Health & Social Care

This course provides the opportunity for Health Professions Council (HPC) registered physiotherapists to become dual qualified as occupational therapists and to be eligible to apply for HPC registration as an occupational therapist. The part-time structure accommodates both newly qualified graduates and those currently in practice, particularly in fields where multi/inter-disciplinary working between occupational therapy and physiotherapy is well established. Successful applicants may be eligible for postgraduate or career development loans.

With an ageing population and a predicted increase in the number of people with long-term conditions, there has been a large focus on the early diagnosis and management of individuals with long-term conditions. This course develops practitioners who are better able to meet the rehabilitation needs of these patients across the lifespan and in a variety of settings.

What you study

Year 1
You are introduced to the core themes of occupational therapy practice. The profession-specific modules equip you with the underpinning knowledge, critical thinking and clinical skills that will enable you to embark on Level 5 placements across a range of specialities. You also study shared modules designed to enable you to further your professional development and understanding within the context of rehabilitation. You complete a two nine week clinical placements. You are expected to manage a small caseload of patients.

Year 2
You are introduced to increasingly complex and diverse clinical issues through the profession-specific module. This module is studied alongside the shared modules through which you explore theoretical concepts underpinning rehabilitation.

You then undertake 14 weeks of four days per week of clinical practice in areas where there is close integration between occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Running alongside the 14 weeks of clinical practice is the shared module Advancing Practice in a Rehabilitation Context. This focuses on empowerment and the professionalisation of health care, as well as marketing and business issues of service improvement, leadership and management.

Following successful completion of Year 1 and 2 modules you progress to the dissertation and completion of the MSc Rehabilitation. Alternatively, you may opt to step off the course with a Postgraduate Diploma in Rehabilitation (Occupational Therapy). If you do you may return at a later date to study the Major Project and be awarded a top-up Master’s degree in Rehabilitation. The Major Project must be completed within five years of enrolment on the original course.

Year 3
To be eligible for the award of MSc Rehabilitation (Occupational Therapy) you must undertake the module Major Project for Allied Health Professionals (Rehabilitation Route).

How you learn

Learning and teaching methods include keynote lectures, seminars, small group work as well as practical laboratory sessions. Keynote lectures introduce key issues and theories. Active student engagement promotes deep learning and this is encouraged through both staff- and student-led seminars. You are encouraged and supported to engage in self-directed learning in order to prepare for practical-based and seminar sessions. Service user involvement in seminars enriches the learning experience. You are given constructive feedback throughout the course to enhance your learning opportunities.

How you are assessed

A variety of assessment types is used including:

• written assignments
• student-led seminars
• individual and group presentations
• poster and oral defence
• major project with a written report and defence of poster
• assessment of clinical practice.

Professional accreditation

The award of MSc Rehabilitation (Occupational Therapy) or PgDip Rehabilitation (Occupational Therapy) provides eligibility to apply for registration with the HPC and College of Occupational Therapy. It does not provide eligibility for entry to the professional registers of other countries. In order to remain on the HPC registers for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, practitioners must meet the requirements for both professions. This will include payment of the fee for each professional register and evidence of continuing professional development in both physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

Career opportunities

Dual-registered practitioners are ideally placed to address the complex and ongoing needs of the increased number of people living with long-term conditions and needs within a range of rehabilitation settings.

Entry requirements

You:

• normally require a 2.1 (Hons) degree in physiotherapy or have relevant post-qualifying clinical experience in physiotherapy
• should have HPC registration as a Physiotherapist
• need articulation through the interview process of:
• knowledge of chosen profession/pathway
• the benefits of being a dual-registered practitioner and enhancement of their professional practice
• an appreciation of the demands of the course
• awareness of the expectation and demands of master's level study
• are subject to satisfactory health screening
• need a satisfactory outcome from enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure
• need satisfactory references
• should have a good command of spoken and written English with evidence of IELTS at Level 7.

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