Ulster University, working in partnership with lead partner, the Northern Trust in the Thrive Sperrins initiative, St Colm’s High School and the Workspace Group, enabled three final year students to undertake a unique placement within a mainstream school setting, demonstrating the value of collaborative approaches to supporting young people’s participation and wellbeing.
The placement forms part of the University’s practice-based learning in role-emerging settings module, where students work in environments without an existing occupational therapy service.
The initiative allows students to identify needs, develop interventions and support pupils and staff while gaining valuable real-world experience.
Over the course of the placement, students worked closely with teachers and pupils to support participation in school life, promote independence and help address barriers to learning and engagement.
Clare McMonagle, Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at Ulster University and Role Emerging Placement Coordinator, said:
“This placement reflects the strength of the partnership between Ulster University and St Colm’s College demonstrating the value of the role emerging practice within occupational therapy. Over five weeks our students demonstrated a high level of professionalism, initiative and leadership in developing their role within the school setting, highlighting the significant contribution occupational therapy can make. I am extremely proud of their achievements and sincerely grateful to the staff and pupils for their support and collaboration.”
The role-emerging placement is a core element of the undergraduate programme and has been running for many years, with students completing placements in schools, charities, community organisations and international settings. The experience encourages autonomous, self-directed learning and supports students’ professional development as they prepare to enter practice.
Mairead Gribbon, Principal Occupational Therapist for Mental Health at the Northern Trust, said:
“This pilot has demonstrated how important and beneficial it can be when we bring our expertise out into the community and provide support closer to home. It’s about helping people thrive in their everyday environment. Having Occupational Therapy students in secondary schools is so valuable because it is a stage where habits, identities and coping strategies are forming. The feedback from the school and pupils has been tremendous.”
Ryan Greene, final year Occupational Therapy student, said:
“Being based in St Colm’s has given us the opportunity to see first-hand how occupational therapy can support young people in a school environment. We’ve worked with pupils and staff to identify practical ways to improve participation, confidence and independence, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact over such a short period.”
Staff at St Colm’s welcomed the collaboration, highlighting the benefit of introducing occupational therapy approaches within the school and the value of partnership working with Ulster University.
Sinead McAllister, Principal at St Colm's High School, said:
"We've been extremely lucky to have had the three OTs in the school, and I think they've virtually shadowed all our students, and the impact has been phenomenal.
"Just making small adjustments in the classroom and around their learning, I can see how students are now able to talk very eloquently about their feelings and it has really built up their confidence."
The students completed the placement as part of their final year training, equipping them with the skills and experience to support individuals, families and communities across a range of health, education and social care settings.
