Physiotherapists in advanced practitioner roles are expected to be clinical experts in their fields who provide leadership and strategic vision and contribute to teaching and research. Postgraduate education is essential for physiotherapists taking up these roles to allow them to work at the optimum level of their skill set and to support development of the key qualities required for advanced practice.
These include the ability to draw on the evolving evidence base, the capacity for leadership, the ability to be innovative and to initiate change, to facilitate learning in others and the capacity for effective collaboration and (CSP 2018; HEE 2018).
The clinically focused programme has been re-designed to support the development of specialist physiotherapists within the changing social and healthcare landscape. It is aimed at fully qualified, experienced and highly motivated practitioners who want to make a difference to clinical practice and work in senior clinical roles. It aims to equip practitioners with advanced level knowledge and skills capable of promoting MSK health, providing safe, effective, high-quality care in the diagnosis and management of individuals with MSK disorders.
Alongside this the course aims to develop physiotherapists who will excel as clinical leaders with the capacity to influence local service delivery; foster evidence-informed practice; lead clinical teams and contribute to the education of the local healthcare workforce. The overall course aim is to produce graduates who will operate at the highest level of practice ready to move into senior clinical roles such as first contact practitioners, advanced physiotherapy practitioners, clinical specialists and consultants.
The course offers two pathways. One pathway has been established for students who wish to complete a period of mentored clinical practice with a Musculoskeletal Association of Physiotherapists (MACP) qualified mentor. The placement can be sourced for you by the university and there are no additional fees for period of mentored clinical practice (additional costs may apply such as travel and accommodation with respect to the placement). The MACP pathway leads to an additional qualification of membership to the MACP (additional fees to join the MACP apply after successfully completing the course). The placement module facilitates the consolidation and application of university-based learning to the clinical setting and allows for fully authentic development of advanced level clinical practice in MSK Physiotherapy in the workplace.
You will learn from our experienced teaching team in the state-of-the-art Alison Gingell Building which provide a stimulating learning environment for healthcare professionals.
Three awards are offered on the programme: MSc Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (180 credits); PgDip Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (120 credits); PgCert Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (60 credits), and you can apply for any one of these awards. To achieve the necessary number of credits for each award, you must achieve 40% pass mark for all modules contributing to the award.
Two pathways are offered on the MSc course: the MACP pathway (HLST246) and non-MACP pathway (HLST247). You are required to choose which pathway they will undertake at the outset of the course. Each pathway consists of one additional mandatory module: Evidenced Based Practice or Clinical Practice in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
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Musculoskeletal Management for Advanced Practice (MMAP) - 20 credits
This clinically focused module is designed to build on and further develop your existing knowledge, skills and clinical experience ready for advanced practice roles where the focus is on the provision of high-quality care in the diagnosis and management of individuals with MSK disorders and on MSK health promotion. You will specifically focus on developing the breadth and depth of assessment skills necessary to confidently and competently screen and assess individuals presenting with MSK disorders and to place them on an appropriate care pathway. The module aims to enable you to become a practitioner who is an evidence-informed critical thinker, complex problem solver and effective decision maker in all areas of your clinical practice. Service users and specialist guest lecturers are involved in the module delivery providing the opportunities for you to apply new theoretical knowledge to practice and further assisting the development of advanced practical skills.
Compulsory
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Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Practice (SMP) - 20 credits
This clinically focused module is designed to build on and further develop your existing knowledge, skills and clinical experience ready for specialist and advanced practice roles where the focus is on the provision of high-quality care in the management of individuals with MSK disorders and on MSK health promotion.
The university-based module will specifically focus on developing the specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapy skills you will need to safely, effectively and expertly manage individuals presenting with MSK conditions. Patient-centred management will be explored using a critical, clinically reasoned approach underpinned by evidence informed practice. This approach will encourage you to develop sound, effective and reasoned clinical practice.
Compulsory
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Advanced Physiotherapy Practice (MSK) - 20 credits
This module provides the education, knowledge, skills and competencies you will need to enable you to develop the level of practice required as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner (APP) to work safely, effectively and legally within your scope of practice. In the module you will explore the clinical, educational and leadership pillars of advanced clinical practice. Diagnostics (x-rays, MRI scans and blood tests), systems screening, pharmacology, outcome measures, role governance, clinical audit and change management will all be explored through university-based lectures, case scenarios, presentations, case reports and interactive seminars allowing you to develop the principles and practice and to apply these to your own specialist clinical setting.
Compulsory
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A Clinical Approach to Pain for Health Professionals - 10 credits
The module challenges and extends your knowledge, skills and capabilities to an advanced level in the effective management of individuals with MSK conditions presenting with acute, persistent or complex pain. Throughout the module you will explore the current evidence base and theories of pain physiology and neuroscience and how this can be applied to clinical practice.
Compulsory
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Developing Expertise in Professional Practice - credits
This module aims to give you an understanding of the nature of expertise as a multifaceted concept. The characteristics of expertise will be explored in the context of physiotherapy professional practice and the development of expertise in individual practitioners and their profession will be debated. You will be able to consider your personal journey to expertise along the novice - expert continuum and gain an understanding of your future needs in relation to your continuing development of professional practice. The development of reflective skills and understanding of clinical reasoning theories is designed to aid your development of practice skills. A variety of theoretical perspectives relating to expertise will be used which can then be applied to understanding the development of contemporary therapy practice in both practice and organizational context.
Compulsory
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Leading Diverse Workforces (CMI module) - 10 credits
This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to effectively lead and develop people in a strategically diverse and inclusive way whatever your master’s degree. You will explore for example, the influence and impact of leadership theories, culture, wellbeing, and approaches to developing better equality, diversity and inclusion strategies and practices that can be used creatively within a leadership role in different types of organisational scenarios.
Ultimately, you will be given the opportunity to develop strategic priorities for leadership, equality, diversity and inclusion. Finally, the module requires you to reflect critically on your personal learning and development needs and how you work with others, from an ethical and professional standpoint to encourage your continuing professional development.
Compulsory
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Applied Research for Advanced Musculoskeletal Practice - 40 credits
This module provides the education, knowledge, skills and competencies you will need to enable you to develop the level of practice required as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner (APP) to work safely, effectively and legally within your scope of practice. In the module you will explore the clinical, educational and leadership pillars of advanced clinical practice. Diagnostics (x-rays, MRI scans and blood tests), systems screening, pharmacology, outcome measures, role governance, clinical audit and change management will all be explored through university-based lectures, case scenarios, presentations, case reports and interactive seminars allowing you to develop the principles and practice and to apply these to your own specialist clinical setting.
Compulsory
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Research Methodology, Design and Methods - 20 credits
This module aims to provide an overview of the key approaches to designing practice-based healthcare research. It will consider the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of research and critically appraise different design and methodological approaches utilised in health, social sciences and their related fields of practice. The module will develop your ability to prepare a detailed research proposal relevant to your field of academic study, area of professional practice, or service improvement area. The importance of ethical, social, legal, political and economic aspects of research studies will be considered.
One of the following:
Evidence Based Practice (Non-MACP pathway only) - 20 credits
This module is designed to examine the theoretical and philosophical basis of evidence-based practice (EBP) and to explore the practical implications involved in achieving evidence-based practice in a health and social care setting. The module aims to build your understanding of how the complex concept of EBP is applied in the reality of practice and to provide opportunities for you to develop a thorough understanding of the process of EBP and to apply EBP principles to your specific (national or international) practice context.
OR
Clinical Practice in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (MACP pathway only) - 20 credits
This module consists of a clinical placement in a workplace environment under the supervision of a clinical mentor who is a member of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP). This placement can be sourced for you by the university or, if suitable, it may be possible to use your existing workplace (subject to the Course Director’s approval). Such placement may also be subject to additional costs such as transport or accommodation depending on location of placement. The minimum requirement is of 150 hours of supervised clinical practice in order to fulfil the standards set out by the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT) and the MACP.
The module will facilitate the consolidation and application of your university-based learning to the clinical setting and allows for fully authentic development of advanced level clinical practice in MSK Physiotherapy in the workplace. You will have the ability to work in a variety of clinical settings and will consider a variety of clinical problems that will enable you to attain breadth and depth of knowledge and a high level of skills in clinical reasoning and patient management. The module will assist in development of your expertise as an individual advanced practitioner and within your role in your own working environment.
Compulsory
