Manchester Post Basic Dysphagia Course

Click here to apply for a place on the Manchester Post Basic Dysphagia Course

Introduction

The course consists of:

1. a five day intensive Theoretical Week (held at a venue in Manchester)
2. a six month Supervisory Period (conducted at the student's normal place or work)
3. examinations (conducted at the student's normal place of work)

This structure enables students to demonstrate that they can apply the knowledge they acquire during this dysphagia training course ensuring that they are competent to practise.

Course Aims

1. To enable the clinician to assess, diagnose and manage dysphagic individuals independently.
2. To give an understanding of the normal swallow and its development.
3. To present an overview of the assessment of dysphagia in different client groups.
4. To give an introduction to videofluoroscopy.
5. To give an overview of the remediation of dysphagia.
6. To consider a range of formal and informal treatment strategies for dysphagic individuals.
7. To discuss a range of management issues.
8. To consider the role of other professionals in the management of dysphagia.
9. To consider psychosocial aspects of management.
10. To discuss ethical and legal issues relating to dysphagia policies and practice.
11. To brief participants on the practical component, assessments and examinations.

Pre-course Qualifications

1. The applicant should be a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, Nurse or other Healthcare Professional.
2. The applicant should have some basic knowledge, prior experience, or be working with appropriate client groups (e.g. adults, paediatric or ALD) with dysphagia.
3. The applicant should identify a suitably qualified Supervisor (or Supervisors) for the Supervisory Period of the course.
Applicants must arrange this themselves. We are unable to provide supervision or assist applicants in securing a Supervisor.
4. The applicant's Supervisor or manager must invigilate (or appoint an invigilator) on the Examination Day.
If you are unable to meet these criteria, please contact us to discuss your situation before applying.

Assessment

Following attendance at the Theoretical Week, students are required to:

1. Submit a Case Study of between 3,000 to 5,000 words pertaining to their case load, completed by the Examination Day.
2. Submit a Log of Hours by the Examination Day.
3. Submit a Supervisor’s Report by the Examination Day.
4. Undertake written examinations on the Examination Day.

Award

Students meeting ALL the following criteria will be awarded a Certificate of Completion of the Manchester Post Basic Dysphagia Course:

1. Attendance at the Theoretical Week
2. Submission of a Case Study of an acceptable standard
3. Submission of an adequate Log of Hours
4. Supervisor’s endorsement
5. Passing the written examinations

Theoretical Week

The Theoretical Week comprises five full consecutive days of interactive lectures, video presentations, practical workshops and facilitated discussion groups conducted by experienced dysphagia therapists and expert external speakers. It is held at a venue in Manchester.

Click here for a timetable of a typical Theoretical Week.

Supervisory Period

The Theoretical Week aims to deliver the theoretical component underpinning the Specialist Dysphagia Practitioner level identified by the Inter-professional Dysphagia Framework. Students require continued exposure and experience to clinical scenarios in the six month Supervisory Period in order to develop clinical competencies in their specific client group(s) to enable them to function at this level. The Supervisory Period is conducted at the student's normal place of work.

Students must identify an experienced dysphagia practitioner as their Supervisor prior to applying for the course. We are unable to provide supervision or assist applicants in securing a Supervisor.

The Supervisor should:

1. Have dysphagia as a recognised part of their caseload.
2. Have attended courses on dysphagia or acquired specialist expertise over time.
3. Normally maintain regular contact with a dysphagia caseload.
4. Be a registered member of a professional body or have appropriate insurance.

During the Supervisory Period, students must compile a Log of Hours and a Case Study and the Supervisor must compile a Supervisor’s Report.

Supervisor’s Report

The Supervisor is required to report on the student’s level of competence in the assessment and management of individuals with dysphagia and their level of clinical autonomy. The Supervisor’s Report must be submitted by the Examination Day.

The Supervisor may recommend that the Supervisory Period be extended in order for the student to reach clinical autonomy. Students should complete the other requirements of the course on time and agree a timescale for completion of the Supervisory Period with the Course Tutors.

Log of Hours

During the Six Month Supervisory Period, students must maintain a log of 72 hours reflecting their experience and learning outcomes. This should consist of:

1. 40 hours patient-centred face-to-face clinical work with access to the Supervisor and
2. 32 hours of dysphagia-related, but not patient-specific, reflective activity (e.g. literature, courses, meetings).

The Log of Hours must be completed by the Examination Day.

If the Log of Hours is not adequate and is unlikely to be completed by the Examination Day, the Supervisor must contact the Course Tutors, in writing. The letter must explain:

1. the exceptional reasons why the hours have not been completed;
2. the date by which the hours will be completed;
3. what new measures will be implemented to ensure supervisory hours will be completed.

Case Study

Students are required to submit a Case Study pertaining to the client group of their choice (Adult, Paediatric or ALD). It should outline their holistic assessment and management of the dysphagic individual, reflecting the practical application of their theoretical knowledge. The Case Study should be between 3,000 and 5,000 words and must be completed by the Examination Day. Further information on what is expected of the Case Study is given during the Theoretical Week.

Tutors will inform students whose Case Study is not of an adequate standard and agree a date by which the Case Study must be resubmitted.

Examination Day

The Examination Day is held six months after the Theoretical Week and consists of:

1. A two hour written examination paper
2. A one hour video observation examination paper

Students take the examinations at their normal place of work (or other suitable venue) under the supervision of an invigilator such as their Supervisor or manager (or someone appointed by their Supervisor or manager).

Examination deferments will not normally be allowed. Students should not arrange holidays to coincide with the Examination Day.

Two Hour Written Examination Paper

Students are required to sit a two hour written examination paper on the client group of their choice (Adult, Paediatric or ALD).

Click here to see example examination questions.

One Hour Video Observation Examination Paper

Students are required to sit a one hour written examination based on a video observation of a dysphagic individual eating and drinking. It is not a videofluoroscopy. Students will sit the examination on the client group of their choice (Adult, Paediatric or ALD). The video will be viewable on our website or can be sent on DVD.

External Examiner

A recognised dysphagia expert will be appointed External Examiner in order to regulate the course and verify and maintain marking standards. The External Examiner will review a cross-section of submitted Case Studies, review a cross-section of exam papers and prepare a written report on the course for RCSLT. The External Examiner will request feedback from students in order to inform their report to RCSLT.

Cancellation

As the number of students attending each course is restricted to optimise the quality of the course, the loss of a student’s fee can jeopardise the financial viability of the course. Should a student cancel prior to the commencement of the course, their fee will only be refunded if the organisers are able to arrange a replacement student who is able to pay the course fees prior to the commencement of the course.

A cancellation fee of £50 + VAT will be deducted from any refund to cover the cost of administering the applicant's application and cancellation.

Students should not assume that the existence of a waiting list means they will receive a refund of their fees if they cancel as it may not be possible for those on the waiting list to arrange finance at short notice. Obviously the sooner a student informs the organisers that they wish to cancel, the more likely that the organisers will be able to fill their place and hence issue a refund.

Students who commence, but do not complete, the course will not receive a refund. An Attendance Certificate will be issued if the student attended all five days of the Theoretical Week.

If the organisers cancel the course, for whatever reason, students will be entitled to a full refund of the course fees only. The organisers are not liable for any additional expenses that the students incur (such as travel, accommodation, etc).

Click here to apply for a place on the Manchester Post Basic Dysphagia Course

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