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Introduction Want to study physiotherapy at a UK university but not sure how to stand out in your personal statement and admissions interviews? If you're preparing to apply for physiotherapy degrees, we're here to help with tips for physiotherapy applicants from a physiotherapist. Shadowing & Work Experience - Why is it Important? One of the most common reasons applicants aren't offered interviews is because of a lack of shadowing or work experience. To demonstrate some understanding of the profession and healthcare environment, physiotherapy university applicants are required to complete relevant work experience or shadowing. Why? Physio involves many specialisms, whilst some areas are clinic or sports based, many in contrast to this are medical based. (Check out our short below for an insight into some of the specialisms out there). Universities want to give places to students who are prepared for the realities of the degree and the 1,000 hours minimum of practical placements they'll need to complete. Working in medical and healthcare environments isn't for everyone but it is a requirement of all physiotherapy students to work across a variety of specialisms to qualify as a physiotherapist. This is especially relevant to remember for students who already know where they wish to directly specialise, e.g. into sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapy (MSK), as you won't be able to complete all your placements in one physio specialism. Physiotherapist is a protected job title and an accredited physiotherapy degree is required to practice using this title, there are no alternative qualifications available to achieve this registration . The traditional core areas of physiotherapy that you will definitely study are MSK (musculoskeletal) physiotherapy, neurological physiotherapy and cardiorespiratory physiotherapy, students will usually cover these three areas on practical placements and most definitely in their exams. UK universities partner with many providers of practical placements for physio students, some are very niche and unique. If you spend time shadowing a physio ask them about their physio placements to learn more. Shadowing & Work Experience - Book it Early Opportunities for work experience and shadowing vary in different areas and there may be competition for limited spaces, especially in hospitals. To avoid missing out arrange this sooner rather than later to increase your chances of securing something when there is less demand. It can be beneficial to arrange and possibly complete your shadowing in the first year of your A-levels, when you first start your Access course, or the year before you apply for university. This also provides extra time for you to potentially complete more than one type of experience if you'd prefer. Shadowing & Work Experience - What Type? Most hospital websites provide details on the work experience programs they offer and how to apply. Get researching early if you can, as there are usually set deadlines once or a few times a year to apply. Other great opportunities to consider include private physios, community hospitals and specialist rehabilitation/support units (neurological, learning disabilities etc). Some care homes, sports teams and privately run schools are also supported by physiotherapists. Reflect on your Work Experience or Shadowing in your Personal Statement Whilst a lot of emphasis is placed on shadowing experience, do not rely purely on shadowing to get you through the application process. Studying physiotherapy requires the ability to reflect and learn from your experience. Demonstrating this in your personal statement will show you already possess some physio qualities. A favourite at our university was The Gibbs' Reflective Cycle. If you're trying to keep things concise include what you did, explain what you learnt and how it would assist you in your future physio career. Getting in the habit of reflecting early on will definitely be beneficial when you're at interview stage. Many universities will ask you at the end of your interview to write a quick reflection about how you think you performed. Pre-learning - Anatomy Some but not all universities have a basic anatomy entrance test, but it's worth investing in learning the basics before starting university. You'll need to know it for your degree studies. We'd recommend learning the names and locations of the bones, muscles and organs of the body and the anatomical movements, for a good foundation. The great news is, there are numerous paid and free options for anatomy studies to suit all learning styles. Check out our Anatomy & Physiology Revision page for some recommended resources, site and products. If you've got the time and have done well building a good foundation of knowledge, further your learning by studying basic physiology, anatomy and functions of the central nervous system or origins and insertions of the muscles. Pre-learning - NHS, CSP & HCPC Ensure you've got some essential background knowledge for university interviews regarding the NHS (National Health Service), CSP (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy) and the HCPC (Health Care Professionals Council) as these are popular interview topics: NHS - Currently the largest employer of qualified UK physiotherapists, all student physiotherapists will have some NHS placements as part of their degree. Aim for a brief understanding of the history of the NHS, the NHS long term plan, the NHS constitution and NHS values (reflect on how they relate to you). Don't worry about getting too bogged down in the finer details or try to remember everything, it's more about demonstrating an awareness. Note: NHS Wales and Scotland have some differing policies and approaches compared to NHS England, make sure you research as necessary. CSP - The CSP is a membership body for qualified physios, physio students and physio support physio workers. The society accredits physiotherapy degrees, ensuring taught programmes meet the standards required to use the protected title of Physiotherapist. Memberships provide liability insurance and other benefits. There are various networks and branches based on specialisms and locality and access to courses and news via the website. HCPC - The HCPC sets the standards and approves the programmes for many health and care professionals in the UK, including physiotherapists. To legally use the title of Physiotherapist, you must have passed a physiotherapy degree and applied to the HCPC to declare you meet the Standards of Proficiency and you'll be added to the register. This register is accessible to the public and you can look up any registered physiotherapist on it. Every two years, qualified physiotherapists must reregister by declaring that they still meet the standards of proficiency and they will remain on the register. To ensure they remain current and up-to-date, physios complete and record CPD (continuing professional development) which the HCPC may request to audit whilst they are on the register. Whilst you won't need to memorise the Standards of Proficiency it is worth looking through it to get an idea of what the standards are so you can demonstrate an awareness in interviews. Pre-learning - Physiotherapy Specialisms and Work Environments Physios are required to carry out 1,000 hours minimum of practical placements as part of their degree and universities will assign student placements to ensure a range of experience is gained. Physios can be found in acute hospitals and community hospitals and in some care homes, sports centres, doctors surgeries, private schools, specialist schools, military establishments, research departments and educational roles and more! Specialisms include musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiorespiratory, orthopaedics, elderly, medical, palliative, mental health, sports rehabilitation, Women's health, paediatrics and even more! Prepare yourself by researching physio jobs and working environments in your local area or around your chosen universities. Demonstrating this awareness in your personal statement and interview will highlight to admissions staff that you have an understanding what a physiotherapy career looks like, rather than just an understanding of one or two of the more well known roles. Pre-learning - Complete some Physio Webinars (if you get chance) If you get the chance between revision (and everything else), it can be a useful insight into the world of physio to check out a webinar or two. Many sites offer free short webinars, check out our Physioing's directory of resources organised by specialism to see what sort of specialisms you may encounter on a physiotherapy degree and some of the resource providers. The advantage of looking at this sort of material early is you'll start to see how anatomy and physiology terminology is used and get an insight into how evidence based practice and clinical reasoning are applied. If you do any of this type of pre-learning, mention it in your personal statement and at interviews. This can be a real conversation starter at interviews if you've already started looking into this type of material. Follow Physios & Physio Related Organisations on Social Media Keep up-to-date with physio news and views, get an idea of typical days, routines, specialisms and types of work by following physios and physio related organisations on social media. Many physio students are also active on social media documenting their typical days, placements and revision techniques. Lots of physios post about new research papers, techniques and even exam tips. Try to follow a mix of creators across the specialisms to give you an idea of the breadth of physio roles. Complementary Skills - People Skills, Leadership, Empathy, Organisation, Timekeeping... Physiotherapy is a demanding but rewarding career, involving social skills, empathy, people management, leadership, the ability to advocate for people, organisation and timekeeping skills, just to name a few! Think about the attributes and abilities required for the role and how you may already fit these requirements or have relevant experience and refer to these in your personal statement with examples (this fits into question one and three of the personal statement). For further insight into requirements of specific roles check out NHS jobs and look through the person specifications. Start Practising for Interview Questions Now Start practising for interviews early, whether it's with friends, family, pets, talking to yourself or simply running through answers in your head. The more practised you are, the more likely you'll be able to blurt out cohesive answers if you start to feel nervous at the real thing. As a starting point Studential have a physiotherapy question bank and The Student Room includes forums for physio applicants. Make sure you do your own research as interviews can be group based, mini interview stations, individual chats, etc it's the unis choice. Whilst some universities will openly publish information on what format and materials their interviews will be based on, others universities may provide minimal details and leave the format a surprise. It's worth doing your research to see what you can find out but don't be concerned if you can't find out much about some unis. If you're well practised the format of the interview won't be a distraction. UCAS Personal Statements - Don't Overthink Where to Include Things in the 3 Question UCAS designed the three question, personal statement format to make it easier for applicants across all qualifications to prepare a personal statement. With this is mind don't stress too much about the specifics of what examples and information to put where. UCAS themselves have even said 'there's no right or wrong section to include something in'. Aim for a personal statement that is individual to you (not generic), what makes you a future physio and why and get some of that enthusiasm, passion and understanding across to the admissions teams! In Conclusion... Universities are looking for potential students with enthusiasm, a genuine interest in the subject and the ability to demonstrate an understanding of physio roles, regulatory bodies and working environments. Follow our helpful tips to support you with material for your personal statement and interviews, hopefully setting you up for success: Shadowing and Work Experience - Book it Early What Type of Shadowing or Work Experience Reflect on your Work Experience or Shadowing Pre-learning - Anatomy Pre-learning - NHS, CSP & HCPC Pre-learning - Physiotherapy Specialisms and Work Environments Pre-learning - Complete some Physio Webinars (if you get chance) Follow Physios & Physio Related Organisations on Social Media Complementary Skills - People Skills, Leadership, Empathy, Organisation, Timekeeping Start Practising for Interview Questions Now UCAS Personal Statements - Don't Overthink Where to Include Things in the 3 Question Format Best of luck with your physiotherapy degree applications. Promotions & Affiliations: Please note whilst it is free to appear in the directory, this site includes some promoted products, services & sponsored articles which are clearly labelled. As an Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases. *Details and information relevant at date published. Useful Links from Article (listed in order of appearance): https://reflection.ed.ac.uk/reflectors-toolkit/reflecting-on-experience/gibbs-reflective-cycle https://www.physioing.co.uk/directory/anatomy-physiology-physio-revision https://history.blog.gov.uk/2023/07/13/the-founding-of-the-nhs-75-years-on/ https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/projects/governments-long-term-plan-health-and-care https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england/the-nhs-constitution-for-england https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/working-health/working-nhs/nhs-constitution https://www.csp.org.uk/about-csp https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/standards-of-proficiency/physiotherapists/ https://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/ https://www.csp.org.uk/professional-clinical/cpd-education/cpd-advice https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/standards-of-proficiency/physiotherapists/ https://www.physioing.co.uk/directory/specialisms https://www.studential.com/university/applying/UCAS-application-guide/interviews/physiotherapy-questions https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=1185 https://www.ucas.com/advisers/help-and-training/toolkits/personal-statement-toolkit#what-are-students-expected-to-include-in-their-answers

As physio practice educators, we want our physio students to do their best on clinical placements. However, there's so much knowledge and what seems like so little time to pass it on! Interestingly, we often see the same mistakes around preparation, timekeeping, lack of understanding of the setting and unfamiliarity with the clinical environment. If you're looking to avoid some common pitfalls, you've come to the right place. Preparation Common mistakes: Forgotten pens, paper, textbooks, uniform, etc. Unfamiliar with CPAF. Forgetting to book assessments & tutorials. Incomplete goals, reflections & presentations. Not researching or applying research. Not asking for feedback. Not utilising down time effectively. Don't Forget your Pen, Badge, Notebook etc - You don't want to be remembered as the 'student who always forgot their pen'! A little bit of prep goes a long way towards how you come across to the rest of the team. There will be a lot of things to remember, so a small notebook in a pocket can be a lifesaver to jot things down. Remember not to write any patient or workplace sensitive information in it. Find out if there's anything specific you need like a stethoscope, or hydrotherapy kit and pack your bag the night before. If you've got room in your bag for a few pocketbook sized reference books, many students find these useful to refer to with questions and for studying if you've got any downtime. Familiarise Yourself with the CPAF (Common Placement Assessment Form) - Once you're on your placement it can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine, however, achieving some of the learning domains on the CPAF might require some special preparation and planning on your part. If you have time before starting placement, familiarise yourself with the CPAF learning domains and once you've started placement, think about how each domain can be achieved in the setting. With this approach you're more likely to be looking out for and creating opportunities to achieve the more obscure learning objectives earlier in your placement and avoid running out of time nearer the end. Organise Assessments & Tutor Meetings Early - Get your halfway, final assessments and tutor meetings booked in the calendar early on before everyone gets too booked up. You'll benefit from having a clear idea of how long you've got before receiving your halfway and final marks. Surprisingly it's quite a common on busy placements for everyone to get stuck in and for halfway assessments to be forgotten and left until later in the placement. Unfortunately, this leaves minimal time to improve your performance and marks between the halfway and final assessment. Set Relevant Goals in the First Few Days - Have a think about potential goals before you start the placement and in the first couple of days. This is also an area where if it's left too late, this can leave you short of time and result in missed opportunities to achieve higher marks. Make sure you follow your universities teachings on effective goal setting and ensure its relevant to the placement setting. Write Regular Reflections - Help boost your marks and help your educators to get to know you by sharing regular reflections. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but getting these insights will help your educator tailor your learning experiences and help you zone in on areas you may want to focus on. A common mistake is to produce a few reflections and not act on what you have observed, or to produce regular reflections but not share them with your educators. For higher marks, we're looking for regular reflections, where it is clear to us that you've learnt from your observations and adapted your practice accordingly. Most universities have their preferred reflection models and the CPAF includes some reflection templates. Produce a Quality Presentation - Although it's not everyone's favourite part of placement, always assume you'll be doing a presentation. Even if you have a relaxed setting that isn't too worried about a presentation, challenge yourself to do one. There are multiple benefits to this approach, firstly this is a good way to get used to presenting to smaller groups of people that you don't know well. Most workplaces run in service training, so presenting is often part of many physiotherapists' roles. Also, many physiotherapy interviews include a presentation element (especially from Band 6 level), so it's good practice for the future. Secondly, a well-researched and evidenced presentation is an ideal way to meet many of the learning domains, don't forget to email a copy to your educators and include your references. On the other hand, this is also a common area where students loose marks. If a placement is expecting a presentation and it's obvious it's been left to the last minute, your marks will reflect this. If you're feeling particularly nervous or anxious, it can help to include interactive elements such as quizzes, getting everyone out of their seats demonstrating exercises, or provide handouts so everyone is looking at those instead of you! Apply Research - Another learning domain where students miss potential marks is forgetting to either carry out meaningful research or forgetting to share research and observations with their educators. Unfortunately, we can't give marks for anything we haven't seen or heard, even if you have been researching. As noted earlier, apart from a well evidenced presentation with referenced slides, support your evidence-based practice with research on a treatment method you have selected or researching common or rare conditions you have seen. Don't forget to send us emails of papers and articles and mention in your clinical reasoning any supporting research so it's evidenced and we can award you the marks. Your university will have provided you with electronic access to online journals and research, if you require additional materials the Physioing directory lists a variety of physio resources organised between specialism and treatment style. Ask for Feedback - Yes it can be awkward, but it's a requirement of the CPAF to not only obtain feedback but demonstrate you've reflected upon it and improved your practice accordingly. Although it may be tempting to only get feedback before your halfway or final assessment, this doesn't help students achieve higher marks. Regular feedback will give you more opportunities to improve and can be a real confidence booster when you hear something positive.  Don't forget to get a mix of feedback from not just your educators, but also the wider MDT, patients and their support system. Feedback doesn't always need to be formal or written, especially if you're in a busy setting. Asking a quick question after seeing a patient 'how was my handling?', 'did I leave enough time for treatment?' also counts. Include notes of your feedback in your reflections, what you have learnt and what you plan to do in the future as a result of the feedback. Be honest if you were disappointed with your feedback or performance. It's completely normal to take time and require practice when learning new things. Use Downtime Effectively - Whilst you'll likely be on the go a lot, expect there to be times when your educators are busy writing notes, in meetings or you're required to work from home due to restricted staffing. Be prepared for these moments and have a plan of a few activities you can do, such as reading relevant textbooks or research, writing reflections, working on your presentation, preparing future treatment sessions or safely familiarising yourself with equipment. Ensure that your educator/s are aware of how you are using this time, they may even have suggestions of how you can best use this time, but being prepared shows that you're proactive. Timekeeping Common mistakes: Losing track of time - missing appointments. Running out of time on assessments. Delaying patient discharges in inpatient settings. Rely on your own Timekeeping Device - Time management is something we learn throughout our training and whilst educators appreciate this and provide extra time (dependent on your experience), physiotherapy is a time pressured job. For final year placements timings will likely be the same or similar to qualified staff, so it pays to get into good habits early on. Before you say it, nope, there are never enough reliable clocks around in a healthcare setting and beware the inevitable clock that is set to the wrong time! If in doubt, it's better to have your own way of checking the time. Make sure you have an infection control approved method (arms clear below the elbows), such as keeping your watch in your pocket, getting an extendable strap to put it on your upper arm or ankle or pinning a fob watch to your uniform. Remember Meetings, Training Sessions & Other Anomalies - Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in what you're doing and lose track of time. Don't forget meetings, training sessions and anything else that may be different from a usual day. If you're in a setting with an electronic diary and have limited access to a laptop or computer, a small paper diary or notebook can be a very helpful. If you're ward based, consider whether you'll have enough time to start any physio sessions prior to meetings and training sessions. Have an idea of when you need to be finished, allowing time for safely leaving a patient, these are usually areas we underestimate when planning our time. If you're with a patient but due to attend a meeting and cannot safely leave them or find someone to take your place, don't worry, always stay with the patient and if possible, get a message to someone in the meeting, they will understand, we've all been there. Community & Outpatient Time Management Tips - If you're in the community or outpatients and have got your own diary, or are sharing a diary with an educator, make sure you're aware of the time pressures of your day. How long are appointments, does this include time for note writing, completing referrals, booking follow ups or using exercise prescription software? If you're travelling to visit patients or between settings using your own transport, allow sufficient travel time for the journey, plus a little extra. Ensure you have a phone number for who you're visiting and phone numbers of your educator and placement. Whilst traffic, vehicle problems and getting lost, happen at some point to everyone in community roles, being sufficiently prepared will make it easier to manage and will reflect on you better if things go wrong. Regarding your own safety, always follow the settings procedures and policies for community visits, is there a system for signing out and in, are you aware of what to do in an emergency? Inpatient Time Management Tips - For inpatient settings, ensure you're aware of any time restrictions such as what time patients are awake and potentially ready to start physio sessions. Are there protected meal times? If there is an exercise space or gym, does it need pre-booking? Visiting times can be an ideal time for physio sessions if you're able to include visitors in a session, although some may prefer to keep this time free. Don't forget to check handovers so you're aware if anyone is potentially offsite for scans, appointments or is medically unfit for physio. For each patient you see, have a rough idea of how long the physio session will last and plan time for subjective and objective assessment, treatment, developing a plan, writing notes and completing any other paperwork and referrals. Support Timely Patient Discharges (Inpatients) - Planning a patient discharge from hospital can be complex and involve a variety of disciplines and physios are very much involved in this process. It's an area that's easier to overlook or be sheltered from as a student, but demonstrating an awareness of discharge planning and gaining experience early in your career will be a standout point in interviews and prove valuable in your future career. Inpatient settings are measured on average stays and most patients will arrive with an estimated discharge date set by the multidisciplinary team (MDT). Keep an eye on patients expected discharge dates and up-to-date with any developments from the MDT. If a patient is declared medically fit for discharge, but has ongoing therapy needs, the pressure will be on the therapy team to support a safe and timely discharge from hospital. If you're delegated tasks or have responsibilities that are time critical for a patient discharge, such as procuring equipment, completing a stairs assessment or drafting discharge summaries, safely prioritise these. If you're unable to complete them in a timely manner, flag it up with the team, so patient discharges are not delayed. Understanding the Service Common mistakes: Thinking about physio in isolation to the service. Lack of understanding of MDT & hierarchy. Avoiding leadership opportunities. Not taking up opportunities to shadow. Insufficiently prepared before assessing. Not selecting appropriate assessments or treatments. Understand how Physio fits into the Service - At uni when you're surrounded by everything physio, it can be a bit of a shock getting onto placement and encountering several other professions involved with the same patient. Clinical placements give you the chance to see the bigger picture and how physio fits into a healthcare service. Even in an MSK clinic where it may seem like physio are the sole profession involved, your patient may have already attended GP appointments, consultant clinics and arrived for post-operative rehab with notes from their surgeon. Consider an inpatient's journey through the hospital, they may have been admitted suddenly, moved wards multiple times, had a prolonged stay and currently unable to return home. As part of their healthcare team you have the opportunity to be a source of positivity, support and advocate for the best outcomes within the possibilities of the service. The CPAF includes learning domains related to advocating for patients, often there are chances for advocating in MDT meetings, in discussions with family and support networks and with other professions. Know your MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) - Not all MDTs are made equally, in fact they are usually very specific to the setting. Check out the image below from Scottish Health and Social Care showing an example of an MDT for a care home resident. With this in mind, it's worth getting an idea of which professions make up the MDT, who is around on which days and when there are MDT meetings. Be prepared to work with many other disciplines, adapt your communication style for your audience's physio knowledge and learn about other specialities. You may need to develop joint care plans and may work more closely with some professions than others, such as your occupational therapy colleagues. In an inpatient setting expect to be confused with a variety of different disciplines. It helps to know who everyone is so you can explain roles to patients and their support network and advise of when certain disciplines are likely to be on the wards. Confusingly there is no standardised uniform between hospital trusts. On your first day you'll discover who wears what style of uniform, if you're on a ward where everyone wears scrubs and very small name badges this can be especially confusing, don't worry if you're not sure who's who. If you don't have a name badge it's worth spending a few pounds on one so that you're more easily identifiable to everyone. Understanding the Hierarchy - For inpatient settings understand how the ward is run, including the hierarchy of nursing staff, who is the charge nurse, the lead consultant, who reports to who and when doctor and consultant rounds are. For both inpatient and outpatient settings find out when specialist clinics are running in case you're supporting these or need to refer patients for a review. Ensure you understand the hierarchy of the physio team, what are the different responsibilities between the band 5, 6, 7, and higher roles. Are some roles fully clinical or non-clinical and others a mix? If your team is supported by therapy assistants, you'll be required to delegate work as appropriate for their banding and role competencies, note levels of autonomy differ between different bands 3 and 4. Don't forget as a student you'll be required to have a qualified physio countersign any notes, make sure you have these ready for countersigning promptly if you can. Step Up to Leadership Opportunities - One area that crops up with regards to improving potential marks, is leadership opportunities. It comes as a bit of surprise to some students that leadership and delegation are on the CPAF when you may feel new and inexperienced in comparison to others. However, being part of a team, working for and with others and delegating is all part of a qualified physiotherapist's role. As a student, as well as respecting the team hierarchy, you'll also have opportunities to step into positions where you'll be representing the physio team, perhaps at MDT meetings, when talking to a patients support network and you'll likely delegate work to colleagues who support the physio team. It's ok to feel uncomfortable or anxious, observe those around you and how they manage these situations for some helpful pointers. They were likely just as nervous once. Embrace Shadowing Opportunities - Another area that can be a bit intimidating but definitely worth getting out of your comfort zone for is shadowing. Shadowing is a great way to learn about the MDT, other roles and professions and expand your knowledge. Physio is a small world and the more potential colleagues you can meet before you're qualified, the more opportunities may present themselves when you're job hunting. Common shadowing opportunities often include observing surgeries, attending specialist clinics, working with specialist equipment and swapping ward locations for community visits and vice versa. Mentioning unique or specialist shadowing opportunities when applying for jobs can also help make you stand out from other similarly experienced candidates. Learn Regularly Used Techniques - Be prepared to research and learn assessment and treatment techniques regularly used by the service, that you may have little or no experience with. Universities don't have the time or equipment to teach everything, clinical placements are there to provide real life practical experience. Note, even settings in the same specialism often favour different techniques and equipment (.e.g. NHS MSK and private MSK). Where some students come unstuck is selecting the wrong assessments or treatment styles for the setting. If it's specifically a neuro, respiratory or an MSK setting, start off with using the right type of assessment. Most services have some specifics you'll need to include in your assessments such as outcome measures or templates, all placements will likely do things a little differently. Treatment techniques can vary significantly between settings, you may be studying post-operative protocols, specific manual therapy techniques, running telehealth clinics, using specialist equipment, running a rehab group, expanding your exercise knowledge or inventing an obstacle course that incorporates all of a young child's prescribed exercises! That really is the beauty of physio, it's so varied. Whilst it's good to stick to what we know, as educators it's great to hear about new techniques and research from others in the field. If there's something you've learnt from university or other placements that you'd like to introduce, such as an outcome measure or technique, don't feel like you can't bring this up with your educator and clinically reason the potential benefits. Prepare Before Seeing Your Patient - Take a moment to pause before collecting or visiting your patient and check if you've done enough to prepare. Ideally you want to be in a position where you can avoid loosing time and going back and forth getting extra supplies/equipment. Have an idea of why you're seeing them and what type of assessment and possibly treatment you might use. Consider if you'll need extra staff such as a therapy assistant with you, or if you could conduct a joint assessment with another profession. As a bare minimum, always check patient notes, their nursing observations (if applicable), if a patient is medically fit for physio and if there any restrictions. If there's anything you're unsure about ask therapy and medical teams first, no question is a silly question when it comes to patient safety. Sometimes a quick check to make sure the patient is where you expect them to be before you start preparing can be useful, in case you discover after all the prep time that they're off site for the afternoon! Familiar with the Environment Common mistakes: Overwhelmed by clinical environment. Not hands on with washing, dressing, etc. Unsafe or unsuitable manual handling. Not adapting communication styles. Get Familiar with Clinical Settings - Clinical environments can be overwhelming and overstimulating places when you're not used to them. There's often limited space, noise, bright lights, equipment, people and lots of safety and cleanliness requirements. It's understandable that getting used to the environment can detract from thinking about your studies. Your first priority is always safety, where is the crash trolley kept, where are the emergency call bells, what to do in an emergency, in outpatient clinics are you supported by an onsite acute hospital or should you call an ambulance? Remember your basics like brakes on beds and plinths, keeping walkways free of cables and equipment and keep call bells and bed tables in easy reach of patients and leave patients safely positioned. Your induction should cover all the equipment you'll be using, where it's stored and provide you with relevant training. Beds, wheelchairs, hoists, specialist seating and stand aids often differ between settings, even experienced professionals will spend time familiarising themselves in a new setting, so if there's anything you're unsure of ask the team. If you're feeling particularly overwhelmed, many students have found it beneficial to take on some casual care, therapy assistant or heath care assistant work. If this isn't possible, don't stress it all becomes easier with practice and time. Assist with Personal Care, Washing and Dressing - This one is often debated in physio circles. Although it may not always be considered a requirement of your role (although I have worked in many physio roles where it was), in reality, with staffing issues in the NHS, there will be times when you'll need to help maintain a patients comfort and dignity and do a quick toilet trip, a pad change or provide specialist handling to support having a shower or getting dressed. Don't forget a lot of mobilising patients on wards is with the aim of getting to and from the toilet, often using equipment or mobility aids and specialist handling. Patients may need help with wiping and their clothing, it pays to know how to do this quickly and effectively. As a student, expect to learn about and work with other professions who do carry out day-to-day personal care, washing and dressing. In these instances, you will be required to help out, so use these opportunities to learn as much as you can about assisting quickly and safely. Often where students struggle with timing regarding washing, dressing and personal care, being quick and confident can make all the difference. Bonus points for being able to put socks and shoes on quickly, expert level for fitting an orthotic in a shoe! Use Appropriate Therapeutic & Manual Handling Techniques - With therapeutic and manual handling there's a couple of areas that are commonly mentioned as requiring improvement. Firstly, being too supportive, where your patient isn't being challenged or doing enough for themselves. Or secondly, providing too little support and not being in contact with the patient whilst their mobilising or exercising and compromising safety. Yes, these two statements do contradict each other and as a physio it will be your job to clinically reason and assess what level of support is appropriate, depending on who you're seeing. You'll find this develops naturally as you become more experienced. On your first day, find out from the team how hands on they are, observe any techniques you're unfamiliar with and ask for training if you don't feel confident. If you're working in pairs or teams, make sure you know your role, such as following closely with a wheelchair or providing seating balance support on a plinth. Ensure your hand placement for supporting mobility compliments that of anyone else also supporting the patient. A special note about passively testing movements, ensure you are taking the full weight of the limb you are testing, it should feel heavy. If the patient is joining in in anyway, then it has become an active movement. Adapt Communication Styles for your Audience - This is where empathy really pays off, having fantastic physio knowledge doesn't translate into being a fantastic physio if you can't communicate with and educate a variety of audiences (medical, family, other professions, adult and paediatric patients, etc). When communicating, remember your audience, are they likely to understand any medical terminology or descriptions? Consider additional needs, cognition and hearing. If you have no prior experience working with those affected by dementia I'd highly recommend completing an online dementia education course. Where possible demonstrate exercises with your patients, if you're struggling to get the message across, practise instructing family and friends. In Conclusion... As educators we want to bring out the best in you and it can be tough as a physio student adapting to the clinical environment whilst being assessed. Hopefully this article has provided a heads up and highlighted some areas where mistakes commonly occur and how these can be avoided: Preparation: Don't Forget your Pen, Badge, Notebook etc. Familiarise Yourself with the CPAF. Organise Assessments & Tutor Meetings Early. Set Relevant Goals in the First Few Days. Write Regular Reflections. Produce a Quality Presentation. Apply Research. Ask for Feedback. Use Downtime Effectively.  Timekeeping: Rely on your own Timekeeping Device. Remember Meetings, Training Sessions & Other Anomalies. Community & Outpatient Time Management Tips. Inpatient Time Management Tips. Support Timely Patient Discharges (Inpatients). Understand the Service: Understand how Physio fits into the Service. Know your MDT (Multidisciplinary Team). Step Up to Leadership Opportunities. Embrace Shadowing Opportunities. Learn Regularly Used Techniques. Prepare Before Seeing Your Patient. Familiar with the Clinical Environment: Get Familiar with Clinical Settings. Assist with Personal Care, Washing and Dressing. Use Appropriate Therapeutic & Manual Handling Techniques. Adapt Communication Styles for your Audience. Wishing all the future physios the best of luck on your clinical placements. Promotions & Affiliations: Please note whilst it is free to appear in the directory, this site includes some promoted products, services & sponsored articles which are clearly labelled. As an Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases. References: https://www.csp.org.uk/professional-clinical/practice-based-learning/cpaf-2024 https://www.gov.scot/publications/health-care-home-healthcare-framework-adults-living-care-homes/pages/6/

What is a 'treatment toolbox'? Depending on where you studied physiotherapy, this may or may not be a familiar term - a quick web search provided mixed results! If the term is new to you, a physio's treatment toolbox is not really about physical equipment - goniometer anyone? The term relates to our personal skills, knowledge and experience that we utilise when it comes to treatments. What are the benefits? Whilst it can be easy to fall into a routine of using a few preferred treatment methods, building a metaphorical toolbox of physio treatment options can provide many benefits... open up opportunities and career progression stand out as a job applicant and interviewee support meeting work-based competencies add variety to treatment sessions improve effectiveness and outcomes of physio treatments easier to personalise treatment plans able to offer newer or up-to-date treatments supports personal development confidence builder opportunity to develop usable skills outside of work role Why might we feel less confident about our experience with physiotherapy treatments? Seeing patients/service users and receiving their feedback and that of our peers, is key to building treatment experience but this takes time and requires suitable opportunities. Unlike some other areas of physio, gaining treatment experience is one of the areas most limited by time. We can’t hurry a tendinopathy or ACL post-op recovery, or guarantee that the same conditions will arrive in the same week so we can get all our practise in at once! For newer graduates, there may be requirements to complete a certain amount of time as a qualified physio for entry to post-graduate courses and it takes time to complete post-graduate qualifications whilst balancing work. On the other hand, for those who are more experienced, there is the requirement to remain current throughout our careers as treatment approaches evolve with updated guidelines and research. With this in mind, it is understandable that our treatment skills may not feel as strong or varied as some of our other areas of practice. Where to start – Identifying treatment areas to develop If you're unsure of where to start, here are a few points to consider when identifying areas of physiotherapy treatment you may want to develop: Work or career requirement - in your specialism, rotation or practice, are there any skills that you are required to learn for meeting role specific competencies? Or is there a technique regularly used that you’d like to learn, such as cardiac/pulmonary rehab , hydrotherapy , manual therapy or taping ?   Interest in a particular area or specialism - do you have an interest or passion in developing a particular treatment style, such as electrotherapy , vestibular rehab, hydrotherapy or massage and manual therapy ? Career changes, rotations and interviews  - maybe you have an upcoming rotation such as  neuro rehab , paediatrics or   w omen's health  that requires specialism specific treatment skills and knowledge? Or perhaps you need to learn about different treatment styles for an upcoming interview or career change? Gaps in knowledge/experience  - is there a treatment technique you're unsure of, feeling anxious about, or routinely asking for support with? Plugging the gaps in your knowledge, turning a weakness into a strength, or just reducing some of the anxiety around a certain area is a confidence builder and great personal development technique. Confidence building  - as noted above, gaining experience in areas we feel weaker can be a confidence builder. If assessing and diagnosing are your strengths, why not round your abilities with further work on treatment?   Feedback - reflecting on any treatment feedback you've received from peers, patients/service users, management etc may help highlight areas you wish to develop. Diversifying your skill set, complimentary skills and side hustles  - many treatment styles such as yoga , Pilates , acupuncture and manual therapy  are suitable for a variety of physio specialisms, but are also suitable to run as stand-alone businesses or side hustles. Don’t forget to look into the correct insurances if you’re branching out on your own. Transferrable skills  - sometimes it's easy to narrow our focus to the areas we work in, but some skills and qualities are not only transferrable but also beneficial to most physiotherapy roles. Areas that are particularly beneficial include people skills and leadership , mental health and wellbeing , pain management and working with elderly populations .   Expand core knowledge  - maybe it's time to build on your core knowledge, there is a wealth of strength, stretch , balance , cardio , mobility/functional movement and general rehab exercise resources out there. There's also a variety of free and paid subscription sites and apps for exercise prescription and exercise handouts  for gaining inspiration to help add to your existing treatment methods. New research and techniques  - whether you're keeping up with students, current guidelines or research, the frequently evolving world of physio is likely to require updates and changes to your treatment skills and techniques over time. Has there been any recent updates in your field or scope of practice? Hobbies or passion  - some physios have hobbies, interests and leisure activities that can be incorporated into physio treatments, such as sports, dance, virtual reality, gaming, therapy animals, crafting, the list goes on. This can be especially relevant when working in rehab, the community and with paediatric  and elderly populations. Treatment methods that inspire, motivate and uplift with an element of fun, or that relate to peoples interests, can be particularly effective and are adaptable to include family, friends and support networks. Don't be deterred if your workplace does not currently have any suitable projects. Some of the most inspiring physios have introduced projects like these into their workplaces, if pitching an idea to safely incorporate something new is possible, why not give it a try?   When to start – Make a list and prioritise Once you’ve identified what you’re interested in, it may be helpful to construct a list and prioritise items based on your current needs and circumstances: Short term: Make a list and prioritise where to start - if you're unsure of where to start, try making a list of treatment areas, skills or qualifications that you're interested in pursuing. Next spend some time prioritising. Start with your full list and prioritise items which are time critical, such as meeting role competencies, or skills required for an imminent rotation or new job. Midterm: Get planning - once the time critical items have been accounted for, spend some time finding relevant webinars, courses, resources etc for each item on the list. (See the next section for tips on finding methods and resources) . If they are currently affordable for you (time and money wise) these can stay as midterm goals. Start a calendar of webinars, courses etc that you have signed up for throughout the year, but keep it realistic. If there's too much, stick to the essentials and the rest can be moved onto a longer-term goal list. Completing CPD records and a personal development plan throughout the year, will make it easier to get a sense of how booked up you are. If your workplace has a training or CPD budget make sure you are prepared with the details of which course/s you're interested in, why they will help develop your practice and how this will benefit your workplace. Longterm:  Future goals - unfortunately not all the courses and qualifications we wish to complete are financially possible at this point in time, or you may require a certain amount of prior experience, or free time before it's logical to pursue them. Often these goals can make a big difference, such as promotions, becoming more prominent in your organisation or field, starting to work for yourself or making a big career change. Understandably it may take longer working towards them. Keep these listed as longer term goals, but make sure you're aware of the costs, potential financial gains, payment options and entry requirements. Revisit these goals as part of completing your CPD, appraisals (if relevant) and personal development plans, to review if you're in a position to begin one of these longer-term goals.   How to start – Methods for achieving your goals Once you're ready to start working on some of your items from your list, the following methods may provide some helpful options:   Physioing directory of physio resources – if you're looking for resources, the Physioing online directory of physiotherapy resources for studying and CPD is split between specialism and treatment styles . There's a variety of recommended providers relevant to physio treatment styles, offering free and paid for resources including apps, online and face-to-face courses, webinars, books, websites, podcasts, guidelines and journals. The treatment directory has dedicated pages for the following treatment styles:   Work place allowances or budgets  – some workplaces provide dedicated CPD time or training budgets. If you’re making a bid for your workplace to fund training, ensure you’re got the necessary information prepared before submission deadlines and can provide a case for why the training benefits your workplace and your role. In service training – if you’re in an organisation that carries out in service training, why not use your in-service training presentation as an opportunity to learn and present or discuss a new treatment skill or style. Take advantage of freebies  - whilst some qualifications can be costly, many sites and organisations provide free short sessions, online courses and webinars. It's worth having a look at organisations and sites in the areas you’re interested in to see what is available, as they’ll often be advertised there and on their social media channels. Staying up-to-date - this is where reading up-to-date physio books, magazines and journals can be particularly helpful. However, when you’re pushed for time, social media can be a great source of up-to-date information. Often physio, medical, sport, health and social organisations, and personalities in your field will feature articles and information of interest in their content and point you in the right direction of where to start directing your research. Shadowing and volunteering – if you’re looking to gain experience and potentially network in areas that are new to you, look out for shadowing and volunteering opportunities.   Join organisations of interest – there are specialism specific branches of the CSP often providing subject specific knowledge and research with networking and learning opportunities. Many areas of healthcare are supported by charities and research organisations, whilst sport and other activities may have their own accrediting organisations and awarding bodies. In Conclusion... Whilst there are many professional and personal benefits to developing a physiotherapy toolbox of your own unique experience, skills and knowledge, it can feel like an overwhelming task. When it comes to building a physio treatment toolbox, hopefully these tips for improving physio treatment skills & knowledge will be helpful in getting you on the right track: identifying areas to develop prioritising what to work on methods to achieve these Promotions & Affiliations: Please note whilst it is free to appear in the directory, this site includes some promoted products, services & sponsored articles which will be clearly labelled. As an Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Is it really OK if you're not great at every physiotherapy specialism? Yes, it really is OK if you don't excel in every area. As long as you're competent and safe on placements or rotations, it is OK and we're here to provide a reality check if you've been beating yourself up about it! Pressure from Yourself A reminder to go easy on yourself. Whilst it isn't always the confidence boost we need when we're not excelling at work or university, it doesn't take away anything from your achievements and abilities in other specialisms. Although it may be uncomfortable at the time, completing rotations or placement in areas you find difficult or do not enjoy, often provides experience and skills you'll need for meeting essential requirements for future roles and jobs. Looking at the bigger picture, physio is such a diverse the career. It is unrealistic to expect to perform exceptionally in every area, that would be the equivalent of finding a physio unicorn! If you don't believe me, here's a copy of our Insta reel listing some of the many areas in which physios work. Is it realistic to think you need to be good at all these specialisms? University Pressures Although you may wish to perform well at everything at university, realistically you may pick some things up more quickly and others may require more work or feel like a struggle. It's OK if you're not performing to the same standard in all specialisms covered by your physiotherapy degree, or if you enjoy some more than others. You'll also notice fellow students or colleagues have their own areas in which they have to work harder or naturally shine. Many students show an aptitude or preference for individual specialisms whilst studying, or begin their education with a specific specialism in mind. Perhaps on placement a passion is uncovered for a particular speciality or working environment. Noticing and reflecting on this early in your career can help you carry out extra preparation work and mentally prepare for placements or perhaps future rotations in areas which you feel less skilled or do not enjoy. Although it may be tempting to shy away from certain specialisms early on, if you've got your eye on a particular specialism or rotational role, check what experience is typically required in the job description/person specification before you write anything off. Workplace Pressures As a rotational physio or student physiotherapist your role requires a broad knowledge of a variety of specialisms and the ability to adapt to different work environments. However, on rotation or placement you may feel extra pressure from fixed members of staff with in-depth knowledge in their specialism. Perhaps as specialised colleagues and employers, we sometimes fall into the trap of forgetting that we're working with someone who's retaining knowledge from and working in multiple specialisms. Student positions and rotational roles often carry the greatest demand for retaining a vast breadth of knowledge and it can feel like a juggling act. If you're unsure of what is appropriate for a rotational role, most workplaces have set competency frameworks for band 5 and band 6 roles. If not, the CSP website includes competency frameworks for many specialities. Use these as a guide to review how well you're doing and plan in any relevant training and support if needed. If you feel like you're working to unrealistic expectations, or are insufficiently supported, approach staff leading rotations, preceptorships or placements to discuss. Reality - Most Physios Specialise Even if you are a mythical physio unicorn that performs well in all specialities, in reality, achieving career progression usually requires narrowing your specialisms. Beyond Band 6 rotational physio roles, most physio roles are specialised and some physios specialise at band 5 level. Specialising takes away some of the pressure of retaining a breadth of extra knowledge, allowing you to get to grips on building depth of knowledge in areas you are passionate about. That's not to say you can't change specialisms later in your career, that is one of the many advantages of a career in physio, it's very adaptable. In Conclusion Despite the potential pressures we may put on ourselves , or feel from university or work , the reality is physio is a vastly diverse career. It's only human to excel in some but not all specialisms (unless you're a physio unicorn)! Ultimately, to progress, most physios specialise at some point in their careers. Although it may feel uncomfortable completing placement and rotations in areas we struggle with or don't enjoy, it's all part of the learning curve. We've all been there. Just try not to be too hard on yourself. If you're in any doubt, just ask a respected lecturer or colleague about which specialisms they didn't enjoy or struggled with and you'll see what I mean! Promotions & Affiliations: Please note whilst it is free to appear in the directory, this site includes some promoted products, services & sponsored articles which are clearly labelled. As an Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.

There's no getting around it, physiotherapy is a career where you need to be able to present. At university it's solo presentations, group presentations and placement presentations. Interviews often require presentations, especially for more senior roles. At work it's in service training and training sessions, or perhaps you're presenting your research or lecturing. It's surprising how many fantastic physio lecturers or presenters you meet who will tell you they used to be terrified of presentations and you'd honestly have no idea. So don't let the idea of regular presenting put you off any future career progressions or aspirations. Whether you're new to the world of physio and feeling anxious about just how many presentations await you in your future. Newly qualified and dreading your turn at in service training, or a more experienced physio who still dreads presenting. Here are some of our favourite tried and tested top tips for physiotherapists and physio students for reducing nerves and improving your confidence with presentations: Practise presenting to the dog, the wall, whilst walking, exercising, cooking... Mental imagery & neuroplasticity - practise in your head & imagine it going well. Right before a presentation take a movement break - reduce nervous energy. Incorporate exercise or practical work in the presentation - boost endorphins. Use handouts - so people will look at those more than you! Add in a quiz - involve your audience or bring out competitive sides with teams. Add humour - just make sure it's appropriate for the setting. The more you do, the easier it becomes. Practise presenting to the dog, the wall, whilst walking, exercising, cooking... The weirder the better! The aim is to completely desensitise yourself to presenting and make it easier for you to remember what to say under pressure. Have your script or prompts as needed and talk to whatever is around you (in an empty house or warn others first what you're doing). Ideally when we're presenting we want to be breathing normally, so try to practise this too. However, when we're nervous it can impact our breathing, so practising speaking whilst exercising and a bit out of breath can help make it easier to talk when we're feeling under pressure. Mental imagery & neuroplasticity - practise in your head & imagine it going well: Use neuroplasticity to your advantage. Playing specific scenarios or scripts in your head, or mental imagery, is a fantastic treatment option in neuro rehab and also a method utilised by athletes and successful professionals to improve their performance. The act of neural rehearsing can strengthen or create new neural pathways and it's simple to do. Play through your script in your mind and imagine yourself presenting and it's going well. Repetition is key here, so aim to repeat several times before your presentation. We'd also recommend mental imagery techniques for exam nerves, revision, remembering ABG values, myotomes, cranial nerves, the list goes on. If you're new to mental imagery this article from neuroscientist Dr Sarah McKay explains some of the theory and associated research. Right before a presentation take a movement break - reduce nervous energy: Getting rid of some of that nervous energy with a bit of jumping round on the spot, star jumps, fast walking, arm swings, Tai Chi or whatever you fancy can be a sneaky way to benefit from the relaxing effect of endorphins and reduce some of that nervous energy. If you fancy including everyone, it can also be a way to start your presentation with a quick movement break to wake everyone up. If you'd rather not have an audience a quick trip to the bathroom/staffroom/equipment cupboard to do a couple of star jumps or doing a bit of fast walking up and down a corridor will work too. Incorporate exercise or practical work into the presentation - boost endorphins: Using the same principle as the above (utilising a movement break to boost endorphins) could you include exercise or practical work into your presentation? Not only does this encourage your audience to feel more energised and engaged, it's also one of the best ways to learn a new skill or technique if you're doing it yourself. As a bonus point it also means your audience aren't spending the whole time fully focussing on you if they're engaged in an activity. Use handouts - so people will look at those more than you: Handouts are really useful for audience members who like to take notes or have a paper CPD folder. Plus, if people are looking at handouts there's less focus on you talking! If you're concerned about printer/paper usage it doesn't need to be your whole presentation, consider snippets, key slides, an infographic or research abstracts. Add in a quiz - involve your audience, or bring out competitive sides with teams: Adding a quiz element can add some interest and make things less passive by involving your audience. Never underestimate how competitive health professionals can get, especially if you have teams of different professions going against one another. Add humour - just make sure it's appropriate to the setting: If you naturally use humour in your day-to-day practice or conversations, don't shy away from using this in your presentations. Although it goes without saying please consider the appropriateness of the setting and audience first, if you're not sure then it's probably better not to say it! A bit of humour can help settle your nerves if people laugh or smile and if they don't, making fun of the lack of laughter usually gets a good response and dissolves any tension. The more you do, the easier it becomes! Sometimes it's not until we look back and reflect on how far we've come that you truly realise how much you've progressed. With this in mind, although it might be tempting to avoid situations where you need to do a presentation, try not to specifically avoid them at the risk of missing out on future opportunities. As with most things in physio, the more experience and practise you have the easier it becomes. If you've seen any great presentations recently, consider what it was that made it that way and if you can incorporate any of those approaches to your own presentations. In Conclusion... If you're feeling anxious or lacking confidence with your presentations hopefully some of these tips will help. Whilst presentations are a necessary part of a physiotherapist's role, like any other skill, it can take time and practise to develop your own techniques and style. Don't let it hold you back from progressing or trying out new opportunities. Promotions & Affiliations: Please note whilst it is free to appear in the directory, this site includes some promoted products, services & sponsored articles which are clearly labelled. As an Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases. References: https://drsarahmckay.com/imagine-mental-imagery-strengthens-neural-circuits/ https://www.cpduk.co.uk/news/what-is-the-learning-pyramid

Tracking down physio resources and educational materials for studying, CPD and career advancement can be time consuming. With the variety of information online, sometimes we don't know what's out there waiting to be found, or where to start looking. Welcome to Physioing , a newly launched, online directory of physio resources developed by a UK physio, for physios and physio students. Physioing's mission is to bring useful and relevant resources together into one online directory , to make it quicker and easier to find what you're looking for and use the links to get straight to the site. Physioing is suitable for students, newly qualified and experienced physios; the main directory is split between specialisms and treatment style . Specialisms include most common areas of physio, such as MSK , neuro and respiratory and more niche areas, including palliative and mental health . Treatment styles are categorised by method of treatment, such as balance , strengthening and stretching exercises, Pilates , taping and vestibular rehab . There's even a list of providers of exercise handouts and exercise prescription libraries . Each resource is labelled to show if it includes relevant content for more than one specialism or treatment style. Categories can be further refined by type of resource, such as face to face courses, online courses, exercise handouts, webinars, websites, etc. It is completely free to appear in the online directory (any ads, affiliate links and promotional posts will be clearly labelled and will be in addition to the main directory). We are working hard to include as many physio specialisms and treatment styles as we can and are regularly searching for relevant providers of physio educational materials and resources. We also take recommendations. If you would like to make a recommendation for a specialism, treatment style or resource, or have a query about the directory, please get in touch via the  online contact form . What does the future hold for Physioing? This is just the start of Physioing, we will be adding more sites and resources and introducing, apps, books and podcasts recommendations and more content over the next few months. We hope you find the site helpful and thank you for your support as we continue to develop. Promotions & Affiliations: Please note whilst it is free to appear in the directory, this site includes some promoted products, services & sponsored articles which will be clearly labelled. As an Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.