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"Placements" - what thoughts does that word conjure up? I immediately go
back to arriving on my first ever placement. It was one of those old fashioned cottage
hospitals, due to close in a few years and the state of the accommodation reflected it.
The other physio student had been placed on a different floor to me and all the other
residents were already in their own little cliques. We found the kitchen but it appeared
that we were the only people who ever used it. Neither of us had been able to carry
kitchen equipment with us and for tea that night had baked beans, warmed up in a
microwave, eaten out of a glass. That night I sat in my dank, bare little room and
wondered why I hadn't done an engineering degree instead!! Of
course things improved, it helped to meet the staff and learn what was expected of us. We
found the local takeaway and the (very small) hospital canteen. The work kept you busy in
the evenings and although I never really got to meet anyone else apart from the other
student I managed to escape at the weekend and stay with a family friend who lived a few
miles away.
Everyone's experience of placement is different but most people I
have talked to have been nervous about going to a new place and would express some sense
of relief to find out that 'Aunt Marge' has a friend whose daughter lives nearby the town.
There is something about having a name and telephone on a piece of paper that makes you
realise that you not quite as stranded in the middle of Swanage as you thought you were.
UCCF have a contact network that students can inform if they
are going to a new town either due to a placement, a year out or as a graduate. This is
very useful for finding out about Churches or Christian Unions in the area. However CTN
would like to develop a specific link-up scheme for therapy students on placement. This is
part of achieving two of the aims of CTN;
- "to link together Christian Therapists throughout the
UK"
and
- "to link Christian therapist with therapy students".
What are the benefits of having a link Christian therapist?
- A name on a piece of paper- someone nearby whom knows that you exist.
- Having contact with someone who understands the world of hospitals,
difficult patients, supervisors and what it feels like when you ask someone to wiggle
their toes, forgetting they're a bilateral amputee.
- Most importantly it's a link with another part of the Christian
family. Someone who will pray for you and maybe with you, who can help you think through
what to do in an ethical dilemma and maybe introduce you to a church in the area.
Being one of the Link Christian Therapists:
There isn't a specific job description for a Christian Therapist. We are on the lookout
for any CTN member who would be prepared for their name and contact details to be
given to a student therapist (not necessarily the same discipline) coming to the area. You
would also be informed of the students name, when and where they are on placement and any
contact details (if known). It is then up to you what happens next. The student may
contact you but also feel free to make first contact. Take it from there - it may be that
the student is happy enough knowing that you are on the end of a phone or it may be that
you decide to meet up and have a meal together. Further suggestions of what you can do and
how to deal with some specific situations can be found in the CTN leaflet "Being a
Student Placement Contact." Request a copy from CTN.
To join the scheme:
THERAPISTS: Write to CTN and let them know that
you are happy for your details to be given to students on placement in your area. For safety reasons you will need to be a CTN member.
STUDENTS: When you know where your placement is then let us
know at the CTN address above or email placementcontact@CTN.org.uk.(Again for safety reasons this scheme is only available to TSCF members).
We will see if there is someone to link you with and send you their details. We will also
pass your details onto the link therapist. If there is no one in the area then we will
pass your details onto UCCF's "Contact the Network" scheme.
NB. You can also apply direct to "Contact the Network",
find out more by emailing email@uccf.org.uk.
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