The KNOWBEST research project, which is being conducted by a team at the University of Hertfordshire for the CSP to understand and map the essential knowledge, skills and attributes now required of physiotherapy graduates, has launched – and they are calling all physios, students, service users and stakeholders to get involved.
The project has been funded by the CSP as it examines how pre-registration training for the profession can best prepare the physiotherapy workforce of the future – and how the Curriculum Framework for Physiotherapy Pre-registration Qualifying Programmes can be updated to ensure course providers enable graduates to develop these skills.
More specifically, the research will produce recommendations for the CSP’s accreditation guidance for qualifying programmes in physiotherapy which include practice-based learning requirements.
The project is being undertaken by a team led by Professor Karen Beeton and Dr Catherine Minns Lowe at the University of Hertfordshire.
How to get involved
The research is being undertaken in six stages over a period of six months, and has been designed to ensure a wide variety of individuals have the opportunity to contribute their views through a range of means at each stage.
During the first stage, which has just begun, the team will review the range of approaches to practice-based learning which are already utilized by course providers, including learning by simulation.
In the second stage, which is now open for contributions, the team are asking managers and newly-qualified staff to send them current job descriptions for these staff. The team will review these to map the behaviours, values, knowledge and skills required for contemporary physiotherapy practice.
Simultaneously, the team are also crowd-sourcing views from physios (from the NHS, independent and private sectors), students and service-users and are asking people to contribute their views through the project website.
There, interested individuals can share views, join discussions, take part in webinars, or volunteer for a focus group. More details can be found on the project’s online hub.
An opportunity to help shape the future physio workforce
Talking about the project, Reena Patel, CSP education adviser who is leading the CSP’s broader review of pre-registration qualifying programmes, said: 'This is an important opportunity for anyone with an interest in the physiotherapy profession to contribute to shaping the future physiotherapy workforce and the skills, knowledge and attributes which they should be equipped with pre-registration.
We’re particularly interested in views on the future of practice-based learning, including for example the requirement for 1000 hours of practice
'The research is also seeking input around what type of placements are suitable to develop workforce-ready physio staff, including views on what type of placements might be suitable, perspectives on simulation and other types of learning to develop this, too.
'We’re encouraging everyone with an interest to get involved, contribute and share with colleagues – every perspective is valuable and will have a real impact as we develop new standards for course-provider requirements in the future.'
More information on the KNOWBEST project and how to contribute can be found on the project website
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