Where are my placements likely to be?
Placement cover a wide geographical area, with several in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, but also in Dorset, Wiltshire, Surrey, West Sussex, Somerset and beyond. The boundaries are ever changing as we make more contacts with more areas. We hope to place you in many different geographical areas for exposure to different ways of working.
What areas of practice will be included in my placements?
You will undertake placements in the following categories: acute (in an acute hospital of any speciality), non-acute (in a rehab hospital or community setting), outpatient (musculoskeletal, neurological or respiratory outpatients) and one in a non-clinical setting (research, management, leadership, clinical academic, modern matron, education).
How am I supervised?
You will be supervised by a practice educator from the organisation to which you are allocated. They will assist you with your learning and support you with any difficulties. You also have an allocated academic contact on each placement from the university who can also support you as needed.
How am I assessed?
We use the Common Placement Assessment Form (CPAF) designed by the CSP for practise educators to assess each placement, which assesses a range of skills. Throughout your placements you will have to work successfully for 1,000 hours.
How are my placements allocated?
You do five placements, each lasting six-weeks over the course, and they are planned by us to give a variety of areas, size and types of settings. We will take into account specific individual needs, such as health needs or carer responsibilities, also whether you have access to a car. You fill in a form to disclose all the relevant factors.
Can I change a placement?
Yes, you can. However, you will need to formally request any change and it will only be changed if it meets the criteria for change.
What hours will I work?
You will be expected to work the same hours as your practice educator. In some cases this will include weekends, evenings and shifts.
How will I get to my placements?
It is your responsibility to get to and from your placements. This can be by car or by public transport. If your placement is some distance from Southampton which makes daily commuting difficult, we will encourage you to find accommodation in that area.
What if I am ill or have an emergency?
If you cannot get to your placement on any given day you must contact your place of work as soon as possible and email your academic tutor to inform him or her about your absence.
How do I make up the hours if I am absent?
This all depends on how many hours you have missed. It may be possible to make up the hours by simply working a bit longer for the remainder of your placement. If this is not possible, then you would work with the programme lead to find an appropriate way to make up the time.
I have been on three placements so far, inpatients rehab, an acute medical ward and an outpatient musculoskeletal and I have learnt valuable skills. If we do well within a particular placement, the supervisors often say they would like us to come back once we're qualified. Not only have I learnt so much but I have also got to know qualified physiotherapists, who are happy to answer questions and pass on valuable extra skills.
What's related
Hours in practice
1,000