In accordance with the Minimum Standards for Practice Education in Ireland document, produced by the Association of Occupational Therapists Ireland (AOTI) (2007), MSc students in the Occupational Therapy programme are required to complete a minimum of 1000 hours of practice education placements to a satisfactory level of competence. Each student must have a mixture of physical and psychosocial placements. Practice Education 4 will be a nine week full time practice placement that will be completed in semester 2 of year 2. Students will complete this placement either in Ireland or abroad. This placement enables students to consolidate professional competencies as they continue to learn and demonstrate professional skills and attitudes in the management of cases from referral to discharge.

Supervised full time experiential practice education experience for 9 weeks in either Ireland or abroad up to 333 hours. Consolidation of professional skills and attitudes; Management of complex cases to reflect to a level that the competencies of a new practitioner; Consolidation of self-reflection and ethical reasoning skills.

To synthesise practice knowledge appropriate to the practice setting. Seek out evidence and apply new information and skills to develop their own professional practice. To manage a caseload prioritising clients' needs within a practice context.

To display a professional commitment to lifelong learning. To resolve conflicting issues between personal beliefs and ethical considerations.

To demonstrate professional skills to work with clients who have complex needs. To demonstrate relevant clinical reasoning processes and client centred practice.

TEACHING The student will engage in experiential learning within a specified health or social care setting under the supervision of a named practice educator who will be a fully qualified occupational therapist. Additional support will also to be provided by staff within the University of Limerick. Student learning will be experiential and there will be a mixture of patient contact, case studies discussion and tutorials. Self directed study LEARNING Supervised full time practice education experience for 9 weeks in either Ireland or abroad in a different health and social care setting than previous placements. Consolidation their professional skills and attitudes in the management of complex cases to reflect to a level that the competencies of a new practitioner as well as consolidate their self-reflection and ethical reasoning skills. Student learning will be structured using a learning contract within the framework of The Competency Based Fieldwork Evaluation for Occupational Therapists (CBFE-OT). Self directed learning will be encouraged. Students will be expected to use their professional skills to manage client cases from referral to discharge, and will be able to justify their clinical reasoning process for the management of each client seen.