to inform personal and professional development in order to foster a commitment to lifelong learning.

Develop personal and professional skills, attitudes and values that enable students to work in collaboration with people in order to enhance their occupational performance and quality of life recognising and responding to individual needs, circumstance and aspirations. Facilitate learning and working alongside a range of health, social care and third sector professionals in order that students develop their professional identity as occupational therapists within an interdisciplinary context and in non-illness focussed contexts.

Year one modules HFT2002 FOUNDATIONS AND CONTEXT OF OCCUPATION AND PRACTICE (40 credits) This module will provide the students with opportunity to consider the key concepts and philosophy of occupational therapy in addition to the contextual influences on occupational performance and occupational therapy. They consider the theories of occupation, the emerging role of occupational science and their influence on practice. Additionally they will explore the environmental and cultural influences on occupational performance and then broaden studies to include wider socio-political issues including occupational issues of communities and populations. Drivers influencing the current delivery of occupational therapy including interagency and inter-professional team working will be addressed along with an introduction to some of the current issues affecting current occupational therapy practice. The students will be expected to engage with the module material in a reflexive way and will be given opportunities to develop their reflective skills. Fundamental to both aspects of this module is placing the client at the centre of occupational therapy practice. HFT2003 HEALTH, OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND OCCUPATIONAL DISRUPTION (40 credits) This module will explore health from an occupational perspective, including the relationship between health and occupation. The students will be introduced to the structure and function of the human body along with the underlying physiological and psychological processes supporting healthy human behaviour. Building upon these concepts, they will explore physiological and psychosocial factors which can affect occupational performance and will be introduced to a range of occupational therapy assessment methods. Risk assessment and safe patient handling practice will also be considered. HFG1000 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH 1 (20 credits) The research element of the module will introduce the students to the role of research and evidence based practice within health and the types of research undertaken. They are introduced to literature searching using electronic databases, academic writing skills and the University of Huddersfield Harvard referencing system and explore how to evaluate published research and the concept of ethics within health care research. The professional development element of the module will encourage students to explore issues of lifelong learning and continuing professional development that underpin the essential skills needed in order to understand registration requirements of professional bodies.

The module will enable students to develop and use a variety of transferable skills including lifelong learning and reflective practice. They are encouraged to evaluate and reflect upon their strengths and limitations and therefore identify areas for development in order to function effectively as autonomous practitioners. HFT1012 PRACTICE BASED EXPERIENCE 1 The module will introduce the students to a variety of occupational therapy practice settings in order to develop practical skills and apply them in practice. The module will identify appropriate professional behaviour and standards that students are expected to demonstrate in the practice setting and will develop an understanding of safe systems of work in order to demonstrate safe practice. The module will give opportunity to consider the nature and development of therapeutic relationships, inter-professional working and communication strategies involved. Placement length and timings H1A one day a week for five weeks (Thursdays Jan-Feb) H1B one day a week for five weeks (Thursdays Feb-March) H1C 5 weeks full time (April –June)

Year Two Modules HIT2001 ENHANCING OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS (40 credits) This module builds upon knowledge and skills developed in earlier modules and provide opportunities to explore in greater depth issues of assessing and enhancing the occupational performance of individuals and groups. There will be opportunity to review the ethical, legal and policy framework effecting service delivery. The students develop practical therapeutic skills in planning, implementing and evaluating occupational therapy within a range of settings to promote the health and well-being of people with a variety of occupational needs which will be underpinned by analysis of the evidence base. HIG1000 RESEARCH 2 (20 credits) The aim of this module is to further develop the knowledge of research studied at foundation level, specifically to develop the knowledge of research principles related to practice. It also prepares the students to undertake an area of research in year 3. The emphasis will be on the range of methods that are currently used within both formal research and the evaluation of practice. Students will learn about data collection and analysis in relation to qualitative and quantitative research, systematic reviews and audit. Ethical, political, financial and other constraints, which might impinge on the research process, will also be addressed HIG100 INTERPROFESSIONAL WORKING IN CONTEXT (20 credits) This module will introduces students to interprofessional working (IPW). Drawing on experience from practice students gain a theoretical understanding and explore enablers and inhibitors to interprofessional working in practice. This is achieved this through conference attendance and directed online activities. Students from a range of health courses will participate in the module including midwifery, operating department practice, physiotherapy and podiatry

HIT1007 PRACTICE BASED EXPERIENCE H2A (20 credits) The focus of this module is client-based assessment and the application of a range of therapeutic skills within a restricted caseload. Students will work in one of a number of practice environments. Examples might include activities of daily living assessments, equipment prescription and provision, facilitating an occupational based group session or conducting a simple outcome measure. A range of occupational therapy interventions that support clients in achievement of their personal goals will be used and students will begin to work with other members of the wider health/social care team, building upon communication and other personal skills. H2A Placement length: Six weeks full time (Jan-Feb) HIT1008 PRACTICE BASED EXPERIENCE H2B (20 credits) In this module students will apply skills in a wider variety of contexts and will take a greater degree of responsibility for the overall care of clients. They will engage more explicitly with the wider multidisciplinary team. H2B Placement length: Six weeks full time (April-June)

Year Three Modules HHG1000 RESEARCH 3 (30 credits) The aim of this module is to undertake an area of research which will be a collaborative project using one of a variety of approaches namely; Qualitative / Quantitative /A review of literature undertaken in a systematic way or audit, within a field related to healthcare. 1. To identify a specific research question, review the literature in that area, select and justify a particular methodology and associated set of research techniques 2. To demonstrate a critical understanding of the ethical implications of research/ involving human participants within the context of the research 3. To develop team-working skills through interdisciplinary group work and demonstration at the student conference, either by poster defence or verbal presentation 4. To produce a dissertation that will be concise, appropriately structured, fully referenced and presented to professional standards. HHT1022 PRACTICE BASED EXPERIENCE 3 (30 credits ) (H3A) In this module students move towards independent professional practice through personal management of an increasing caseload with a wide range of clients. They will work with a wide range of clients with complex and challenging needs and, where possible, contribute to the management of therapy assistants and other non-qualified personnel. Students are also expected to work effectively as part of the inter-professional team. Practice placement opportunities may be available within NHS, social care or non-traditional settings

H3A Placement length: Eight weeks full time (April – June) HHT2002 WIDENING OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRACTICE (40 credits) Students will focus in depth on a chosen area of occupational therapy practice in a wide variety of contexts. Through spending time in a practice setting, they formulate a critique of the existing service provision evaluating the impact of local and national professional and policy drivers on the chosen context. A proposal will be presented which could contribute to the quality enhancement of the service with reference to detailed local understanding of the service and context, available published evidence and change management theory. Students will also extend the concepts introduced earlier in the course enabling them to make a smooth transition into professional practice. A range of business skills to compliment the practical skills which have been developed within a commissioning environment will be considered. Placement length: 70 hours (hours to be negotiated with the service ) Jan –March . HHT2000 CONSOLIDATING OCCUPATIONAL

THERAPY PRACTICE (20 credits)

This module provides opportunities for students to develop further, critical understanding of the theories, principles and concepts underpinning current practice within Occupational Therapy practice. Using scenario based learning students will adopt an enquiry based, critical evaluation of the theoretical and practical approaches to working with individuals, groups, communities and populations.

Assessment of Practice Placements Students at the University of Huddersfield are assessed using the Competency Based Fieldwork Evaluation for Occupational Therapists (CBFE) (Bossers et al, 2007). Assessment should reflect the students’ ability to meet the university module (as stated) and specific (personal and placement) learning outcomes and assess the students overall performance whilst in practice. The range of scores for each level of placement across the course are indicated below:

CBFE Level 1(year 1)

Expected rating 1-4

Fail

2(year 2)

3-7

U-2

3(year 3)

6-8

U-5

U

Placement H1A H1B H1C H2A H2B H3A

Support to Educators Practice placement educators are offered a range of courses to enhance their skills. These range from the basic practice educators course to refresher courses for more experienced clinicians. Additionally courses are organised to assist practice placement educators with assessing students using the Competency Based Fieldwork Evaluation (CBFE) assessment tool (Bossers 2007). There are also opportunities for practice placement educators to engage with the COT recognised Accreditation of Practice Placement Educators (APPLE) accreditation process. Practice placement educator courses are run in collaboration with the other local universities and in conjunction with physiotherapy colleagues where appropriate. Please see the following link for details dates and (http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/hss/about_us_EducatorsCourses.htm)

Local updates within trusts may also be available (contact via PLF for local details ).