Curriculum Information

Document Version

QAA Benchmarks

Educational Aim

Learning Outcomes

Course Structure

Level 4 Modules

Level 5 Modules

Level 6 Modules

Teaching and Assessment

Learning and Teaching Methods

Employer Engagement

Visiting Speakers

Practice staff and service users will be involved in teaching, simulated learning, workshops and assessment. The contribution of visiting speakers is an essential and integral part of the course where specialised aspects of occupational therapy or differing perspectives are offered to students for discussion and debate.

Volunteering

Not a component of this course although a number of students may engage in volunteering in their own time.

Work Placements

Work-based Learning

The school collaborates with a variety of practice partners to facilitate a range of practice learning environments, which support work-based learning. Practice learning experience comprises a minimum of a 1000 passed hours of the course.

Employer Forums

Each year the School, in conjunction with the Careers Department, holds a career fayre that brings employers and students together to discuss vacancies and employment opportunities in the NHS setting.

Means of Assessment

All assessments have been designed to enable students to build the skills necessary to develop as an occupational therapist.
You will be developing: -
• Academic writing skills (in the form of essays and reports)
• Verbal presentation skills (both individual and group)
• Research and quality improvement skills
• The ability to develop Case Studies and Care plans.
• Digital skills
• Reflective skills
• Professional skills

Emphasis at level 4 is placed on early development of academic writing and research skills to underpin the ability to analyse and synthesise data to present evidence-based arguments for practice. This is further developed at level 5, with emphasis placed on the ability to develop research questions and produce a well thought out proposal for quality improvement in practice. This development as researchers culminates in a capstone major project at level 6.

Practice based learning and assessment:
Practice-based learning facilitates the formation of your identity as an occupational therapist and is central to the educational process. It also facilitates the requirement of a minimum of 1,000 hours of assessed and successfully completed practice-based learning hours, necessary to meet the RCOT (2021) and WFOT (2016) Standards. Although the hours of practice-based learning are recorded separately and are designed to meet specific criteria they are part of an integrated curriculum design to ensure that you can make best use of theory learning and practice-based learning opportunities.

Learning Support

Advice Zone

Advice Zone is a ‘one-stop-shop' and the first point of contact (online, live chat, by telephone, email or in-person) for all student enquiries, offering confidential advice on anything that affects students’ ability to study.
Students are able to self-refer or be directed to the USW Advice Zone. Instruction on the services available and how to make an appointment are included in the Course Handbook and on the USW website. These services are available to students whether on campus or in practice learning experiences.
https://advice.southwales.ac.uk

Progression Advice Team

Students who are struggling with their studies, looking to improve their marks, or needing advice on how to continue can seek support from the Progression Advice Team, whose aim is to support student success and ensure students can achieve their goals.
The progression Advice Team offer tailored advice to:
• Identify areas where students may be struggling
• Advise on available options
• Recommend appropriate support.
• Help understand relevant University regulations and procedure.
https://progression.southwales.ac.uk/

Study Skills

Student Development and Study Skills exist to raise aspiration, improve academic performance, and develop transferable skills for employment. They offer one-to-one appointment, run workshops, offer specialist support for students with disability and run peer-to-peer student mentoring schemes.
https://studyskills.southwales.ac.uk/

Disability Service 

The Disability Service provides a confidential and professional service where students can discuss individual requirements relating to disability. This includes students with physical, sensory, mental health or unseen disabilities, specific learning difficulties (e.g., dyslexia) and autism.
Advice and support are available for all students who have additional learning needs or require reasonable adjustments to be made. Students are encouraged to discuss additional needs or support with personal tutors, the Course Leader and their Practice Educator.
https://disability.southwales.ac.uk/

Library Service 

Students have access to all USW resources both on and off campus. The School has a subject specialist librarian available to help and support students. The occupational therapy team work closely with and value the contribution of the specialist subject librarian. Students have access to Findit, online resources and hard copy reservation. In addition, the School provides a range of learning resources in sites across its partner health service provider premises.
Together with introductory sessions embedded in courses, the library offers an online study guide to introduce students to the services and support it provides. A 24/7 online chat facility enables students to seek support and book one-to-one appointments. Regular drop-in sessions, such a lunch with your librarian, provide opportunities to ask questions in a less formal setting and be introduced to Library Services at USW.
https://library.southwales.ac.uk/

IT Support 

IT Induction (https://its.southwales.ac.uk/it-induction/) provides a user-friendly introduction to students to support them in their studies from enrolment through to graduation.

Careers and Employability service 

The Careers Service provides course and independent support to develop students’ employability skills, including CV writing, interviewing skills, and networking events. Their extensive work with external stakeholders and partnership working will enable occupational therapy students to initiate first contacts with suitable role emerging placement opportunities.

If a student is withdrawn from the course (either through personal choice or failing to meet the course learning outcomes) the USW Careers Team will be available to discuss alternative career options with any students referred via Course Tutors or the Progression Team.

In the first instance students would be referred for a 30-minute consultation with a professionally qualified Careers Adviser. Career consultations are available face to face, online or by telephone throughout the week, including some early evening appointments.

The career consultation may consider the following as key starting points: -

· Positive achievements – recognition of the skills, knowledge and understanding gained from all aspects their OT degree experience
· Key learning points from their unsuccessful placements and how this experience might inform their career choices moving forward
· A discussion around the transferability of their skillset and experience and referral to tools and resources to explore alternative career options in more detail.
· The option to see a USW Careers Adviser for further consultations in order to consider alternative career options in more depth and start to formulate a plan for moving forward

USW Careers Advisers are experienced in supporting all students who may need to consider leaving their degree scheme. This includes students studying professionally accredited courses.

USW Health and Mental Health Services 

The USW Health service offers free advice and support to all USW students, whilst the specialist Mental Health Service supports students who are experiencing mental or emotional distress, by offering a range of practical support. A confidential counselling service is available, with a crisis service available for students during academic or placement activities.

Student Union and Student Charter 

The Student Charter (published by the Students’ Union) outlines a set of principles outlining the support and expectations that students can expect from the University, the Students’ Union and what the University expects from them. These expectations are categorised under expectations for study, feedback and student voice, Welfare and Concerns.
https://www.uswsu.com/the-student-charter

Course Exit Points

Progression Route

MSc in Professional Practice, MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner, PGCert Acute and Critical Care, PGCert Ed for Heath Care Professionals.

Entry Requirements

Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:

Entry requirements

Entry requirements are assessed during the process of application, selection and interview and require that:

· Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have capability in numeracy, literacy and digital and technological literacy to meet the programme outcomes and proficiencies.
· Applicants will have to demonstrate proficiency in the English language.
· Where English is not a student’s first language, they are required to achieve an IELTS or equivalent qualification with an overall average score of at least 7.0, with a minimum score of 6.5 in any section (Health and Care Professions Council requirement Standards of Proficiency 8.2).
· Applicants must demonstrate an understanding of the role and scope of practice of the occupational therapist.
· Applicants must demonstrate values in accordance with the HCPC (2016) Standards of conduct, performance and ethics.
· During application and interview each applicant will be asked to declare that they are of good health and good character to enable safe and effective practice.
· Entry to the course is dependent on a satisfactory disclosure and barring check (DBS) and Occupational Health clearance.

At USW the current standard entry tariff for Occupational Therapy is:

· A level: BBB excluding General Studies
· Welsh Baccalaureate: B and BB at A level excluding General Studies
· BTEC Extended Diploma: Distinction, Distinction/Merit
· International Baccalaureate: 32 points (17 higher level to include Maths and English)
· Access Science/Maths Diploma: 60 credits (15 level 2 & 45 level 3 credits - minimum 24 distinctions, 18 merits, 3 passes)
· Minimum five GCSEs including Maths/Numeracy, English minimum C/4.

In line with USW’s progressive University Admissions Policy the whole application, including predicted grades, personal statement and referees is considered. The policy details the range of underpinning principles that are applied, including:

· Minimising barriers
· Recognising talent outside of examination results
· Consideration of diverse qualifications
· Recognising students who do not have English or Welsh as their first language
· Contextual admissions (updated January 2021) to strengthen contextual admissions categories as follows:
· A range of adjustments for people leaving the care system
· Young carers
· People in the lowest 20% of the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD)
· People who are the first in their family to progress to Higher Education (HE)
· People with the protected characteristic of Disability or BAME who are underrepresented in HE.

Inclusive Curriculum Statement

The University of South Wales operates a policy of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Course teams will have considered ways of designing out any potentially disadvantageous element of courses during the course design process. However some specific needs may remain, details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3040-disability-and-dyslexia-service/

Addendum for Delivery at a Partner Institution

N/A