What did you expect? Did you have any preconceived ideas about Leuchie?
Miko: Due to past placements I thought it would be acute care, where you managing peoples’ conditions, but guests here are not here for physio, physio is an extra. Usually, people seek us but this time we’re seeking them.
Niamh: Yeah they’re not having to find the time, energy and confidence to reach out. It’s a great opportunity for us to show them what we can provide. It’s more like a physio taster. Like it is with the enabling technology here.
Did anything surprise you about the place?
Miko: The grounds are really nice! It’s definitely not something I expected.
Niamh: In my head I thought the bedrooms were going to be more clinical, with multiple beds, and curtains between them like on a ward. Because a lot of guests require so much overnight care I expected it to be clinical but it’s more of a hotel vibe that can cater for people with additional needs. That really surprised me.
Miko: I was surprised that carers are allowed to stay as well.
Niamh: Yeah they’re allowed to have a holiday and a rest without having to leave their loved ones.
Miko: That could be a limiting factor for someone who wanted to come here but they don’t want to leave their loved ones. Carers are able to get respite without having to holiday alone. If there was one person you’d want to spend a holiday like this with, it would be with your loved one.
Niamh: Yeah, it’s not like you want a break from your loved one, it’s the break from the caring responsibilities and the work they have to do.
Were there any challenges? What were the highlights?
Miko: The travel.
Niamh: We’re exhausted because as students we don’t get paid but are working full time.
Niamh: I enjoy the flexible approach to physio here. It’s so much less structured, again it makes it feel less clinical. Usually it’s people having to book appointments, and that if they’re running late they miss it. And we’re not running around like headless chickens trying to fit everything in and not giving people good care. Here, when the time aligns we say ‘lets go and see who wants physio now’. You’re not rushing your care, and you’re able to give your full attention to the person you’re with and it’s on their terms, ‘What do YOU want to do?’
Miko: I guess the good thing as well is that when you’re working with inpatients in a hospital setting, for example, the end goal is always to be able to have someone well enough to the point that you can discharge them. Whereas here the goal is about making guests feel good and there’s always an end point in that we know guests are going home at the end of the holiday so we want to make their two weeks as enjoyable as we can for them whilst they’re here, instead of ticking boxes so you can open up a bed for someone else.
Niamh: It’s a much more person-centred approach than any other placement I’ve ever had.
Have you learnt something new? What is your takeaway from your placement here?
Niamh: I’ve learnt a lot about the caring side. I’ve learnt how it feels to be so responsible for the person in front of me. I’m used to rugby players who can come and seek us out easily, and who can tell us what they need. I’ve learnt so much about the importance of communication because not every guest here can communicate what they need and what they want, so it’s about getting to know a person and how to listen and relate to them.
How have you found the wider team at Leuchie?
Miko: Everyone is really supportive. I’ve never asked anyone anything for them to come back and say ‘that’s not my job’, even if they’re busy they’re kind enough to say ‘I’ve not got time at the moment but come and find me later’.
Niamh: I feel like I’m part of the team here. Sometimes at placement my educators have not involved us at lunchtime but here everyone is inclusive. You feel like you’re part of the team here not just the student to do the dirty work.
Any knowledge you’ve brought to the team and implemented here?
Miko: Yeah, as part of our placement one of the objectives is to use evidence based practice and implement it into the way we work here. We’ve felt free to be able to impart our up-to-date practice. Louise has really encouraged that.
Niamh: Again, that makes us feel like we’re not at the bottom of the pile and that we can also bring something to the table. We’ve also been able to help a nurse with back pain and one of the carers with knee pain which has been wonderful!
Miko: I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to come here.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Niamh: I think it’s a rare opportunity for students to get to see practices outwith the NHS where there is such a person-centred approach. As well as using an evidence-based approach it’s also about being informed by the team’s clinical experience and guest preference/experience so it’s about looking at the person in front of you; it works for them, it helps them, why would you not do it? And it’s really nice to be able to do something that you know is helping someone. We’ve been really lucky to get a placement that is none NHS and particularly somewhere so different like Leuchie. There really is nowhere like Leuchie is there?