Physiotherapist Zoe Oram (pictured left) has heaped praise on an innovative University of Winchester (UoW) course that enabled her to qualify as a practice educator. She was part of the second cohort of health professionals to receive a Post Graduate Certificate in Practice Education. 

Zoe presented an academic poster, titled ‘Developing Inclusive AHP Supervision to Enliven Belonging’ and pictured on the right, which received a runner’s-up prize at a recent celebratory event at the university’s West Downs Centre. 

Zoe said: ‘The [Practice Education] course has advanced my educational knowledge and inspired me to change practice for all of our workplace learners to ensure that we are providing a safe, inclusive and contemporary learning environment.’

She added: ‘This was a fantastic event showcasing everyone’s hard work through their project posters. It was a real honour to win a prize and receive formal recognition for the work completed.’ 

Zoe is the physiotherapy lead for elective orthopaedics and AHP education lead at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, where she is also 
AHP workforce development lead.

Flexible approach

The university’s year-long, online course was introduced in 2022. It attracts nurses, midwives, social workers and allied health professions seeking to gain a qualification as a practice educator. 

Every student following physiotherapy, nursing, nutrition and dietetics, social work and occupational therapy courses at the University of Winchester are sent on work placements, supervised by practice educators. The programme is delivered flexibly, with significant opportunities for on-the-job learning.

Vanessa Mason from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust picked up the first prize in the poster event and a second runner-up was Hannah Brown, who like Zoe, is based at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

The course has advanced my educational knowledge and inspired me to change practice for all of our workplace learners to ensure that we are providing a safe, inclusive and contemporary learning environment [Zoe Oram]

Five speakers

Before being given a chance to view the posters and network, the cohort was welcomed by Professor Sarah Greer, the university’s vice-chancellor.

They also heard short talks from Susanna Preedy, deputy director of AHPs at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Juliet Borwell, a clinical education and practice learning senior specialist, Workforce, Training and Education Directorate, NHSE South East, and from Sue Taplin, a lecturer in social work at the University of Winchester.

The talks were rounded off by UoW alumna Clementina Phiri, a learning environment facilitator at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.