Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE OCT4010

 
TITLE Block Clinical Placement

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 10

 
DEPARTMENT Occupational Therapy

 
DESCRIPTION This is the final fieldwork block placement designed to provide students with the opportunity to actively participate and apply academic concepts and professional skills in a practical setting (under minimal supervision).

Students attend the placement site for a period of seven weeks, five working days each week and will work under the supervision of clinical tutor/tutors who is/are certified as fieldwork educators.

The students are expected to keep a logbook documenting the hours spent in the particular site.

Study-unit Aims:

The aim of this study-unit is to provide the student with the opportunity to function as a pre-entry level occupational therapist using evidence, reasoning and problem solving skills to determine appropriate actions. The student will take responsibility for assisting the occupational therapist with the whole treatment process, and discussing this during supervision.

The study-unit aims to provide:

- opportunities for supervised clinical practice;
- support student practice and performance in a clinical setting or settings which enables the exercise of the range of skills expected of an entry-level clinician;
- constructive feedback to develop and consolidate clinical competence in the range of practice requirements and professional behaviours, both with clients seeking services and staff.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Demonstrate knowledge of assessment and treatment planning rationales;
- Understand the implications of disease process on occupational function, roles and routines;
- Demonstrate knowledge of a variety of treatment techniques, modalities and how these are adapted and modified;
- Demonstrate knowledge of conceptual models and frames of reference which can be applied in the particular clinical context;
- Demonstrate the ability to be autonomous, taking responsibility for own practice; and
- Plan the transition into the workplace to ensure the highest quality of safe and ethical practice in the graduate's first placement.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Obtain, interpret (including identification of goals), and document the data necessary to make initial and subsequent treatment decisions (Occupational Therapy Process: Assessment);
- Use evidence, reasoning and problem solving to determine appropriate actions so as to maintain, improve, restore, or maximise function and compensate for dysfunction (Occupational Therapy process: Treatment);
- Draw on appropriate knowledge and skills in order to make professional judgements in organizing solutions to difficulties. (Occupational Therapy Process: Problem solving);
- Monitor and review the on-going effectiveness of intervention and modify it accordingly by reflecting on and critically evaluating own practice (Reflective Practice);
- Demonstrate verbal and non-verbal communication skills which articulate clear thinking as well as skills in managing and resolving potentially difficult situations or conflicts (Communication);
- Maintain accurate and legible documentation to professional and service standards (Communication);
- Recognise the need for the effective self-management of workload and be able to practice accordingly (Organisational skills);
- Justify the occupational therapy role and critically analyse its contribution to the team and other services (Professional relationships);
- Demonstrate at all times personal behaviour congruent with professional status that adheres to the Maltese Code of Ethical Conduct (Professional standards);
- Understand and demonstrate the need to maintain the safety of service users and those involved in their care and are able to assess and manage risk (Safe Practice).

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

This is an example of suitable literature only, as students should be able to select their own sources at this stage of the study-unit.

- Alsop, A., & Ryan, S. (2000). Making the most of fieldwork education: A practical approach. Chapman & Hall. UK
- Boyt, Schell BA & Schell, J.W.(2007) Clinical and Professional Reasoning in Occupational Therapy. US: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
- Delany, C. & Molloy, E. (2009) Clinical education in the health professions. Au: Elsevier
- Cara, E., & MacRae, A. (2005). Psychosocial occupational therapy : a clinical practice. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning
- Creek, J. & Porter, A.L. (2007) (eds.) Contemporary issues in occupational therapy: reasoning and reflection. UK: Wiley
- College of Occupational Therapists (2006) Preceptorship handbook for occupational therapists. London: COT
- Morley, M (2006) Moving from student to new practitioner: the transitional experience. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 69(5), 231-233
- Napier-Tibere, B., & Haroun, L. (2004). Occupational therapy fieldwork survival guide: A student planner.FA Davis
- Robertson, L.J. & Griffiths, S. (2009) Graduates' reflections on their preparation for practice. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72 (3), 125-132
- Sladyk, K., & Barnes, M. A. (2002). The successful occupational therapy fieldwork student. SLACK Inc.

 
RULES/CONDITIONS Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE OCT3015 AND TAKE OCT3016 AND TAKE OCT3023 AND TAKE OCT3026 AND TAKE OCT3027 AND TAKE OCT3028 AND TAKE OCT3055

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Please note that a pass in each assessment component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Fieldwork and Seminar

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation [See Add. Notes] SEM2 Yes 30%
Clinical Assessment [See Add. Notes] SEM2 Yes 70%

 
LECTURER/S Marjorie Bonello

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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