PLMCP2-Clinical Practice 2

Module Provider: Clinical Language Sciences
Number of credits: 60 [30 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: All MSc Speech and Language Therapy year one modules; All MSc Speech and Language Therapy obligatory year two modules.
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Placement opportunity: Mini placement
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Ms Carol Fairfield
Email: c.a.fairfield@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module develops students’ clinical competencies further to enable them to attain the competencies for graduate level entry to the speech and language therapy profession.

Aims:

The aim of this module is to continue to develop the students' clinical skills in a variety of clinical settings and client groups,  to equip them for independent clinical practice. During this year students will assess, diagnose and manage communication/swallowing disorders in children and adults (with appropriate support). The students will demonstrate competency levels in all these areas, sufficient for graduate entry to the speech and language therapy profession.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that that students will be able to:

• evidence an appropriate level of clinical knowledge and skills that will allow entry into the profession demonstrating adherence to relevant competencies identified by regulatory (HCPC standards of proficiency and HCPC standards of conduct, performance and ethics) and professional (RCSLT) bodies


•  assess the nature of a range of communication/swallowing disorders in adult and paediatric clients, differentially diagnose and design holistic appropriate management plans;


• demonstrate the ability to be flexible in the delivery of treatment and evaluate the effectiveness of therapy within the client’s social and communicative environment;


• show professional development including critical self reflective skills


• explain and understand the function of speech and language therapy within the health, social care and education services;


• demonstrate recognition of the changing role of the speech and language therapist working with children and adults with communication problems and the importance of continuing professional development and


• Select and organise knowledge and arguments in written and oral form

Additional outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate professional competencies in communicating verbally and in written form with other professionals


• They will become aware of the diversity of clinical practice and learn to work in a variety of settings with and alongside a range of other professional workers

Outline content:

Clinical practice: Students will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of clinical practice opportunities (simulation, clinical reasoning and clinical placement(s)) and will attend a variety of weekly adult, paediatric and specialist client group placements targeted to their clinical profile and will be increasingly responsible for independently assessing, diagnosing and treating a range of clients with communication/swallowing impairments with support from their practice educators.   The clinical practice will be  assessed with reference to the HCPC standards of proficiency. Average hours will vary across terms. Students work under the supervision of a qualified speech and language therapist and may work with other members of the multidisciplinary team such as teachers, psychologists, nurses and other health workers.. Students complete a block of four weeks of clinical sessions during the summer vacation (following year one) and a block during or after the Easter vacation in year two. Weekly clinical placements take place up to two days a week in autumn and spring term. They will also attend the linguistic assessment clinic sessions to promote more detailed application of linguistics and within the university speech and language therapy clinic.

clinical practice.



Clinical Tutorials and seminars These are held in the Autumn and the Spring terms and focus on the development of clinical reasoning skills in assessment, management and holistic client management, as well as the further development of professionalism. Further guidance on clinical work and development of clinical skills is given in group and individual tutorials. Students have the opportunity to practice and demonstrate developing leadership skills within seminars. Students attend interprofessional learning seminars.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Four hours of group tutorials in Autumn and Spring terms, attendance at the Linguistic Assessment Clinic within the Speech and language therapy clinic at the University. Students learn through observing and working under the supervision of practising clinicians, through direct instruction, discussion of clinical cases and through verbal and written feedback.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars	8	8
Tutorials	4	4
Practicals classes and workshops	7	7
Placement	245	175
Guided independent study:	71	71
Total hours by term	335	265	0
Total hours for module	600

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Report	25
Oral assessment and presentation	65
Practical skills assessment	10

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

A case study of 2,500 words to be submitted in the Spring term and two clinical examinations held in the summer term. The examination for this module will require a narrowly defined time window and is likely to be held in a dedicated exam venue.

Formative assessment methods:

Report produced in LAC, ongoing formative feedback within clinical placements on a weekly basis. Feedback during clinical reasoning sessions

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy “Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes”, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 50% in the module (with all assessments submitted and a mark of no less than 50% in any one assessment, including all clinical reports from practice educators in year 2).

Reassessment arrangements:
Resubmission of coursework, or re-examination of clinical examination by September

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:   Travel to one two day a week placement in each of Autumn and Spring terms (total approx. 30 days). Costs reported by students vary from £39 to £400+ per placement, with the median being approximately £115 per placement across the year. The cost will vary each term. There may be accommodation costs for Summer vacation block placement and Easter block placement depending on location, but we endeavour to avoid this wherever possible

Last updated: 30 March 2023