Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The role of tutor posts across the Health and Social Care Professions (HSCP) is to support practice placements for HSCP students. These roles are generally at senior level and may be based in the health services or in the universities. Physiotherapy practice tutors are not in a specific academic or clinical career pathway, however, this does not preclude tutors from applying for career progression opportunities in either area.

The Chief HSCP officer had an initial meeting with the Chief Academic Officers in February 2024. The establishment of joint clinical academic posts was a topic of discussion, as well as the provision of clinical placements and a career structure for practice tutors across the health and social care professions. It is proposed that further meetings will occur to explore these areas of mutual interest and enable more detailed discussion, collaboration and support where relevant.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In 2006, the HSE HR Circular 004/2006 introduced an annual allowance of €250 for Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, and Dietitians who were in employments which cater for the clinical/practical training of undergraduate therapy students during their clinical placements. The payment was backdated to 2003 for staff who had been in situ in the interim period.

This payment was abolished to new entrants from the 1^st of February 2012, as a result of the DPER 2012 review of allowances across the entire civil and public service.

Anyone who had been in receipt of this allowance is still entitled to this payment. On the HSE salary scales, the payment is identified as ‘Co-ordination and Overseeing of Undergraduate Student Therapists during clinical placements’ and amounts to €274.67 at present.

The Chief HSCP officer had an initial meeting with the Chief Academic Officers in February 2024. The establishment of joint clinical academic posts was a topic of discussion, as well as the provision of clinical placements and a career structure for practice tutors across the health and social care professions. It is proposed that further meetings will occur to explore these areas of mutual interest and enable more detailed discussion, collaboration, and support where relevant.