The aim of this module is to consolidate and extend the student's theoretical and practice knowledge through engagement with complex clinical cases and specialist models of service delivery across the life span related to the role of the speech and language therapist. The module provides opportunities for the student to engage with cases that include several areas of need, and competing priorities for intervention. The module content challenges the student to explore their role in relation to innovative practice, challenging policy contexts and unique populations.

Content includes assessment and management of specialist caseloads including persons with cleft lip and palate, cochlear implants and other low incidence presentations, as well as communication needs in the context of co-occurring difficulties in childhood and adolescent mental health. Content also includes knowledge and skills in relation to the assessment and management of profiles of need in the context of progressive conditions and ethically challenging practice scenarios. The student has the opportunity to examine cases that include a combination of speech, language and communication and feeding, eating, drinking and swallowing needs across the lifespan. The role of the speech and language therapist is explored in relation to unique populations and settings such as palliative care. Consistent with previous case-based learning, the student is required to appraise the evidence from a range of sources (research, policy, best practice guidelines) to justify clinical decision-making.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Integrate different types of knowledge to develop assessment and management plans in relation to complex clinical cases across the lifespan. Critique the quality of current models of speech and language therapy service delivery in relation to different populations of need. Propose innovative solutions to complex scenarios in healthcare, community and educational settings using an evidence-based approach  Evaluate the impact of non-clinical determinants of health including social, political, economic, environmental and gender disparities on speech and language therapy outcomes for individuals with a range of complex profiles of need. Argue the importance of the therapeutic alliance.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Value the importance of a person-centred approach in relation to the role of the speech and language therapist. Display a professional commitment to ethical practice.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: n/a

The module is taught incorporating a mixture of methods including live lectures, tutorials, and group-based workshops. The student is afforded the opportunity to extend their clinical reasoning skills in relation to the role of the speech and language therapist across a range of populations and settings (graduate attributes: knowledgeable and responsible). The student will also participate, collaborate, and engage actively with the learning process in small group work with peers over the course of the module to ensure their professional and clinical decision-making is ethical, evidence-informed and person-centred (graduate attribute: collaborative and responsible). The student will have the opportunity to engage with specialist speech and language therapists who work with unique populations and/or in challenging service contexts in tutorials and lectures to explore roles and responsibilities further. In tutorials, the student will be invited to contribute actively to discussions and debates in relation to their advocacy roles and responsibilities (graduate attribute: articulate).