Our Physiotherapy teams across Ayrshire are proud supporters of physiotherapy student education and work in partnership with all four of Scotland’s universities delivering their undergraduate BSc, Masters and Doctorate programmes. We recognise the importance of the development of our future workforce, and so are hugely keen to provide the best practice placement experience possible!
Our placements are offered across various locations throughout the health board area including University Hospital Ayr, University Hospital Crosshouse, Ayrshire Central Hospital, Biggart Hospital and many other local community premises, as well as within our local health and social care partnerships in East, North and South Ayrshire. A variety of specialty placements are available including:
Acute stroke
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Community rehabilitation
Learning Disability
Mental Health
Musculoskeletal including pain management
Neuro-rehabilitation
Older adults rehabilitation
Paediatrics
Pelvic and Womens Health
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Surgical and ITU
Trauma & Orthopaedics
Unscheduled Care & acute medicine
Comprehensive information about each placement site and each specialty is provided to all the universities, and every student should access this and complete any requested pre-placement tasks ahead of starting the placement.
A brief summary of this information is detailed below.
Induction
This will take place within the first 2 days of the placement and will include necessary information and tasks required for a successful placement eg:
Introduction to Practice Educator and wider physiotherapy team, useful contact numbers,
Orientation to work area including any access codes, tour of department, equipment stores, library access. IT log in information etc
Format for placement: days/hours of work, clinical and non-clinical times, absence reporting
Professionalism: appearance, social media, mobile phone use; confidentiality
Learning experience: learning agreement, formal and informal feedback mechanisms, learning styles, theoretical and practical learning opportunities
Health & safety: emergency / fire procedures, Moving and handling, infection prevention & control
NES Quality Standards Practice-based Learning
Facilitation of Learning
A variety of means to help facilitate leaning are available and may depend on the student’s individual learning style eg:
Educator demonstrating assessment / treatment / practical activities on the patient / class group or on the student giving explanation / discussion
Student practicing above on clinical educator / patient / another physio with educator assisting / explaining
One to one discussion sessions between educator and student
Peer and self-assessment
Shadowing other staff-gaining different insight / slant
Internet searching for evidence-based practice national guidelines
Flow diagrams / mind maps of situations
Observation of other professions and writing reflective account
Private study and reflecting on learning
Case studies / tutorials
Attending in-service training / presenting an in-service
Learning opportunities
Learning opportunities will vary across each speciality, some of these may include:
Supervised and guided assessment and treatment of many different patient groups
Attending theatre and clinics
Attending ward rounds and multi-disciplinary team meetings
Participation in and delivery of classes
Analysis and diagnosis from investigations eg Xrays and blood results
Gait assessment and re-education
Use of support, splints, tapings and other orthotic devices.
Awareness of ward routine and managing clinical caseload
Motivational interviewing
Acute rehabilitation of critically ill individuals
Health improvement
Inpatient discharge planning
Our practice educators are supported by the placement teams from the university, and by the wider practice education network across physiotherapy.
For further information relating to practice education in NHS Ayrshire & Arran, please contact Georgie.Garrick@aapct.scot.nhs.uk