Explore UCD

UCD Home >

PHTY40670

Academic Year 2025/2026

Physiotherapy Clin Ed VII (PHTY40670)

Subject:
Physiotherapy
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Public Hlth, Phys & Sports Sci
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Ms Nessa Waters
Trimester:
Spring
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 4 BSc Physiotherapy students. Working in small groups within clinical settings across the Irish 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. Under the supervision of practice educator(s) and/or practice tutor, students will practice safely and effectively while adhering to the legal, ethical, and professional standards of the physiotherapy profession.

Students will further develop their understanding of professional conduct and the challenges that may arise in practice, including current guidelines and legislation related to candour and open disclosure. They will also be expected to understand and stay informed about data protection, freedom of information, and other relevant legislation, as well as be able to access and interpret new and emerging laws applicable to the profession.

Students will be expected to take greater responsibility for managing their caseloads. During this placement students will consolidate their physiotherapy practice skills and will demonstrate competence in autonomous clinical decision-making, effective communication, and the safe, evidence-based delivery of physiotherapy interventions.

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, 3.1-3.14, 4.1-4.3, 4.5, 4.6, 5.1-5.28, 5.3

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should:

1. Achieve the competencies set out in the Clinical Placement Assessment Form, Level 2 in the areas of assessment & management, professionalism, communication & documentation.
2. Show documentary evidence of completion of HSELand modules as outlined in practice education handbook
Demonstrate the capacity for self-directed learning and continuous professional development, underpinned by effective self-management of workload and resources.
Exhibit the ability to work independently and practise autonomously within the clinical environment, reflecting a high level of professional responsibility and initiative.
Demonstrate the ability to apply their knowledge and problem solving abilities in assessment and management of service users as part of the multidisciplinary team, in new clinical environments.
Demonstrate an evidence-informed approach to professional decision-making, adapting practice to the needs of the service user and draw on appropriate knowledge and skills in order to make professional judgments
Develop and record goals for treatment in collaboration with service-users fostering a respectful partnership.
Demonstrate ability to engage in discharge planning with a holistic approach, supporting health and lifestyle changes that may be appropriate to the clinical area with an awareness of local and organisational structures
Understand the need to monitor, evaluate and/or audit the quality of practice and be able to critically evaluate one’s own practice against evidence-based standards and implement improvements based on the findings of these audits and reviews
Reflect on broader professional, social, and ethical responsibilities associated with the application and evaluation of practice. Recognise the importance of engaging in performance management activities and reflective practice to enhance their performance and contribute to effective and efficient service delivery.
Demonstrate ability to modify and adapt communication methods confidently when engaging with service users, multidisciplinary team members and supervisors.
Document clear, concise, and accurate clinical records in a timely manner, consistently demonstrating clinical reasoning. Ensure compliance with both local and national standards across digital and hard copy formats, as required by the clinical site.

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 evidence based clinical reasoning form & unplanned learning activities.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

50

Placement/Work Experience

240

Total

290


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 written reflection on their placement and the evidence based clinical reasoning form level 2 affords students the opportunity to demonstrate their problem solving approach to clinical decision making through the application of evidence based assessment & treatment/ intervention efficacy 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 module is only suitable for students registered to stage 4 of the BSc Physiotherapy programme. Successful completion of the Practice Education clinical placement component is required for professional registration.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
PHTY30030 - Physio Clinical Education V

Co-requisite:
PHTY30190 - Clinical Education 3


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Portfolio: Clinical Reasoning Form
Reflective Practice Assignment
Unplanned Learning
Week 15 Graded No
20
No
Practical Skills Assessment: Assessment of placement using the Physiotherapy Clinical Assessment Form (CAF)
Week 14 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 feedback will be given on-site by practice supervisor. Portfolio feedback will be on submission in assignment on brightspace.

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