An audit of clinical placements

Clinical teaching of students is a requirement of the majority of practicing therapists in the UK and yet there is little guidance as to the nature of the placement which needs to be offered. As models of service delivery change, placements must change to prepare the student for working life whilst also meeting the need for solid foundation experiences. The audit reported here examined current placements including the physical setting, level of supervision provided and the responsibilities described by the professional body (Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists 1996) The results are discussed in the context of their implications for the educational establishment and the clinical teaching setting.