Occupational Therapy
BSc (Hons)

You focus on facilitating independence through the occupational therapy process. There will be recognition that optimum health can exist within the context of disability and this is underpinned by concepts of health promotion, and reference to the environment and use of current assistive technology and equipment within the home. Services users will be involved to enable you to explore barriers to participation from a real-life perspective. You will analyse, develop, or modify therapy and environments, giving particular attention to future home design to develop independence and enhance occupational performance through a range of practical activities.

You focus on what makes us an occupational being. This includes functional anatomy, physiology, lifespan development and the role that sociocultural differences contribute to us being diverse individuals. From birth to the end of life, humans engage in a range of occupations which affect their health and wellbeing. In an interactive and reflective way, this module will help you to begin to consider the link between how individuals engage in occupations and their personal health and wellbeing.

This module focuses on the centrality of occupation in human life and transformative potential of occupation. You explore occupation-based activity analysis and the relationship between the person, environment, and occupation. Underpinned by the philosophy, values, and attitudes of the occupational therapy profession you consider the process of change and how individual behaviour can influence this. Restoring and maintaining health and wellbeing will be explored in the context of the role of public health and campaigns.

You will focus on preparing for practice, covering all aspects of effective communication, non-discriminatory practice, workplace mandatory training, understanding lifelong learning, with tools to support this, what it means to be a professional, team working and expectations of the workplace. You study the legal and ethical boundaries of occupational therapy practice including the concept of confidentiality and the principles of information governance alongside the requirements of safeguarding confidential information and maintaining records in accordance with HCPC and RCOT standards, and local policies and procedures. This module incorporates a six-week practice placement

This module establishes a foundation of understanding of key academic concepts underpinning both future study and contemporary practice. You are introduced to conceptual and philosophical foundations within occupational therapy and occupational science. Alongside this, you understand the role of research and scholarship to the profession, employing evidence informed approaches to support critical thinking. The module is underpinned by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ Career Development Framework (Evidence, Research and Development pillar), and you are encouraged to explore and challenge theory and evidence.

This module builds on research skills developed in the first year to enable you to critically appraise the methodological and ethical aspects of a research, evaluate research and evidence for professional practice and publication. There will be opportunities to review literature, critically appraise evidence and evaluate how the skills of critical enquiry might positively contribute to occupational therapy practice. You will be expected to participate in and take a lead, in a weekly journal club throughout the module.

You foster an awareness of the multiple influences on experiences of health and wellbeing, through the medium of service user engagement, developing the skills necessary to hear and interpret the ‘occupational voice’ and engage fully in understanding the client process in contemporary practice. You develop your knowledge and awareness of wide-ranging contemporary influences, whilst the delivery mode allows you to undertake a range of tasks which develop skills in line with necessary professional competencies. This module is delivered in collaboration with service users, and incorporates a six-week practice placement.

You link your knowledge of underpinning occupational therapy theories and foundation sciences and apply it to practice. This knowledge is fundamental to the use of occupation in a wide range of practice contexts (hospital, community and other sectors) and to meet a wide range of service user needs. A wide range of subjects will be covered, reflecting the diverse aspects of occupational therapy practice and the occupational therapy process, including groupwork skills, creative occupations, vocational rehabilitation, emerging digital technologies, environmental adaptations, orthotics/splinting, wheelchairs and seating.

This module is underpinned by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Career Development Framework: Leadership pillar. You work collaboratively with other organisations, for example third sector organisations and charities using occupation to promote participation, health and wellbeing. You develop leadership and entrepreneurial qualities to lead, innovate and manage change, through marketing and promoting the benefits of occupational therapy. You will be supported to visit and analyse organisations and community-based facilities which provide leisure and social opportunities to experience and evaluate occupational barriers. This module incorporates Practice Placement 3.

You undertake a sustained, in-depth piece of independent learning, including a systematic review of evidence in an occupational therapy or occupational science related field of your choice. You will then produce a research article and either a 10-minute conference presentation orR a stand-alone conference poster to disseminate your findings. This module will be underpinned by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ Career Development Framework (Evidence, Research and Development pillar)

This module is about working in and with communities. You focus on occupational engagement questions and issues which are experienced by a group of people or a community. Working with communities is central, and you focus on the power of collective occupations. From an occupational perspective, it is important that members of the community, who wish to, have the support they need to engage in meaningful activities and social connections. It is expected that occupational therapists will expand their work with communities and organisations in the future focusing on the needs of that community. You examine cases from practice, and benefit from outside speaker sessions.

You focus on future readiness and will re-visit the Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ Career Development Framework. You will be guided through portfolio construction, applying for employment and professional requirements of being a lifelong learner. Opportunities are present for you to critically evaluate and reflect on your personal approach to education in the occupational therapy profession and in inter-professional arenas. Your occupational aspirations will be explored and supported through a range of participatory sessions. This module incorporates the final practice placement.

This module enables you to be prepared for the challenges encountered in a career as a graduate occupational therapist. You develop non-clinical professional skills and will work towards the Career Development Framework. Participation in this module enables you to develop leadership, entrepreneurial, and advocacy roles to represent the occupational therapy profession competently and confidently.