From Student to Therapist: Being an NQP Rachel Eaglen City Hospitals Sunderland

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From Student to Therapist Being an NQPRachel
EaglenCity Hospitals Sunderland
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Content

• Applications and interviews
• Getting started
• NQP framework
• Supervision
• Hints and tips
• Questions

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Application Forms

• Make it fit the job description-use keywords from
  the person specification
• Why do you want THAT job, not ANY job!
• Use bullet points
• Emphasize any relevant experience outside of the
  course
• Photocopy it and keep it with the job description
• Think about being open minded.

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Interviews

• Each one can be different-ask beforehand. Do your
  homework!
• Prepare likely questions- e.g. strengths and
  weaknesses, clinical experience, what attracted
  you to the job, the type of assessment and
  intervention you may be doing.
• Be prepared to think wide e.g. you may be asked
  to consider a specific scenario, or
  Government/NHS policy, useful to have a broad
  overview and know buzz words.
• Prepare at least 3 or 4 questions for them
  beforehand. Find out about support available.

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Getting Started

• Induction-varies trust to trust.
• Admin systems
• Shadowing-within department and MDT
• Hours-flexi? fixed?
• Coffee/tea funds
• Mentor/peer support
• Desk space.
• Diary-ask for one on day one!
• Time management-what are the expectations?

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Supervision

• Monitoring, development and support
• Takes many forms-varies from trust to trust.
• 11, group, mentors, peer group, NQT SIG.
• Identify how you learn and what you need. Your
  supervisor will benefit from knowing how you work
  best.
• Keep a list of questions/issues to bring
• Discuss with your supervisor what you feel you
  need e.g. specific case? Caseload management?
• If you feel you need more, or a different type,
  ask!

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NQP framework

• Use it as working document
• Take it to supervision-some supervisors will ask
  for it, others wont, but keep on with it.
• Useful document to help guide your first
  year-provides good opportunities for shadowing
  etc.
• Transition tool-from student to therapist.
• Some competencies more difficult to meet than
  others-useful to discuss with peer group

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From studentto therapist

• Autonomous practitioner (but supervised!)
• Caseload management and prioritisation. Have to
  work within service framework.
• Complex cases and decision making
• Translating of theory into practice
• Different pace and intensity
• Time management-courses?
• Training/liaising/teaching component to role.
• You have a badge, a desk, and your name on the
  door (if youre lucky!)

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Working in teams

• You may work within many different teams
• Use different specialities and their knowledge,
  within SLT and the MDT.
• Be confident about your knowledge.
• Meetings and case conferences-gets easier!
• Knowing who does what role-appropriate referrals.

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The first few months
I should know this
What are they talking about?
We didnt cover this on the course
Whos that?
Will I ever be able to stay awake past 8 oclock
on a Friday?!
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Some tips

• Try to achieve a work/home balance
• Dont take work home with you!
• Make sure you make good use of clerical staff
• Plan your holidays well, youll appreciate them.
• Try not to take too much on initially, set
  manageable deadlines.
• You will develop and find your own therapeutic
  style.
• Be kind to yourself!

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The NQPs First Aid Kit!

An A-Z
A notebook
Chocolate (bulk!)
Tissues
Echinacea
Bottle of wine!
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Some final thoughts

• No two days are ever the same
• It gets easier!
• You meet fantastic people
• You will meet your challenges
• You get to see therapy through to its conclusion
• You make a difference to peoples lives

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Any questions?!
Thank you, and good luck!