The aim of this final practice education module 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. The student learns directly from contact with experienced practicing speech and language therapists in a service setting. The placement enables the student to build and consolidate their professional competencies as they continue to learn and demonstrate professional skills and attitudes in the management of complex cases from referral to discharge. This module facilitates the development of competencies in readiness to practice as a speech and language therapist as per the requirements set by CORU, the regulating body.

Students will continue to develop their clinical skills and apply practice knowledge of the speech and language therapy process whilst on their final placement through consultation and collaboration with an experienced qualified speech and language therapist. Content includes: Development of clinical skills; Consolidation of clinical reasoning skills related to the population in the placement practice setting, and; Advancement of entry level competencies regarding the speech and language assessment and therapeutic process.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Critique and apply evidence for speech and language therapy in an identified practice setting. Synthesise information relevant to the service user, the setting and practice developments and policies to inform the speech and language therapy intervention process. Justify clinical reasoning processes through the ability to prioritise, manage and evaluate appropriate interventions with a range of service users.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Value self-reflection and a commitment to lifelong learning as a means of critiquing their own performance and to further their professional development.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Manipulate and examine the mechanisms of speech and swallowing to a level appropriate to a final placement. Display independent, safe and effective speech and language assessment and intervention skills in an identified practice setting.

The student will engage in 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, there will be a mixture of service user contact, case discussions, tutorials and self-directed study with active encouragement of reflection on own practice (graduate attributes: curious, responsible). Students will articulate and justify their clinical reasoning process for the management of each service user with consultation from an experienced speech and language therapist (graduate attributes: agile, articulate). Responsibility will be developed as students will continue to maintain their clinical folder incorporating learning experiences, resources developed, reflections and clinical hours logs. (graduate attribute: responsbile). Agility is further developed through the student's need to respond independently to the client's emerging profile. Students will be courageous in embracing an advocacy role within the service setting. 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.