Occupational Therapy

This module introduces you to the biopsychosocial, cognitive, political, economic, and medical factors which influence the health and wellbeing of individuals, diverse populations and communities. You’ll work with peers from other professions to consider how collaborative practice impacts on health and wellbeing outcomes, and helps you thrive in your own professional practice.  

You’ll study topics such as:  

• Models of care, support and empowerment 

• Social capital and cultural humility  

• Social accountability and determinants of health  

• Safeguarding practice  

• Public health agendas, inquiries and evidence-based reports  

• Building effective, trusting relationships   

• Community profiles and place-based care systems  

• Person-centred service delivery  

• Behaviour change and microaggressions 

• Diversity and inclusion 

• The effects of planetary health on wellbeing 

This module explores the theory and models which influence occupational performance across the lifespan, including environment, social and psychological factors and a person’s health, wellbeing and functional ability. You’ll explore the human systems and psychosocial elements that interact to enable people to take part in occupations that are meaningful to them, considering how changes in health and function can impact directly on occupational performance. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• A range of relevant theoretical models  

• The impact of changes in a person’s health and wellbeing across the lifespan 

• Occupational performance areas across the lifespan 

• Activity analysis 

• Humans systems of anatomy, physiology, perception, cognition and psychology 

• Occupations to support health and wellbeing 

• Neurodiversity  

• The impact of trauma  

• Occupational performance through a sustainable lens  

• Inequalities and social/commercial determinants of health  

This module introduces you to how theory and evidence are used to support practice. You’ll understand your personal and professional responsibilities as an OT and how to practise inclusively, preparing you to apply your knowledge in on the Practice Based Learning 1 module.  

You’ll study topics such as:  

• The history and philosophy of the profession   

• Global perspectives of occupational therapy 

• The occupational therapy process 

• Occupational therapy practice models 

• Activity analysis 

• Developing skills to identify evidence to support practice 

• Developing knowledge of inclusive practice 

• Developing reflective skills for CPD 

• Professional skills for practice 

• Current practical and therapeutic skills  

This module gives you a foundation in practice-based learning. You’ll be able to apply the knowledge you’ve gained so far across the four RCOT pillars of practice, with the close support of a practice educator. 

You’ll apply skills and learning such as: 

• Person-centred practice 

• Organisational arrangements and practices 

• Communication 

• Risk and self-management 

• Assessments and interventions 

• Theory, models and processes 

• Interdisciplinary working 

• Professional and practical skills 

• Supervision and reflective practice  

This module consolidates your progression to graduate-level study and professional practice, reflecting on your role as a professional who delivers safe and effective person-centred care. You’ll be supported to identify influencing factors on your professional practice – developing strategies which support you to thrive personally, professionally and academically. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Reflective practice and writing skills 

• Personal and professional development and identity 

• Emotional intelligence 

• Self-perception, privilege and introduction intersectionality and allyship  

• Self-management, feedback and leadership 

• Ethics in professional practice 

• Communication methods and techniques 

• Contemporary policy for professional practice 

• Teamwork and collaborating across professional boundaries 

• Personal behaviour and self-assessment techniques 

• The impact of behaviours, values, research and anti-oppressive and inclusive practice  

This module is your chance to apply your professional knowledge, skills and values in an integrated manner. You’ll work collaboratively with peers from other disciplines to assess, intervene and overcome the challenges of complex health and social care situations – supporting individuals, groups and communities.    

You’ll study topics such as:  

• Drivers for integrated and person-centred health and social care  

• Inter-professional teamworking across multiple service interfaces   

• Shared ethical decision-making, collaboration and co-production 

• Assessment, treatment planning, evaluation and risk management 

• The realities of living with long-term conditions and multi-morbidities  

• Mental capacity, best interest assessment, equality and reasonable adjustments  

• Resilience, communication, breaking bad news, difficult conversations   

• Interpersonal and systemic discrimination in health and social care 

• Inclusive language and terminology including challenging microaggressions  

• Technology-enabled care and digitalisation within integrated care systems

This module develops your understanding of clinical reasoning and how to apply it throughout occupational therapy. You’ll analyse how theory, evidence and person-centred care affect clinical reasoning, expanding your professional knowledge and skills in preparation for Practice Based Learning 2. 

You’ll study topics such as:  

• Clinical reasoning 

• Applied occupational therapy process, theory and practice models 

• Common pathways for people occupational therapists work with 

• Skills to critically evaluate practice and evidence 

• Therapeutic use of self and non-discriminatory practice 

• Lifelong learning skills for improving practice and personal development 

• Professional skills for practice 

• Current practical and therapeutic skills 

• Disability narratives 

This module introduces you to research and enquiry design and methods. You’ll be able to apply them to an area of investigation – considering factors that impact on literature appraisal – preparing you to undertake and manage an investigation as a professional practitioner. 

You’ll study topics such as:  

• What makes a good question  

• Research design, types of evidence and suitability of methods 

• Co-production – patient and public involvement 

• Inclusive perspectives of research  

• Data collection methods, strengths and weaknesses 

• Analysis techniques 

• Usefulness/impact and implications for practice 

• Ethics and governance 

• Sample of existing appraisal tools 

• Searching and critically reviewing the literature  

This module develops understanding of occupational therapy in a range of specialist and innovative areas, helping you to use and critique the evidence-base. You’ll demonstrate a wide professional lens and critically consider physical, environmental, social, cultural and political factors that impact occupational performance, with a service-user-centred practice.  

You’ll study topics such as:  

• A range of therapeutic and group work interventions  
• Clinical reasoning, theoretical models and outcome measures 
• Technological innovations  
• Inclusive design, environmental adaptations and sustaining diverse communities 
• Persistent health conditions and recovery through activity 
• A range of mental health areas, including trauma-informed practice  
• Primary care and case management  
• Public health agenda, health promotion and lifestyle management  
• Social approach within occupational therapy 
• Neurodiversity  

This module gives you an opportunity to apply and evaluate assessment, decision-making and interventions across the four pillars of practice, supported by a practice educator. You’ll be able to articulate your practice-based reasoning based on previous knowledge, learning to use supervision as a forum for reflection and analysis of your practice. 

You’ll apply skills and learning such as: 

• Person-centred practice 
• Organisational arrangements and practices 
• Communication 
• Risk and self-management 
• Assessments and interventions  
• Theory, models and processes 
• Interdisciplinary working 
• Professional and practical skills 
• Supervision and reflective practice  

This module gives you an opportunity to devise, apply and evaluate assessment, decision-making and interventions across the four pillars of practice, supported by a practice educator. You’ll be able to work more independently, showing self-motivation, insight into own abilities, and an ability to identify own learning needs,  

You’ll apply skills and learning such as: 

• Person-centred practice. 
• Organisational arrangements and practices 
• Communication 
• Risk and self-management 
• Assessments and interventions  
• Theory, models and processes 
• Interdisciplinary working 
• Professional and practical skills 
• Supervision and reflective practice  
• Policy, procedures and evidence-based practice

This module develops your systematic understanding of leadership and education concepts in practice. You’ll critically reflect on these in the context of collaboration within health and social care practice – considering how you can effectively support people who use services, their carers and families, and communities who have complex health and care needs to thrive.  

You’ll study topics such as:  

• Differences between management, leadership and the role of the critical follower 

• Leadership theories, models and styles most relevant to health and social care  

• Self-awareness and seeing ourselves as leaders 

• Recognising our own personal impact, rank, power and privilege  

• Professional cultures, traditional hierarchies and becoming an agent of change  

• Leading psychologically safe, anti-racist and inclusive teams  

• Resilience, volatility and acknowledging the wellbeing needs of the workforce  

• Sustainable practice, quality improvement and leadership 

• Tackling inequalities in health and social care through advocacy and education 

• Technology-enabled care and digitalisation within integrated care systems 

This module considers the national and global complexities of the profession, examining the social determinants of health and wellbeing. You’ll critically analyse how the profession is responding to political and social drivers, seeking opportunities for entrepreneurship and new practice areas for the profession.  

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Social determinants of health  

• Occupational justice  

• Global south approaches to occupational therapy  

• Evaluate heath disparities that exist in society  

• Disaster awareness  

• Promoting health and wellbeing 

• Current government policy drivers   

• Entrepreneurship in occupational therapy  

• Evaluating interventions 

• Assessing and demonstrating the value of OT interventions

This module makes your first steps from student to newly qualified practitioner, developing as an independent practitioner engaging in complex situations, with support from your practice educator. You’ll reflect, review and develop your practice, working in a client-centred way, integrating your knowledge and experience to critically appraise your practice. 

You’ll apply skills and learning such as: 

• Person-centred practice 

• Organisational arrangements and practices 

• Communication and interdisciplinary working 

• Risk and self-management 

• Assessments and interventions 

• Theory, models and processes 

• Professional and practical skills 

• Supervision and reflective practice  

• Incorporating evidence-based practice 

• Mapping skills and experience to newly qualified roles 

This module enables you to undertake a sustained, in-depth piece of independent learning, demonstrating a critical understanding and applying appropriate research methods within a piece of work. This work will challenge and contribute to improvements in areas of practice through the dissemination of findings to professional communities. 

You’ll apply learning and skills such as:  

• An individual independent project/dissertation 

• Creating and contributing to research and evaluation for practice 

• Application of approaches to research 

• Research, improvement and evaluation methodologies 

• Addressing inclusivity in your research process 

• Dissemination of project outcomes 

• Challenges in applying research outcomes to practice 

This module prepares you for your final practice placement – a chance to consider your progression from student to autonomous practitioner, ready for HCPC registration. You’ll critically reflect on your knowledge, skills and professional behaviour, which you’ll then critically appraise against a range of professional standards, frameworks and the four pillars of practice.   

You’ll study topics such as:  

• Health, social care and non-statutory organisations  

• Professional HCPC standards and RCOT career development framework 

• Self-appraisal audit 

• Reflective models and practice 

• Contemporary professional practice 

• Employability -preparation for employment  

• Self-management and autonomous working 

• Supervisory processes and reflection on learning in practice  

• Continuing professional development and portfolio building  

• Mandatory training such as moving and positioning with dignity, basic life support and infection control