University College Plymouth St Mark & St John

Frenchay Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre

Gerry Roxburgh and Sarah Gibbin Speech and Language Therapists say "The Frenchay Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre (FBIRC) is a 29 bedded rehabilitation unit for adults and adolescents following acquired or traumatic brain injury. The Centre takes referrals from across the South West including patients with a range of physical, cognitive and behavioural disorders.  It comprises a truly interdisciplinary team, with SLT, OT, Physio, Neuropsychology, and Rehabilitation Technicians working together to progress the patient.  Students are taken from a range of disciplines throughout the year, including the therapies, nursing and music therapy.

We see taking students as our duty to our profession, but more importantly, as an enjoyable part of the year. Students form an important part of our learning.  They challenge our thinking, creativity, and theory which is an important part of our own CPD.  Having students helps us reflect on our personal career pathways, and can help provide impetus for change. With regard our service, patients seen by students receive input that is carefully planned and linked to recent theory/research.  Our patients enjoy the change in approach and often respond positively to this.

The FBIRC is set up so SLT students benefit most from block placements, as it is possible to see patients intensively over a short period, and make a real difference to their communication skills.  We believe that peer placements offer an excellent opportunity for students to reflect with each other and work together, and therefore will continue to offer peer placements in future.
Students who enjoy working in an interdisciplinary environment, are open-minded and flexible in approach and have some awareness of the behavioural changes that can follow TBI will get the most out of their placement here."

Anna-Louise Broddle SLT Graduate 2007

"Clinical placements are pivotal to students completing the Speech and Language Therapy course at Marjon.  They give you the opportunity to put into practice the skills you have learnt in college and thereby enable you to develop as a clinician.

The best clinical educators endeavor to pass on not only their knowledge, but also their enthusiasm and commitment to the profession.  On placements, you are encouraged and supported whilst working hands on with a variety of different client groups.  This not only hones your clinical skills, but also gives you the confidence to work independently in a range of settings.  Also collaboration with other health professionals is fostered from an early stage. It gives you a good understanding of their role and perspectives.  The lecturers at college support you and provide the background academic information about speech and language therapy, but it is the placements that shape and mould you into a fully-fledged clinician."

Lucy Bomford SLT Graduate 2007

"I was a mature-aged student studying speech and language therapy in Plymouth. Prior to taking the plunge and embarking on the course, I studied modern languages, spent two years teaching English in Japan and had a number of office-based jobs, mainly in administration.

During my three years of study, I undertook five placements in four counties around England.
 
I was lucky enough to be placed in a wide variety of settings and work with both adults and children. In year one I had a mixed placement, partly based at Frenchay Hospital in North Bristol. Frenchay is the south west regional centre for many speciality areas within speech and language therapy, and I had the chance to observe sessions in the cleft palate unit, videofluoroscopy clinic and the centre for alternative and augmentative communication (AAC). I also took part in a two-day workshop for children who stammered, called ‘Meet the Smoothies’.

In year two there was the chance to experience two types of placement - concurrent, where one day a week was clinic and the other days were college-based, and the second called a block placement, which ran over six weeks. As well as getting my first chance to work in a community clinic, I was also based in a language unit attached to a primary school and worked with adults both on a stroke ward and in the community.

Year three offered another chance to work with a clinical educator on a ‘once a week’ basis, although this time over a longer time period. I worked with two pre-school language groups and was able to work with the same children for almost three months. I also had the benefit of working with two different therapists who ran the group. The last block placement was very hands-on and I had the chance to work independently with clients whilst in a safe environment, where help and advice was regularly available. As well as regular visits to schools and some community clinic experience, I also had the chance to work with adults in a large hospital.

Overall, my five placements were a fantastic experience and a wonderful learning opportunity. All block placements were outside my home county, and whilst this brought along its own challenges, it was valuable to work within different NHS trusts and to experience different ways of working across the country.