Physiotherapy - Cluster 13

Student Placement Profile

Physiotherapy - Spinnaker Rehabilitation Ward

Service / Spinnaker Rehabilitation Ward
Location(s) / Spinnaker Rehabilitation Ward, St Mary’s Community Health Campus
Key contact details / Melody Chawner
02392 680100
Description of Service / Physiotherapy Assessment and Treatment for frail elderly people presenting with multiple pathologies, falls, respiratory problems, Parkinson’s disease and other common problems of older age.
Signposting of patients to other services (e.g. inpatient acute services, social rehabilitation units or community health and social care teams) for management as required.
This is a multidisciplinary hospital based rehabilitation ward.
Other areas of interest and related experience available / Students may spend time during their placement viewing other community services, falls exercise classes, inpatient acute wards.
Work/Shift pattern / At present 0830 – 430 Mon – Fri with 1 weekend in 4 worked (time off in lieu then in the week)
Dress/Uniform code / Tunic / Polo Shirt. Navy trouser or May to Sept SMART tailored knee length shorts. Flat black or navy shoes. SMART trainers acceptable. No jewellery (including facial piercing jewellery such as nose rings/studs. A single, non-engraved wedding ring may be worn provided it has no stones in it.
Staff room / Rest Room facilities / Staff changing and shower facilities on site, canteen on site, staff rest room on ward.
Library / IT Resources / Library on site
Induction / Orientation Programmes
Welcome Folder / Induction folder available. Full induction by supervising senior given in 1st week against pre-agreed checklist. Student objectives available.
Student Tutorial / Seminar Programme (if available) / Students may attend the band 5 IST programme if it is running whilst they are on placement.
Prior recommended reading / websites / resources / ACSMs Exercise Management for Persons with Chronic Diseases and Disabilities. Durstine and Moore (Eds). Human Kinetics 2003.
Geriatric Rehabilitation Manual. Kauffman, Barr and Martin (Eds) Churchill Livingstone 2007.
Falls in Older People. Lord, Sherrington and Menz (Eds). Cambridge University Press 2001
Parkinson’s Disease in the Older Patient. Playfer and Hindle (Eds) Arnold Publishers 2001
Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism in the Elderly. Meara J, Koller WL 2000.
Optimising Exercise and physical Activity in Older People Morris M, Schoo A. Butterworth Heinemann 2004.
Nice Clinical Guideline 21 Falls

- multiple resources on exercise and Physiotherapy with Older People including Physiotherapy and Older People - A resource booklet for student and newly qualified physiotherapists

Common assessments / interventions / procedures / treatments / evaluations / Respiratory, musculoskeletal, frail elderly and neurological assessment skills
Interventions :- exercise prescription for older people, functional rehabilitation, goal setting and evaluation, use of assistive devices including orthotic and podiatric equipment, manual musculoskeletal physiotherapy techniques for common shoulder, knee and spinal problems of older age, multidisciplinary team communication and treatment planning.
Common conditions seen / OA, RA, PD, falls, COPD, Asthma, amputations, CVA, post-surgical rehabilitation, fractures (hip, wrist, humerus, spinal), osteoporosis, heart failure, valvular heart disease, ischaemic heart conditions, diabetes.
Specific areas of expertise/clinical skills which students can observe / learn from / Practice / Assessment and treatment planning
Goal Setting
Communication with patients / other staff
Home visits
Group and individual exercise sessions
Applying skills of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, biomechanics to assessing and managing older people.
List of inter-professional learning opportunities available during placement / Community based assessment and management of older people
Visits to acute wards, falls classes, community rehab teams caring for older people
Opportunity to shadow other MDT members e.g. OT / nursing
Our expectations of learners whilst on this placement