A Diverse Practice Placement Collaboration

We were recently featured in the OTnews magazine, in an article exploring the value of diverse practice placements for Occupational Therapy (OT) students at the University of Southampton and their collaboration with us.

Maggie Bracher, Chair of our Southampton branch and a key figure in introducing diverse placements, notes that such placements help students develop a strong professional identity, creative thinking, and occupational therapy skills. These placements, which are typically introduced in the third year of the undergraduate program, allow students to explore non-traditional settings, such as charities and community organisations, to broaden their experience.

In particular, collaborating with our charity provides students with a unique opportunity to work alongside engineers, designing bespoke equipment for disabled individuals. This enhances their understanding of the connection between OT and engineering. The article focuses on a second-year student’s experience during a six-week placement at Hobbs Rehabilitation, where she worked alongside OT specialists and our engineers to create an educational resource for therapists on how to incorporate REMAP services into their practice.

This partnership allowed the student to gain practical skills in applying OT techniques to unconventional solutions, such as creating custom devices for patients, and improved her confidence in interdisciplinary communication. The placement also provided valuable networking opportunities and practical knowledge that she could carry forward into her career.

From the perspectives of both the student and the practice educators at Hobbs Rehabilitation, the placement was seen as a great success, providing significant professional growth for the student and an innovative new approach to patient care. Sue Boyes, our CEO, highlighted the importance of collaboration between OTs and engineers, noting that the student’s insights helped improve the charity’s engagement with therapists.

Overall, this diverse placement model offers students a unique chance to expand their skill set, foster creativity, and build connections across disciplines. The success of the collaboration has led to further plans to enhance student involvement with us, creating a network of volunteers and promoting the benefits of this interdisciplinary approach to OT education. The ultimate goal is to continue fostering relationships between OT students and REMAP, benefiting both professional development and patient care.

Read the full article.