Can I offer work experience in private practice?

The simple answer is yes, you can.

Applications for physiotherapy courses remain high, and potential physios may want work experience to decide if they want a career in the profession, and to learn more about what we do. 

Work experience will be predominately with school or college students. 

It’s important to link with the education provider who will arrange and administer the experience with you and the student.

If you are contacted by a student looking for independent work experience, you can organise this directly. You will be responsible for ensuring all risk assessments, including safeguarding governance, are in place.

Check that you understand what the learner hopes to achieve from the work experience, what you can offer, and that this aligns. 

You can only offer observational experience, and not supervised practical experiences. 

This is because the learner is not part of an accredited physiotherapy educational programme. 

You will need to gain informed consent from your patient and/ or their carer both for the learner to observe the session and for you to discuss it afterwards, and they may refuse without reason. 

The learner needs to understand the need for confidentiality and data protection, and the potential consequences if there is a breach. 

Your CSP PLI will cover you to take work experience students, subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.