Before you start

Before you start your course, make the most of learning that you can do in the workplace to help your prepare.

Find out about:

• HCPC and Student guidance on conduct and ethics

• Common pathologies that you may come across in your work for example Stroke, Osteoarthritis, Diabetes, Dementia, Cancer -how are they caused, common symptoms and how they are managed?

Talk to other professionals in your workplace:

• who might you come across in your normal role (or outside of this)?

• find out about their role and responsibilities

• how could you work collaboratively with them?

• Why is team working so important in health care?

Try to watch/ experience:

• Common procedures, assessments, interventions or treatments in your workplace- think about the Knowledge, skills and behaviours required to be able to carry these out.

Once you have completed a task in your workplace, try to reflect on the experience.

Think about:

• What you have learnt?

• Was it an example of good and bad practice?

• What professional skills did you learn or experience from others?

• How did the experience make you feel?

• What has it taught you about your own professional practice in the future?