Health & Social Care

This course provides the opportunity for Health Professions Council (HPC) registered occupational therapists to become dual qualified as physiotherapists and to be eligible to apply for HPC registration as a physiotherapist. The part-time structure has been designed to accommodate both newly qualified occupational therapists and those currently in practice currently, 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 complex needs. 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 physiotherapy practice. You are equipped with the underpinning knowledge, critical thinking and clinical skills for Level 6 placements across a range of specialities. You study shared modules designed to further your professional development and understanding within the context of rehabilitation.

You complete four practice placements of five weeks each, under the supervision of a qualified physiotherapist. You manage a small caseload of patients.

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

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

After successful completion of Year 1 and 2 modules you progress to the dissertation. Alternatively, you may opt to step off the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma in Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy). If you do, you may return at a later date to study the Major Project module 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 programme.

Year 3
To be eligible for the award of MSc Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy) 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 are 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 (Physiotherapy) or PgDip Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy) provides eligibility to apply for registration with the HPC and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. In order to remain on the HPC registers for Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, 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 occupational therapy and physiotherapy.

Career opportunities

Dual-registered practitioners would be 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 occupational therapy or have relevant post-qualifying clinical experience in occupational therapy
• should have HPC registration as a occupational therapist
• 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.

More information

• Health & Social Care
  More information and courses in Health & Social Care