Occupational Therapy Role Emerging Placement Guidelines 2nd edition – fostering positive learning experiences for stakeholders

Role emerging placements are used widely in occupational therapy programme and the University of Limerick were keen to utilise this innovative placement model. The model capitalises on the natural alliance between communities... [ view full abstract ]

Role emerging placements are used widely in occupational therapy programme and the University of Limerick were keen to utilise this innovative placement model. The model capitalises on the natural alliance between communities of practice theory (Lave & Wagner, 1991) and the use of non-traditional settings to promote student learning. The use of role emerging placements in Ireland was timely and captured a change of focus in the education and employment field that has subsequently occurred and continues to prevail.

Funding from a Quality Improvement Fund (QIFAC) facilitated the creation and piloting of the first edition of Role Emerging Placement Guidelines (Warren, 2011) which included distribution of the guidelines and an associated DVD. This collaborative process included working groups with stakeholders including occupational therapy students, academics, local occupational therapists, managers and host site staff.

Four years on this placement model has gone from strength to strength mainly due to the creativity, enthusiasm and vision of all stakeholders. This obviously includes the host sites that represent a range of community groups and many of the organisations involved have gone on to employ Occupational Therapists. The different perspectives of role emerging placements have also been researched (Warren, 2014). Subsequently the guidelines second edition has been updated to capture this contemporary research, the rich experience from four years of interagency collaboration and evaluation against professional standards. This paper will share the challenges of facilitating role emerging placements and consider exciting opportunities for the future direction of this innovative placement model.