PL2C3: Clinical Studies 3

Module Provider:

Clinical Language Sciences

Number of credits:

30 [15 ECTS credits]

Level:

I (Intermediate)

Terms in which taught:

Autumn, Spring and Summer

Module Convenor:

Mrs CA Fairfield

Pre-requisites:

Co-requisites:

Modules excluded:

Module version for:

2006/7

Aims:
The aims of this module are; to enable students (with support) to be clinically competent in the assessment of paediatric and adult clients; to develop skills in therapeutic design for paediatric and adult clients: to carryout in depth analysis of typical communication development in a pre-school child; to gain understanding of the communication profile of the typical elderly population. The clinical skills that underpin the successful completion of these aims are targeted such as: selection of appropriate assessments, target setting, establishing baselines, writing reports, considering speech and language therapy delivery within the context of social, health and education settings and reflection on clinical communication skills.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of this module, it is expected that the students will be able to
• Assess and plan interventions for paediatric and adult clients with communication impairments (with support).
• Explain features of impaired communication in paediatric and adult clients relative to relevant medical, psychological and linguistic models.
• Justify assessment and therapeutic decisions relative to the research evidence and to models of speech and language therapy service delivery.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of the communication development of a pre-school child.
• Discuss the medical, psychological, and linguistic factors that affect communication in the typical elderly population.
• Explain how and why the speech and language therapist would investigate the impact of communication impairment on the social well being of a client.

Additional outcomes:
• Propose how a speech and language therapist might work in a residential setting to support a person with eating/drinking or communication difficulties, identifying the potential barriers and providing a solution to them.
• Describe the changing nature of service delivery in the NHS and discuss how this might impact on the work of a speech and language therapist.
• Evaluate own clinical communication skills and take responsibility for identifying goals for personal professional development.

Outline content:
Lectures: Assessment log and the development of counselling skills. Clinical placements: paediatric and adult placements – observation, participation and practice. Clinical tutorials: clinical skills practised and discussed, specific service delivery issues are introduced, and reflective clinical logs are developed further. Clinical skills seminars: preparation for clinical placements: covering specific clinical and personal skills such as professional development, setting goals, seeking and receiving feedback, assertiveness and professional relationships. Other Practical: Students continue with their observational study of a normally developing child with the focus now on the child’s language development.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Lectures, clinical seminars, workshops using video case studies, tutorials, clinical placements, log keeping and VLE for assessments.

Contact hours:

Assessment:
Coursework:
A 1000-word Elderly Care report submitted on the first day of the Autumn term, following summer visits (formative); a 4000-word case study submitted on the first day of the Spring term; a 4000-word child development study submitted on the first day of the Summer term; a presentation of a video and written summary of a client from the placement (clinical examination); and clinical reports.
Relative percentage of coursework: 100% (child development study 20%, case study 20%, clinical reports 5%, clinical examination 55%)
Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission of coursework will be those specified by the University.
Examinations:
None
Requirements for a pass:
Not less than 40% in any piece of coursework set in this module
Reassessment Arrangements:
Coursework will be carried forward if it bears a mark of 40%. Otherwise it must be resubmitted by 1st September.