Changing funding arrangements for physiotherapy education in England - with a particular focus on practice education Dr. Sally Gosling CSP Practice & Development – Assistant Director

CSP Council-agreed position (Dec.2015) CSP Council recognises the opportunity to grow the physiotherapy profession afforded by the planned shift to the tuition fee/student loan model in England. Through working with others, we are strongly committed to safeguarding the following across the UK: Entry to the profession from all parts of society Supply to the profession to deliver high-quality patient care The quality of education, including practice-based learning as a key part of students’ learning experience.

Key issues to address and risks to mitigate Current: Workforce commissioning and investment decisions - addressing the shortfalls in physiotherapy workforce supply; optimising physiotherapy’s potential as a workforce solution; ensuring security of workforce supply, including during transition Under new arrangements: Student finance/graduate employment arrangements that promote and enable entry to the profession from all parts of society Upholding education quality – including practice-based learning capacity to sustain quality and increase workforce supply

Progression since the comprehensive spending review (CSR) DH consultation exercise (April – June) First-stage DH response (July) Second-stage DH response (due in the autumn) Allocation of funding to HEFCE to enable transition to new arrangements in 2017/18 Reference to healthcare subjects in guidance to HEIs re. access agreements

What we know now – positive elements of the DH consultation response Student support: Recognition of the particular demands of practice education Recognition of the nature of postgraduate pre-reg. programmes Confirmation healthcare students studying for a second undergraduate degree will be eligible for a second student loan Confirmation of interim support for part-time students in 2017/18 Additional financial support for students with dependants Wider issues: Strong emphasis on the importance of monitoring and evaluating the impact of the new arrangements Recognition of the value of achieving consistency in funding arrangements across different professional groups

Less positive/uncertain elements of the consultation response Little focus on achieving/accountability for 10k student increase by 2020 NHS-funded Master’s places for 2017/18 to be capped at 2016/17 levels Clarity on arrangements for pre-registration Master’s places for 2018/19 due to be in second-stage response in the autumn HEE to be responsible for ‘placement commissioning’ for 2017/18, but lack of clarity re. how HEE will ensure ‘the minimum number of placements’ Lack of clarity re. practice education tariff arrangements from 2018/19 Stakeholder events now running in the autumn; clarity due in second-stage response

Outside the scope of the DH consultation and response How HEFCE funding arrangements will work/how funding will be allocated (focus of costing exercise) The potential impact of/interface of funding changes with the apprenticeship agenda Broader ‘systems architecture’ issues – e.g. the impact for physiotherapy education of the teaching excellence framework (TEF) and future research excellence framework exercises (REF) The publication of guidance on 2016/17 practice education tariff arrangements - 2% reduction, but emphasis on funding following students onto placements in any sector/setting

Emergent focuses Ensuring a safe transition – 2017/18 as an interim year Engaging with new funding arrangements - costing exercise for programme delivery/consideration of strategic investment funding for healthcare education Taking account of broader context – e.g. apprenticeships, university sector developments, institutional strategies/plans, cross-border issues, HCPC standards update, referendum outcome, other country-specific developments Managing uncertainty and optimising opportunities – including to safeguard student recruitment, education quality and workforce supply

Entry to the profession Promoting - Up-to-date image - Career development opportunities - To key audiences at key points Widening participation/ promoting social mobility Promoting physiotherapy as a career Fair student finance arrangements Difference modes of entry? Engaging with HEI-wide initiatives Understanding the impact/trends relating to tuition fees and emergent risks and issues Reflecting the costs / patterns of study of physiotherapy students Part-time routes? Fewer postgraduate routes? Degree-level apprenticeships? ‘Added value’ routes?

Managing education relevance, quality and capacity CSP quality assurance & enhancement role – optimising value, currency and Influence Changing HEI context Increasing competition Research [REF] Learning & teaching [TEF] Business/strategic plans Optimising responsiveness to changing need Positioning within HEIs Resourcing New providers/ provision Practice education Quality Sufficiency Diversity HEIs Practice education Students More providers? Alternative providers? Different types of provision? Changing population & patient needs New models of care Changing workforce requirements

Workforce supply Addressing the current shortfall in workforce numbers Minimising volatility Realistic timelines for applicants/programme providers Addressing the current shortfall in workforce numbers Ensuring a safe transition Moderating market forces ‘Pipeline’ challenges? Upholding quality, including through regulatory requirements/ CSP expectations Changes to programmes, including length? Aligning supply with demand Apprenticeship agenda

Practice education as a specific focus How can we develop and use CSP messages to Achieve member and organisational engagement in educating future members of the profession/workforce? Support collaboration/enact shared solutions across the membership Ensure practice education is seen and valued as everyone’s business?