The aim of the practice education pathway of the programme is to facilitate the development of the clinical skills of the student in the assessment and management of the needs of service users across the lifespan in health & social care environments. This practice education provides supported opportunities for the student to observe and experience work as a transition level student practitioner. The student learns directly from contact with experienced practising speech and language therapists who are working in practice settings with service users. The student is provided with opportunities to apply practice knowledge of the therapy process in the service context, demonstrate an ability to prioritise, manage and evaluate interventions with a range of service users. The student will display a person-centred approach throughout and reflect and act on their own clinical strengths and learning goals. Throughout this module there is an expectation that the student is more proactive in engaging with the clinical learning process. The module is planned and delivered in accordance with regulatory and professional approval requirements as set by CORU and the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists.

This module is a practice placement module where students will apply practice knowledge of the speech and language therapy process whilst on placement with guidance from an experienced qualified speech and language therapist. Content includes: Clinical skills practice in relation to different profiles of communication needs; Development of clinical reasoning skills related to the population in the practice setting where they are placed; Advancement of competency regarding the speech and language assessment and therapeutic process; Enhancement of communication and personal management skills.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Appraise the evidence for speech and language therapy assessment and intervention appropriate to the placement setting and the client's needs. Summarise how the findings related to service user's needs, and the professional evidence base inform the speech and language therapy process. Integrate clinical reasoning strategies to support decision-making in relation to the speech and language therapy process

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Practice self-reflection as a means of critiquing their own performance and to further their professional development. Value a person-centred approach to the speech and language therapy process.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Manipulate and examine the mechanisms of speech and swallowing with guidance from an experienced speech and language therapist where applicable to the practice setting.

The student will engage in experiential learning within a specified health or social care setting under the supervision of an experienced speech and language 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 service user contact, case discussions, tutorials and self-directed study (graduate attributes: agile, articulate, curious). Students apply theory to practice when on clinical placement and therefore are expected to seek out evidence, discover and prepare resources and support their practical learning on placement by self study (graduate attributes: curious, responsible). Students will build on and maintain their clinical folder incorporating learning experiences, resources developed, reflections, and clinical hours logs (graduate attribute: responsible). Curiosity, agility and responsibility are specifically developed through students need to apply theory to practice by seeking out evidence, discovering and preparing resources and supporting their practical learning on placement by self-study. Students will have the opportunity to become more articulate through their interactions with the supervising speech and language therapist, clients, carers, and other professionals in the service setting. Agility is also developed on placement through the student's need to respond appropriately to the client's emerging profile. Texts and resources provided to students will be updated yearly to reflect recent research and developments in the relevant areas and guidance by regulatory bodies.