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PHTY20300

Academic Year 2025/2026

Foundations of Physiotherapy Professional Practice (PHTY20300)

Subject:
Physiotherapy
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Public Hlth, Phys & Sports Sci
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Sinéad McMahon
Credit Split by Trimester:
Autumn 2.5
Spring 2.5
Trimester:
2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
Module Type:
Clinical Module
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module runs over 2 trimesters and is a clinical teaching module that prepares students for Clinical Placement.
Students will explore and recognise the impact of personal values and life experience and personal attributes such as their roles in teams and how this will impact their professional development. Working with dietetics students in interprofessional small groups, students will explore and develop their understanding of the professional, legal, and ethical foundations of safe and effective practice within the multidisciplinary team. This module will provide students with a foundational understanding of how personal values and life experiences influence their perspectives on identity, culture, equality, diversity, and inclusion. The module also addresses issues including professionalism, the client relationship, confidentiality, ethics, and data protection referencing key legislation and policy documents in these areas. Students receive education in BLS, infection control, risk assessment and manual handling.
Students are introduced to MECC - Making Every Contact Count, in addition students are introduced to reflective practice, interprofessional learning and continuous professional development.
This module includes a 1-week Professional Practice Clinical Placement where students will practice key skills in documentation, communication and use of exercises and mobility aids for enhancing functional ability of patients.

Mapped to CORU SoP: 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.7-1.11, 1.13, 1.19, 1.20, 2.1-2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 2.12-2.14, 3.13, 3.14, 4.1, 4.2, 5.30

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students will:
1. Understand what is required of them by the Registration Board and be familiar with the provisions of the current Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for the profession issued by the Registration Board
2. Be aware of current guidelines and legislation relating to candour and disclosure
3. Understand the importance of practising in a non-discriminatory, culturally sensitive way and acknowledge and respect the differences in beliefs and cultural practices of individuals or groups
4. Understand the role of policies and systems to protect the health, safety, welfare, equality and dignity of service users, staff and volunteer
5. Understand and respect the confidentiality of service users and use information only for the purpose for which it was given
6. Understand and be able to apply the limits of the concept of confidentiality particularly in relation to child protection, vulnerable adults and elder abuse
7. Be aware of current data protection, freedom of information and other legislation relevant to the profession and be able to access new and emerging legislation
8. Be aware of and comply with local/national documentation standards including, for example, terminology, signature requirements
9. Be able to establish safe environments for practice which minimises risks to service users, those treating them and others, including the use of infection prevention and control strategies
10. Understand their own roles within the multidisciplinary team and the importance of interprofessional working
11. Achieve the competencies set out in the Modified Clinical Placement Assessment Form, in the areas of assessment & management, professionalism, communication & documentation.
12. Show documentary evidence of completion of HSELand modules as outlined in practice education handbook

Indicative Module Content:

Aspects of professional practice relative to Physiotherapy including the CORU Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for physiotherapy, General First Aid
including BLS, Manual Handling, Documentation, Data Protection, National and International Health Systems, Evidence Based Professional Practice,
Inter-disciplinary working, and teamwork are explored. Public Health and epidemiological trends relative to Physiotherapy are addressed using problem based
learning.

Direct clinical patient management experience in the clinical setting varies depending on the specialties available on site.
Clinical practice assessment is determined by the Physiotherapy Clinical Placement Assessment Form:
Part 1 - Safe Practice & Professional Conduct
Part 2 - Three areas of Professional Practice: Assessment & Management,
Professionalism, Documentation / Communication.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

35

Autonomous Student Learning

30

Lectures

20

Small Group

14

Placement/Work Experience

35

Total

134


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will be composed of multiple methods of teaching and learning including; lectures, small group sessions, workshops, case based discussions and online learning.
During a one week practice placement, student learning takes place on-site through patient interactions and collaboration with physiotherapists and the multidisciplinary team.

AI/Academic Integrity:
Staff may utilise Artificial Intelligence (AI) during the programme to support teaching and learning and it will be clearly indicated if and when AI is used. Students are prohibited from representing work as their own that they did not write, code or create. Submission of AI-generated content to this module by a student without explicit permission and attribution is not allowed and it may reflect unacceptable professional behaviour. This may result in the initiation of a student disciplinary procedure in accordance with the “University Student Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity Policy.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (Online): Mandatory Certificates for placement Week 7 Spring Pass/Fail Grade Scale No
0
No
Practical Skills Assessment: 1 weeks Clinical Placement Week 10 Spring Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
20
Yes
Assignment(Including Essay): Essay on Professionalism and what it means to each student - referencing CORU/ ISCP Code of Conduct, Fitness to Practice. Week 12 Autumn Graded No
20
No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: MCQ on topics covered from week 20 -30 Week 15 Spring Graded No
20
No
Group Work Assignment: IPL presentation Week 14 Spring Graded No
20
No
Group Work Assignment: Presentation on aspects of Making Every Contact Count Week 11 Autumn Graded No
20
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat (CFP) Within Three Semesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Formative individual and group feedback is provided on submissions and exams During their clinical placement students work closely with their clinical tutor and educators and receive regular individual face to face feedback. .

Department of Health:
https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/organisation-information/about-the-department-of-health

Health Services Intercultural Guide
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/socialinclusion/interculturalguide/intercultural/interculturalguide.pdf

Kaya, Gulsum Kubra, James R. Ward, and P. John Clarkson. "A framework to support risk assessment in hospitals." International Journal for Quality in Health Care 31, no. 5 (2019): 393-401.

HSEland Modules
https://www.hseland.ie/dash/Account/Login

CORU
https://coru.ie/files-education/prb-standards-of-proficiency-for-physiotherapists.pdf

Name Role
Mrs Denise O'Callaghan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Nessa Waters Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 7, 9 Fri 09:00 - 10:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 24 Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 26 Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 25 Thurs 10:00 - 12:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 31 Thurs 10:00 - 12:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 22 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 21, 23, 25 Thurs 11:00 - 12:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 24 Thurs 11:00 - 12:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 26 Thurs 11:00 - 12:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 29 Thurs 11:00 - 12:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 30, 32, 33 Thurs 11:00 - 12:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Practical Offering 50 Week(s) - 22 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 7 Wed 11:00 - 11:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 10 Wed 11:00 - 12:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 7 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May) Workshop Offering 50 Week(s) - 10 Wed 14:00 - 14:50