Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and Inclusion in Physiotherapy Practical Skills Education
The educational programmes in the School of Allied Health Professions prepare students to practice in a wide range of healthcare and wellbeing settings.
Each programme equips students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours required to practice safely and effectively in a constantly changing healthcare environment. Programmes must also ensure students are prepared for professional practice which truly embraces and promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Students will learn both the theory and practice of their chosen profession and will be taught in both the university and the clinical/healthcare environment.
Practical skills will initially be taught in the classroom and students will both practise and personally experience the skills of the profession. Students are required to act as patient models both in the classroom and, where appropriate, in the clinical setting. Acting as a patient model is a valuable part of learning by offering the experience of healthcare from the perspective of a patient which will contribute to the students’ development in becoming an empathetic healthcare professional. Through classroom-based and practice-based settings students will experience a wide diversity of healthcare situations and environments in which their professional skills are developed for practice as a qualified, registered health professional.
The School recognises and understands that, for a variety of reasons, some students may find being a model or practising skills on fellow students and/or professional colleagues uncomfortable. Please be assured that the School is committed to provide an inclusive environment for all students to thrive and as such provides screens in practical teaching sessions, promotes the use of pronouns, plans assessments in cognisance of holy days and offers the adaptation of dress, where possible, to maintain modesty and dignity requirements of religious (or other) dress codes. A culturally and ethnically diverse student body will enhance understanding of, and healthcare provision for, the diverse communities that they will serve, as such, we welcome the opportunity to work with you to find culturally competent and/or sensitive solutions for you. For any questions or concerns you may have about practical skills education, please do contact the school at your earliest opportunity to discuss with a member of academic staff (Primary contacts: Dr Claire Stapleton, c.stapleton@keele.ac.uk, (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Lead) for all aspects of equality, except disability, where Dr Dale Cooper, d.cooper1@keele.ac.uk (Disability Liaison Officer) should be contacted).
The School of Allied Health Professions is committed to ensuring its graduates are fully prepared for practice across the widest range of healthcare situations and settings and that they are also able to embrace, reflect and influence the values and behaviours required to promote inclusive cultures and diversity.