Practice-based learning: resources
Further information, including examples of innovative practice and additional resources to be used alongside the practice-based learning introduction and main guidance.
Last updated: February 2021
Examples of innovative practice
RCSLT has collated examples of innovative practice in placement education that members have kindly shared. These resources include presentations and articles that outline the different approaches used to deliver placements following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The resources are categorised according to themes for ease of access.
These resources can be viewed online or downloaded but they cannot be edited. If you wish to use ideas shared in these resources, please acknowledge the author(s) of the resource(s). We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members who shared their resources.
Innovative service development in mainstream schools
Jan Baerselman outlines an innovative approach to student placements in independent practice. Students provide a service to two primary schools to top up existing public sector support. The service is for families that would not normally access independent provision. Assessment, therapy and collaboration with school staff is provided under the supervision of a placement educator. Outcomes are measures using TOMs and the service quality is measured with questionnaires for staff and families. Students provide feedback on whether this placement meets their learning needs. The time, and therefore cost, required to set up a paired placement for a term is measured and the time/cost of providing subsequent placements is estimated.
Involving students in research
This Birmingham City University (BCU) presentation refers to a peer placement where students supported the implementation of a research project as part of their final year placement.
Student mentoring
Final year students at Sheffield University (SU) offered mentoring to first year students on clinical placement, to increase their opportunities for clinical learning during the pandemic.
Placement case studies
Read our collection of case studies on how students and practice educators can benefit from placements.
Telehealth placements
Examples of innovative practice with telehealth placements can be found in our telehealth placements guidance.
Research and leadership placements
Find out about research and leadership placements, including case studies from students and practice educators with recent experience in research and / or leadership placements, both within the SLT profession and the wider AHP community.
Additional resources
RCSLT resources
- RCSLT practice-based learning roles and responsibilities framework (PDF)
- Template for practice-based learning activities (PDF)
- Telehealth placements guidance
- RCSLT supervision guidance
- Student placements webinar: supporting the future speech and language therapy workforce (2021)
- Students: An essential part of your workforce webinar (2017)
- RCSLT curriculum guidance (2021) – Section 3.4 partnership in practice education provision (PDF)
Additional resources
- Role emerging placements: building capacity and developing skills of independence in student learning (2014) – Leeds Beckett University presentation (PDF)
- The use of actors in practice education: A novel approach to preparing speech and language therapy students for clinical practice (2012) – University College, Cork presentation (PDF)
- AHP Health and Care Professions (H&CP) – practice education guidance (PDF)
- Health Education England report and toolkit: RePAIR (Reducing Pre-registration Attrition and Improving Retention) supports the NHS and higher education providers in reducing the level of student attrition
- Health Education England: AHP learning placement exchange for expansion and innovation
- Access the most up-to-date national policy and guidance from arms-length bodies, professional bodies and regulators
- Share best practice or innovation around expanding placement capacity and improving quality
- Seek support if you have placement capacity or quality challenges
- Share information on placements eg resources, funding
- Health Education England: Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) programme
- Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH): Expanding public health placements to AHP students (PDF)
Simulation resources
- HCPC blog on using simulation to support practice-based learning – This blog looks at how simulation can be used to meet HCPC’s standards of education and training. This article also links to another HCPC blog on supporting innovation in practice-based learning.
- Health Education England (HEE) simulation and immersive technologies – Descriptions and definitions of simulation as well as the HEE National Framework for Simulation-based Education (SBE) and a suite of short videos on different simulation models.
- HEE occupational therapy virtual practice placement case study – Provides details of the development and implementation of a virtual practice placement using the virtual learning environment blackboard.
- HEE placement expansion resources – Links to the wide range of resources that HEE have produced around placement expansion. This includes links to webinars, some of which include examples of simulation.
- The impact of online cultural simulation activity
Research resources
- Speech pathologists’ perceptions of the impact of student supervision
- Investigation of the validity and reliability of a placement quality
Examples of innovative practice
Innovative service development in mainstream schools
Involving students in research
Student mentoring
Other examples of innovative practice in telehealth placements can be found in the telehealth placements section.
Lead author
Jo Sandiford
Supporting authors
Ria Bayliss, Sarah Buckley, Fiona Campbell, Kirsty Catling, Ruth Crampton, Orla Duffy, Warda Farah, Emma Ferris, Carolyn Hawkes, Julie Marchant, Hannah McCorry, Helen McDonald, Melanie Packer, Hannah Plumpton
Project reference group
Katie Anthony, Jan Baerselman, Jane Callard, Caroline Cookson, Tricia Doran, Therese Elliott, Carol Fairfield, Zoe Garstang, Peter Glover, Helen Nazlie, Anne Onwusiri, Angela Penny, Jenny Powner, Rachel Starkey, Lucy Talbot
Guidance last updated: February 2021
We welcome your feedback at info@rcslt.org
