practice Education

Introduction

The overall goal of the programme in NUI Galway is to prepare speech and language therapists in training to be competent and flexible speech and language therapy practitioners.  As such, clinical placements occupy a central place in the undergraduate training and provide undergraduates with opportunities to integrate theory and clinical practice.  Placements commence in Year 1 of the programme where speech and language therapists in training are given the opportunity to observe typically developing children in a preschool setting.  Practice Education in Year 1 also involves observation in centres for individuals with disabilities.  From Year 2 onwards, speech and language therapists in training are given the opportunity to further develop the core competencies of speech and language therapists as outlined below, under the direct supervision of a qualified speech and language therapist.

Clinical Hours

The Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT) require that speech and language therapists in training undertake a minimum of 450 hours clinical education.  300 of these hours must be with a speech and language therapist and 150 hours can be clinically related.  Clinically related hours include:

• Related experience - e.g. visits to preschools, centres for people with disabilities
• Focused clinical teaching - e.g. discussion of videos of clients with speech and language therapists in training, simulations and role play, tutorial discussions, guided practice with clinical resources
• Student-directed learning - e.g. video/audio analyses, client/case studies, peer tutoring.

Locations

Students may be asked to undertake placements anywhere in Ireland. 

Documentation

Practice Education Handbook 2012-2013
Guidelines for Good Practice in Practice Education (Therapy Project Office 2008)
Practice Educator Competencies (Therapy Project Office 2008)
Speech and Language Therapy Competencies (Therapy Project Office 2008)
Guidelines for Professional Information Leaflets (Therapy Project Office 2008)

Level 1 - Novice Clinician Assessment Form & Indicators
Level 2 - Transition Assessment Form & Indicators
Level 3 - Entry Level Assessment Form & Indicators 
 

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