Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and Alzheimer Scotland: collaborative placements Joanna Beveridge, Professional Practice Tutor and Elaine Hunter, AHP Consultant, Alzheimer Scotland

Context Promoting Excellence: A framework for all health and social services staff working with people with dementia, their families and carers 2010 Scotland’s national Dementia Strategy Internship – Santander/ AS/ QMU Dementia Day – October 2013 Placements

What we did … 2 level 3 undergraduate OT students on full- time placement (8 weeks) in Alzheimer Scotland Resource Centre. Professional supervision provided by part- time Dementia Advisor who is also an OT Day-to-day mentoring provided by AS resource centre staff

Benefits Students designed and implemented a workshop on the use of occupation for volunteers Exposure to benefits of employment outside the statutory sector Promotion of self directed learning, clinical reasoning, resourcefulness and professional autonomy First placement of its kind for AS - students introduced the profession of OT (with support) to people with dementia and their carers

Issues for future placements Students felt they had less client contact than their peers Students benefited from peer assisted learning whilst having a part-time PE Good communication is key for all involved and students – we had good support from you and we will build on an infrastructure in AS. capture the learning e.g. DVD or other methods that we can explore. Evaluate impact on people with dementia

References The Scottish Government., Scotland’s national Dementia Strategy [online] Edinburgh: Scottish Government. [viewed 5 March 2014] Available from: ementia/DementiaStrategy ementia/DementiaStrategy1316 The Scottish Government., Promoting Excellence: A framework for all health and social services staff working with people with dementia, their families and carers [online] Edinburgh: Scottish Government. [viewed 5 March 2014] available from: