Challenges and Advantages of Virtual Direct Observations in Practice Development Teams
Discover the journey of Practice Development Teams adapting to virtual direct observations amid the challenges of COVID-19. Explore the shifting dynamics, experiences, and feedback from students and service users, highlighting both the benefits and drawbacks of this new approach.
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Presentation Transcript
Direct Observations in the Virtual World Gillian McAuley; Sarah McCarthy, Tina O Reilly & Kathy Faulkner: Practice Development Team, Extern
Aug to Dec 2020 (A New Blended Approach) It s important to acknowledge the challenge of COVID. We faced recurrent lockdowns, uncertainty about PLOs and the changing language, what was face to face/ direct contact? A lot of our work had moved on line so Direct Observation had to follow. How would we best support students and ensure we were happy to stand over the outcome of our assessment?
January to May 2021: Things changed again! Could students complete their entire PLO on line? Surely not . By January 2021 technology was more familiar and we were more practiced in completing Direct Observation virtually. We were in full lockdown we had no choice . We do our best with what we ve got and that is what we do O Reilly 2021
What about Direct Observations? Face to Face (Kathy Faulkner) For some frontline services it was business as usual for direct observations except it wasn t. There were masks, PPE, social distancing, concerns about transmission Exclusively online (Tina O Reilly) For others there was no face to face contact with service users throughout the PLO. Some VS services were categorized as non-essential so everything had to be done virtually Blended online (Gillian McAuley) For most students there was a blend of both students working face to face with service users and the PT observing virtually.
Student survey completed in June 2021. Advantages of Virtual Direct Observations Remember it wasn t easy in the Before Times. Good experience virtually for student and service user Less intimidating for students More at ease than face to face Adaptable to the needs of service users and more fluid Increased accessibility and flexibility to meet service user need and preferences Less intrusive for service users
Student survey completed in June 2021. Disadvantages of Virtual Direct Observations Difficult to seek service user feedback Service user may feel judged Technical Difficulties PT role may be less clear to the Service User Can t gauge atmosphere in room No body language to assess
So where do we go from here? So what? What? We have adapted to embrace Virtual Direct Observations with good outcomes for service users and students. It s always been challenging on many levels. We have found many benefits from service user and student perspectives. What next? Let s continue to develop a more flexible approach to Direct Observation, blending the face to face and the virtual to support services users experience and student assessment.
