Supervising role emerging placements: a CPD opportunity that supports innovation in practice

ABSTRACT

Supervision of occupational therapy students on placements is a challenging, but rewarding experience. There is a growing body of literature related to role emerging placements but the experiences of the occupational therapists who undertake the role of off-site supervisors are underrepresented. These placements are based in settings where there is no defined occupational therapy role and the professional supervisor is not based at the placement site. Drawing from research in two European countries with off-site supervisors the enablers and barriers of this role are presented. Supervising students with innovative occupational therapy interventions positively influenced the off-site supervisors’ professional practice. Practical guidance for those interested in this role is shared to encourage occupational therapists to pursue this rewarding role including the need for peer support while undertaking this valuable role.

KEYWORDS:

• Role-emerging
• placements
• off-site
• supervisor
• innovation
• cpd
• strategies

Acknowledgements

Financial support by the Health Research Board (HRB) PhD Fellowship, Ireland, (2012–13).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.