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The Physiotherapy subject area at Glasgow Caledonian University delivers a suite of innovative pre- and post-registration programmes, each designed to prepare graduates to deliver high quality, professional services in a range of health and workplace environments.

The learning and teaching approaches are tailored to meet the needs of the learners and all programmes are underpinned by current clinical practice and educational and professional research. Students are supported in their learning by an experienced staff team who are actively engaged in bringing a wide range of professional practice, educational and research activities into all programmes (from pre-registration to post-graduate CPD activity through a popular post-registration Master’s programme).

Areas of Excellence

  • Innovative teaching methods are used to assist and contextualise learning, for example problem solving activities with case material, clinical reasoning panels, blended learning, peer support, practice visits and input from expert practitioners from a variety of fields of contemporary physiotherapy, healthcare and health promotion practice. The programmes are designed to produce proactive graduates who can respond flexibly to different health problems and changing health needs through curricula that are linked to current national and international policies and strategies designed to improve the health of the population.
  • Excellent links with physiotherapists in practice – these links allow student access to up-to date clinical material and professional expertise within the university and practice settings. Structured support adapted for students at different stages of the programmes, e.g. ME-time (BSc Physiotherapy) supports the transition from student to graduate; designated support for international students (MSc Physiotherapy post-registration but principles extended to all programmes); Bridging programme for clinicians (with diploma/unclassified degrees) returning to study.
  • Research within the subject group is at the forefront of contemporary practice and has been influential in contributing to practice/service delivery and national policy (e.g. physical activity and sedentary behaviour; NHS core outcome measures for musculoskeletal practice; cardiac rehabilitation and cardiovascular care). Members of the subject team participate in and lead professional and research networks.

These include Allied Health Professions Research Network (West of Scotland facilitators); Scottish Board of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and Special Interest Groups:

Student engagement in Professional Body/Professional activities.

These activities provide a “bridge” between academic learning and social enterprise. All students are encouraged to participate and many activities continue to include lectures for CPD, arranging CPD support for unemployed graduates, and money-raising for charity.

Courses to Consider

The only programme of study in Scotland that enables Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) membership. This accreditation provides potential for increased employability (including international) based on potential reciprocal recognition via International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT).

Academic Staff

  • Brenda Bain (Lecturer)
  • Sharron Blumenthal (Senior Lecturer)
  • Janet Bonn (Lecturer)
  • Helen Brown (Senior Lecturer)
  • Dr Elaine Carruth (Lecturer)
  • Dr Sebastian Chastin (Senior Research Fellow)
  • Jane Finlay (Lecturer)
  • Fiona Gough (Senior Lecturer)
  • Dr Margaret Grant (Senior Lecturer)
  • Dr Heather Gray (Senior Lecturer)
  • Jane Green (Lecturer)
  • Dr Larissa Kempenaar (Lecturer)
  • Kay Keir (Senior Lecturer)
  • Elaine Lafferty (Lecturer)
  • Douglas Lauchlan (Senior Lecturer)
  • Tom McCarron (Lecturer)
  • Fiona Moffat (Lecturer)
  • Chris Seenan (Lecturer)
  • Dr Shiv Shanmugam (Lecturer)
  • Jennie Stewart (Lecturer)

Accreditation

Industry Links

  • Chartered Society of Physiotherapy: professional body for physiotherapy in UK. Many staff members undertake committee work, attend professional meetings and are members of special interest groups under the control of the organisation. In addition, several staff members are external examiners on programmes accredited by the professional body
  •  Placement partners: primarily NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Forth Valley; independent sector, professional football teams; Ministry of Defence – provide practice education placements for pre-registration students
  • Clinical specialists – involved in delivering aspects of programmes
  • Collaborations with NHS Education Scotland – most student placements are within the NHS. We collaborate closely with NES to ensure that the quality of clinical experience remains very high. Currently collaborating to investigate the implementation of novel learning experiences in contemporary placements
  • Scottish Institute of Sport/Physiofirst – expert input from practitioners and MACP members to Musculoskeletal Management module on MSc Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
  • Various patient groups, carers and charity organisations – these enhance programme delivery through engagement  with students
  • MACP – placement provision for Musculoskeletal Management Practice placements within traditional placements as well as non-traditional depending on employment of MACP mentor
  • National Sports Medicine Centre – partnership has developed where students can take courses in pitch-side first aid (NSFA certificate) – this has led to work experience and employment for students
  • Glasgow Sports Surgery Service (GSSS) – a group of orthopaedic surgeons who have an interest in sports surgery. The group regularly delivers education evenings/presentations and they assist the programmes by providing lectures. There is a portal on the GSSS website for student related material.
  • Dalhousie University, Canada – elective student exchanges
  • activPAL, McRoberts – companies which provide equipment facilitating activity research

Employability

  • All students on pre-registration programmes undertake a minimum of 25 weeks of practice placements in a wide range of work settings
  • Students on all programmes are exposed to clinical practice
  • Volunteering opportunities – students are sought after to provide support for sports teams, charity events, charity organisations (e.g. Revive, Robertson Trust)
  • MSc Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy is the only programme of study in Scotland that enables MACP membership. This accreditation provides potential for increased employability (including international) based on potential reciprocal recognition via IFOMPT

Global Networks

  • Key Countries: Canada, India, Middle East, Singapore
  • Ministry of Health Oman – teaching
  • Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, India – lecturing/marketing
  • Osaka University, Japan – lecturing
  • MOBEX (Mobility and Exercise Europe Network) – research
  • ICAMPAM (International Conference on Ambulatory Monitoring of Physical Activity and Movement) network – research
  • Society of Ambulatory Monitoring – research
  • Royal Statistical Society – research
  • International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity – research
  • Conference organisation/participation – International Conference on Ambulatory Monitoring of Physical Activity and Movement (2011); World Congress on Active Ageing 2012; International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT) – involved in a bid to host  IFOMPT Conference in 2016

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