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PHTY30470

Academic Year 2025/2026

Clinical Education 1 (PHTY30470)

Subject:
Physiotherapy
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Public Hlth, Phys & Sports Sci
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
15
Module Coordinator:
Mrs Denise O'Callaghan
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
Yes
Module Type:
Clinical Module
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This is an eight-week placement module for stage 3 BSc Physiotherapy students. Working in small groups within clinical settings across the health service, students will gain hands-on experience through face-to-face and direct interactions with patients / service users. This will enable them to understand the role of physiotherapy in enhancing functional ability in a range of acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan.

Students will practice in a wide range of settings reflecting current practice and demands of the profession, including hospitals, primary care, community and private practice settings. Students will comply with the current CORU Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. Students must attend clinical placement fit to practice, understanding the role of policies and systems to protect the health, safety, welfare, equality and dignity of service users, staff and volunteers

Students will have the opportunity to integrate practical experience with theoretical knowledge and clinical skills acquired in previous academic modules. This will support their development of the CORU Standards of Proficiency, including professional autonomy and accountability, communication, collaborative practice and teamwork, safety and quality, professional development, and professional knowledge and skills.
Under the supervision of practice educator(s) and/or practice tutor, students will be supported in performing patient assessments and delivering treatments safely and effectively while adhering to the legal, ethical, and professional standards of the physiotherapy profession. They will also develop an understanding of the importance of empowering service users to take an active role in managing their well-being and recognise when it is appropriate to provide guidance on self-treatment.

This module has two assessment components;
a) the practice placement is assessed using the National Physiotherapy Clinical Placement Assessment Form Level 1
b) a digital portfolio submission.

Mapped to CORU SoP: 1.1-1.20, 2.1-2.9, 2.11-2.15, 3.1-3.10, 3.12-3.14, 4.1-4.3, 4.5, 4.6, 5.1-5.28

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students will:


1. Achieve the competencies set out in the Clinical Placement Assessment Form, Level 1 in the areas of assessment & management, professionalism, communication & documentation.
2. Show documentary evidence of completion of HSELand modules as outlined in practice education handbook
3. Be able to gain informed consent to carry out assessments or provide treatment/interventions and document evidence that consent has been obtained
4. Demonstrate the ability 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
5. Demonstrate professional behaviours, take responsibility for learning, seek feedback for continuous professional development and uphold a duty of care
6. Demonstrate the ability to respect and uphold the rights, dignity and autonomy of every service user including their role in the diagnostic, therapeutic interaction and social care process
7. Understand and respect the confidentiality of service users and use information only for the purpose for which it was given.
8. Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of the sciences fundamental to physiotherapy and the physiological basis of common conditions relevant to the clinical area
9. Demonstrate ability to select and apply appropriate assessment techniques and outcome measures with guidance.
10. Demonstrates and implements appropriate treatment techniques and management plans with guidance
11. Demonstrate the ability to communicate diagnosis/assessment and/or treatment/management options in a way that can be understood by the service user
12. Demonstrate the ability to produce clear, concise, accurate documentation. Be aware of and comply with local/national documentation standards
13. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and reflect critically on one’s own professional practice to identify learning and development needs

Indicative Module Content:

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.
The portfolio includes the reflective practice assignment, the clinical reasoning form & unplanned learning activities / experience.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

80

Placement/Work Experience

280

Total

360


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
During practice placement, student learning takes place on-site through patient interactions and collaboration with physiotherapists and the multidisciplinary team.
Teaching may occur one to one or in groups both face to face and virtually. Evidence informed case based discussions, tutorials, peer learning and presentations are often used as methods of teaching and learning.
The Physiotherapy Learning Portfolios provides the opportunity for students to submit a written reflection on their placement and the clinical reasoning form level 1 affords students the opportunity to document a problem solving approach to clinical decision making through reflection on a specific patient encounter.

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
Learning Recommendations:

This is module is suitable for BSc stage 3 students. Successful completion of clinical placement modules is a requirement for professional regulation.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
PHTY20010 - Musucloskeletal 2 Lower Limb, PHTY20040 - Musculoskeletal 3: The Spine, PHTY20070 - Musculoskeletal 1 Upper Limb, PHTY20140 - Physio Pract II(Clinic Ed II), PHTY20150 - Cardiorespiratory 1, PHTY20160 - Neurology 1


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Portfolio: Clinical Reasoning Form CRF
Reflective Practice Assignment
Unplanned Learning Activities
Week 8 Graded No
20
No
Practical Skills Assessment: Assessment of competence on placement using the National Physiotherapy Clinical Placement Assessment Form
(CAF)
Week 7 Alternative non-linear conversion grade scale 50% Yes
80
Yes

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

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

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Clinical Practice Feedback will be given on site by the practice supervisor. Portfolio feedback will be given in the assignment section on Brightspace. Face to face feedback can be requested by the student.

Reading lists specific to each students allocated clinical area will be confirmed by the clinical site prior to placement.

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