Physiotherapy

View key dates, information, documentation and contact support for this programme.

COVID-19 related placement absence - information for Physiotherapy student educators

If students need to miss placement hours due to government guidance on COVID-19 self-isolation related to a positive test, track and trace notification or known contact with someone who is symptomatic/tested positive, please see guidance below:

  • Students can be allocated a maximum of up to 25 hours (for five-week placements) or 30 hours (for six-week placements) of self-directed work at home during the placement. This is equivalent to one hour/day but can be completed at any time. They need to provide evidence of this work to their educators and it can include work such as clinical pattern sheets, written reflection, review of evidence, creation of problem lists and treatment plans, virtual interactions with you, and preparation for a presentation.
  • Educators will need to record the total number of hours for the placement on the Continuous Practice Assessment (CPA) form (including those allocated for self-study).
  • It is not expected that these additional self-study hours will necessarily enable students to achieve the usual minimum requirement for hours (75% of expected), but will mitigate against loss of overall placement hours during the programme.
  • Where students have met the placement outcomes and passed a placement, but not met the minimum requirement for assessment (75% of expected) due to COVID-19-related absence, they will not be required to re-sit the placement.
  • These recommendations do not apply to students who have other reasons for their absence; the ability to pass the placement when not meeting the minimum hours relates only to COVID-19 absence. Where they have been absent for other reasons, the normal requirements remain in place and students will be required to re-sit the placement.

Please contact your allocated link tutor for the placement if you need further information/guidance.

Practice documentation

Documentation is regularly updated throughout the year so please use the documents below rather than the hard copies in student folders that may be out of date.

Continuous Practice Assessment (CPA) forms should be completed electronically, printed off and signed by the educator then given to the student to submit. It is advisable for both the educator and the student to keep a copy.

 

First years (level 4) - observation days and placement 1

Observation Days 

Assessment (placement 1)

  • using the new Common Placement Assessment Form (CPAF) – information on CSP website

 

Second years (level 5) - placements 2a and 2b

Assessment 

  • using the new Common Placement Assessment Form (CPAF) – information on CSP website

 

Third years (level 6) - placements 3a and 3b

Assessment 

Student self-directed work

 

Grading in practice quiz (mandatory for educators on placements 3a and 3b)

All physiotherapy practice educators need to complete the Grading in Practice Quiz successfully (all questions answered correctly) before they can support third year physiotherapy students. This is to ensure as much standardisation and rigour as possible, as the marks for placements 3a and 3b contribute towards the degree classification. You can complete the quiz as many times as necessary until you get all answers correct but, as you get the full answers at the end of the first attempt, it is likely to be only twice.

All educators are encouraged to complete the assessment in line with best practice but it is only mandatory for those taking third year students. We get a record of all the completed attempts and you can print off evidence of successful completion for your CPD portfolio.

 

First and Second year resits/trailing placements

Please check with the UWE placement team/coordinators regarding correct assessment paperwork.

 

Programme information

Educator training and support

  • Practice educator VIRTUAL drop-in sessions (no booking needed – links available at least 1 week before):
    • Tues 26 Oct 13.30-14.30 or Thurs 4 Nov 9.00-10.00 (placement 2a starts on 8 Nov 2021)
    • Thurs 6 Jan 2022 9.00-9.30 or Tues 11 Jan 13.30-14.00 (placement 3b starts on 10 Jan 2022)
    • Thurs 28 Apr 13.30-14.30 or Tues 3 May 9.00-10.00 (placement 2b starts on 9 May 2022)
    • Thurs 9 June 9.00-10.00 or Tues 14 June 13.30-14.30 (placement 1 starts on 20 Jun 2022)

The sessions are for educators to access if they have any last minute questions or need support ahead of the next placement if they are having students. The ones ahead of the first and second year placements are longer (1 hour), to allow more time for any questions related to the CSP Common Placement Assessment Form (CPAF), that we will be using for all first and second year placements this year (cohorts 2021 and 2020). 

For all enquiries about educator training sessions, please email hscpsl@uwe.ac.uk

Also see information about the Practice Learning and Student Support professional course and find out more about supporting, supervising and assessing students in practice.

Additional information for supporting students

External resources

The following additional resources are available on the CSP website:

  • Clinical education placement guidelines (2003)
  • Supporting students on placement with a disability
  • Insurance cover for students on placement
  • Students in a community placement and lone working
  • Code of Conduct for Chartered Physiotherapists
  • Guidance on Health and Good Character
  • Guidance on Conduct and Ethics
  • Information, support and guidance on Practice Education

Placement dates

Physiotherapy placement dates for all cohorts.

All placements can be in any speciality or setting despite being linked to a specific academic module.

Dates for re-sit/delayed placements are subject to availability (eg a similar speciality), so dates can only be confirmed nearer the time and may not be during the period stated.

Academic year 2021/22

  • Monday 20 September to Friday 29 October 2021: Placement 3a (third year/cohort 2019)
  • Monday 8 November to Friday 17 December 2021: Placement 2a (second year/cohort 2020)
  • Monday 10 January to Friday 18 February 2022: Placement 3b (third year/cohort 2019)
  • Tuesday 1 to Thursday 3 March 2022: Observation days (first year/cohort 2021)
  • Monday 9 May to Friday 17 June 2022: Placement 2b (second year/cohort 2020)
  • Monday 20 June to Friday 22 July 2022: Placement 1 (first year/cohort 2021).
  • Trailing placements (delayed or resits, three to five weeks depending on situation): Anytime from end July to mid-September 2021, with third years prioritised where possible.

Programme support

If you have any queries or questions about the Physiotherapy programme or require support, please contact a member of the programme team.

Programme team

Clinical coordinators

Kate Stancombe

Robyn Osborne

Programme leader

Louise Robbins

Placements team

Timothy Porter

Claire Cresswell

Mandy Turner

Supervision and assessment

Find out more about supporting, supervising and assessing students in practice.

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