In an exciting new collaboration with Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH), the School of Allied Health Professions and Nursing (SAHPN) has introduced an innovative leadership placement model designed to provide second-year Occupational Therapy (OT) students with unique, hands-on learning opportunities.
Led by Occupational Therapy lecturer Claire Saunders, this initiative includes added peer support and a focus on leadership development, marking a significant step forward in enhancing the clinical education of future OT professionals.
The Occupational Therapy department has offered placements of this kind before, but with a focus on either mature students on the MSc programme or 3rd year BSc students. The team have decided to weave in opportunities for second-year participants now in order to help prepare them to take an important step in their professional development ahead of their final year with us.
Three second-year BSc OT students—Kyla Tallon, Poppy Cartwright, and Hannah Sheridan— have successfully completed the first iteration of the placement at WUTH, and received exceptional feedback for their contributions.
Their experience highlights the effectiveness of the model, which emphasizes the development of key leadership skills while reinforcing clinical competence.
The leadership placement is part of SAHPN's ongoing commitment to expanding placement opportunities for its undergraduate students, ensuring they gain practical exposure to health and social care services throughout their educational experience with us
By incorporating key principles of practice-based learning, which were introduced in 2022, SAHPN has created a framework that supports the growth of high-quality, sustainable placements for pre-registration OT students and other allied health professional (AHP) learners.
Kyla Tallon shared her experience of the leadership placement, which took place at Arrowe Park Hospital, she said: “During my six-week leadership placement, I worked alongside my fellow OT student, Poppy Cartwright, to develop a patient complexity tool. This tool allowed WUTH to better understand ward acuity levels and determine the appropriate number of AHP staff, including occupational therapists, needed to optimize patient care.
“Our initiative aimed at improving patient journeys by reducing inpatient stays and expediting discharge processes—ultimately enhancing the overall quality of care provided across the hospital.”
Kyla continued, “We also took part in a bariatric audit, gaining valuable insight into the role of occupational therapy in supporting bariatric patients and evaluating the equipment prescribed to them. This leadership-focused placement gave me the opportunity to not only develop my clinical skills but also to deepen my understanding of NHS leadership and begin shaping my own leadership style as an occupational therapy student."
Poppy Cartwright added: “The leadership placement at Arrowe Park was unlike any traditional clinical placement. Kyla and I worked as an independent team, supported remotely by two practice educators, and had the flexibility to set our own schedules and work from home. The majority of our time was spent working on a service enhancement project, where we gathered and analysed data to improve patient care across the Trust. This experience greatly boosted my confidence and prepared me for future placements and career opportunities.”
Hannah Sheridan said: “Initially, it felt like a lot of responsibility for a second-year student to embrace. My educator was a neuro occupational therapist by background who is now part of the corporate nursing division as chief AHP at the trust.
“Each member of the team that I worked in had one clear vision - to improve patient experience and safety. This enabled me to understand the macro-context that therapy is being delivered in, and how interventions can remain valid, purposeful and effective which results in cohesive patient pathways for better outcomes.”
The School of Allied Health Professions and Nursing continues to champion innovative, impactful learning experiences for its students, striving to create a positive, lasting impact on the future of healthcare. Through initiatives like this leadership placement programme, the School is helping shape the next generation of skilled, confident, and compassionate allied health professionals. This partnership with WUTH demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing students with high-quality learning opportunities that prepare them for leadership roles in the evolving healthcare landscape.