Students to create invaluable resources as part of their CSP placement

Their projects will result in resources to support students’ understanding of Long Covid and the invaluable role support workers play.

The students doing their remote placement are: 

• Emily Linney - a second year MSc student studying at the University of Essex
• Hannah Fairris - a first year MSc student studying at AECC University College in Bournemouth
• Laura Bunce - a second year MSc student studying at the University of Southampton
• Elaine Paterson - a second year MSc student studying at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

Understanding Long Covid

Hannah and Emily will be supporting a project to help members understand the long term effects of Covid 19 (Long Covid) and the value of physiotherapy within the rehabilitation pathway. The project will culminate in an online resource aimed at students and newly qualified physiotherapists but will have relevance across the profession.

Initially, Hannah and Emily will deliver a scoping exercise to understand what members know about Long Covid using a survey and polls posted on social media. Keep an eye on Instagram @thecspstudents over the coming weeks to get involved.

Being students, Hannah and Emily will also draw on their own experiences, knowledge and needs. Considering her placement project, Emily said:

Entering this placement my knowledge and understanding of Long Covid was limited, despite the pandemic dominating my degree and placements. After only a week at the CSP, I have realised it is vital that we raise the profile of Long Covid and the experiences of those living with the condition.

Practice educator and CSP professional adviser Helen Harte said: 'Long Covid represents a unique moment in time for the whole profession. It is a new disease that will impact us across the spectrum of practice. We’re all learning at furious pace and Hannah and Emily will produce a resource of real value for members in order that they can support people living with Long Covid in a safe and supportive way. We are so excited to see what they create.'

Showcasing the value of support workers 

Laura and Elaine’s project will focus on creating an educational resource to explain the vital role that support workers play in various  healthcare services and settings. The resource, for pre-registration students, will aim to empower them to safely, effectively and respectfully  work with support workers to enhance patient care. 

This project will include a scoping exercise to understand the extent that students fully understand the role of the support workforce.  Reflecting on her own experiences of working with support workers on placement, Elaine shared:

I have met many fantastic support workers throughout my degree and I am excited to be working on this project to help other students recognise the magnificent contribution the non-registered workforce makes to the MDT.

Practice educator and CSP professional adviser Claire Fordham said: 'We’ve been considering for a while how we might encourage universities to better prepare students to appreciate the role, value and  impact of the support workforce. Who better to lead the development of some education resources than two student colleagues who have joined us on a placement at the CSP? We are looking forward to seeing what Laura and Elaine produce.'

Collaborating remotely

In addition to their projects, the foursome are also looking forward to working alongside one another, as Laura stated: 'Aside from the many transferable skills we will undoubtedly develop over the next six weeks, the opportunity to network and collaborate with students from other universities, as well as staff with knowledge and expertise in so many different backgrounds, is what really drew me to this
non-clinical placement.'

The remote nature of the placement also means the students are not bound to a geographic region. For Dorset-based Hannah, working with students from other universities is a welcomed opportunity as this will be her first placement. 

I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to be able to work alongside students from universities across the country, and begin to establish much further-reaching professional networks.