Occupational Therapy

This module will provide you with an introduction to occupational therapy. You will learn about the unique philosophy and history of the profession as well as what occupational therapists do and where they work. You will begin to engage with key concepts in occupational therapy practice, including the occupational therapy process and the relationship between the person, environment, and occupation.   

Using simulation, this module provides you with the opportunity to explore the concepts of occupation, activity, tasks and skills and their relevance to human occupation. You will learn about the complex interplay between occupation, health, and well-being, as articulated in occupational science. You will also explore a range of applied sciences that will help you to understand people as occupational beings and analyse tasks, activities, and occupations.  

This module includes all your mandatory training for level 4 and supports you to begin to develop your own continuing professional development portfolio. With the guidance of an online learning workbook, key staff and your academic tutor, you will be supported to develop your study skills and prepare for and undertake your first 4-week Practice Placement (PPA) in Trimester 2. You will learn about professional ethics and standards based on the requirements of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), and what is expected of you as a student occupational therapist, so that you can recognise professional and unprofessional behaviour in practice. This will involve identifying and managing any personal risk factors and learning how to Speak Up for the benefit of the safety of others.

In this module, you will apply the occupational therapy process to real-world scenarios, utilising the best available evidence to inform your decision-making. Using simulation and case studies, you will have the opportunity to ‘meet’ a range of individuals who are experiencing occupational disruption or dysfunction due to ill health and/or disability. Using an occupation-focused model and a range of approaches, you will apply each stage of the occupational therapy process and identify appropriate sources of evidence to inform professional reasoning. 

This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of an occupation-focused model and approaches to improving the occupational performance of a diverse range of people while specifically considering professional communication. You will explore the value of creating collaborative therapeutic relationships, person-centred practice, and effective communication when creating occupation-focused intervention plans. You will have the opportunity to put some of these skills into practice by working with experts by experience and with simulated case studies.

This module supports you in developing your professional identity as an occupational therapist through your first practice placement education opportunity, alongside support to develop your academic writing, reflection, critical thinking, and presentation skills. You will learn about the significance of managing your health and well-being and will have the opportunity to explore strategies for coping with challenging situations. This module includes your second practice placement, PPB.

This module builds on the foundational knowledge gained in Level 4 and enables you to develop your professional identity. In this module, you will engage in mandatory training, practice education, digital skills training, receive academic tutoring, and participate in collaborative group work to develop your identity as a skilled and effective occupational therapist. A highlight of this module is its emphasis on nurturing your well-being and refining your learning strategies. You will be encouraged to prioritise self-care, emotional resilience, and mental health, while also refining your study habits and learning approaches to optimise your educational experience.      

This module works alongside Occupational Therapy in Context 1, drawing on the simulation examples and topics covered in that module. You will consider the evidence base for occupational therapy. You will apply a process for evidence-based practice, learn how to formulate pertinent questions for evidence-based practice, search for, identify, and critically appraise appropriate literature to inform practice. This module builds upon the foundational skills learned in Occupational Therapy in Practice 1, enabling you to critique research evidence. 

This module builds upon the content covered in the first year of the programme. It provides you with the opportunity to explore concepts of occupational identity and how access to meaningful occupation influences the health and well-being of people, their families, friends, and local communities. Through simulation, you will “meet” groupings of people from a local community who will be experiencing a range of health and other challenges. Using an occupation-focused model and approaches to improving occupational performance and engagement, you will explore how to work effectively as an occupational therapist with them. 

This module will help you understand occupational therapy in different parts of the world. You will learn about how theories and evidence are applied to an occupational therapy context, with a focus on occupational justice. You will also examine concepts like belonging, fairness, and justice, and think critically about these concepts. You will also study how political power, intersectional identities, and historical influences affect theories of occupation and occupational therapy practice. This learning will enable you to explore whether dominant societal forces may lead to unfair systems that affect people, what they do, and the places they live and thrive in. You will also consider an occupational therapy response to inequality.   

In this module, you will explore a diverse range of occupation-focused strategies aimed at enabling people and communities to manage their health and wellbeing. You will consider the current evidence base for factors that affect health and wellbeing, including social determinants of health. You will apply your understanding of humans as occupational beings and draw upon valuable insights from occupational science, behaviour change, health promotion, and public health literature. In addition, you will explore the concepts of occupational balance, repertoire, and patterning, allowing you to integrate different knowledge bases to provide actionable information for potential service users. This module will also enable you to use your creativity, digital skills, and communication skills to form and communicate information and advice for specific populations or groups.   

This developing professional identity module will enable you to develop more autonomy and independence in your practice. Alongside practice placement education (PPD – 225 hours), you will again have the opportunity to work through a series of online resources as guided by a workbook and supported by synchronous lectures and practical classes. The module enables you to critically consider how professional standards are used in practice. You will discuss and practise strategies for advanced communication and discussing communication challenges, such as speaking up, giving and receiving feedback, and promoting the occupational therapy profession.

This module prepares you to start your career as an occupational therapist by exploring post-graduation opportunities in practice, further study, and research. The module offers opportunities to equip you with the knowledge and skills to make decisions about your career. In this module, you will enhance your professional profile, prepare for challenge and change, and develop the skills necessary for effective personal and professional development by selecting optional elements that align with your personal career aspirations. 

This module focuses on leadership and professional sustainability, and you will use theory and evidence, including new occupation-focused models, to learn how to advocate for people’s occupational needs. The module includes a practice Placement, in which you will have the opportunity to work in an emerging area of occupational therapy practice or undertake a project or leadership placement.   

Shaping the Future is a project-focused module that will prepare you for shaping future practice within occupational therapy. In this module, you will have the opportunity to select an area of occupational therapy that aligns with your professional interests. The module promotes the application of research and project design, data skills, critical thinking, ethics, creative problem solving, and inclusivity, as you will be supported to create a proposal for a project that could have a unique and meaningful impact on the occupational therapy profession. Upon completion, you will be well prepared to address the diverse challenges inherent in an evolving occupational therapy landscape, enabling you to play a role in shaping the profession's future. 

This module integrates Practice Placement E, your final practice placement, with theory-based learning to culminate in your ability to practice occupational therapy autonomously. In this module, you will embark on a journey of critical exploration, emphasising a theory-informed and evidence-based approach to tackling complex decision-making in practice. On placement, through co-creation and in simulation, you will hone your expertise in risk management, caseload management, professional reasoning, and advanced communication, all while maintaining a focus on adhering to the highest professional standards.