Pre-Registration Physiotherapy - Mariah's Story

What sort of activities do you do in your current job?

• Mobility and transfer assessments
• Chest physio
• Neurological assessments: Cognition, balance, vision, sensation, power etc
• Falls assessments: Risk of falls, falls prevention
• Participating in MDT discussions; board rounds, family meetings.
• Discharge planning: Referring to social services, community therapy, inpatient rehab etc. et.
• Raise safeguarding and incidents
• Supervise junior staff
• Participate in the On-call emergency respiratory service
• Ward management
• Attend and conduct teaching
• Service development
• Participate in interest groups
• Self-development (CPD)

CSP steward:

• Met with local and regional reps
• Review Policies
• negotiate
• Represent/advocate for members
• Recruit members

What was your journey to getting a job after graduating from Birmingham? (e.g. application process, visa considerations)

In September of 2023, I started as a Band 5 Rotational Physiotherapist. I rotated for a year completing Complex Medicine, Respiratory and Acute Medicine.

In May 2024 I became a CSP Workplace Steward.

In October 2024, I stepped into my current role as a Band 6 Senior Physiotherapist on a 6-month secondment in Complex Medicine.

Why did you choose to study at the University of Birmingham?

I chose the University of Birmingham because it has a reputation for creating great physiotherapists. The university offers a cadaver lab in its medical building, which is great for visual learners who want to gain a better understanding of the human body.

How do you feel the learning experience on your course helped to prepare you for your career?

In my time at Birmingham, I developed my clinical reasoning for interventions. On placement I gained a lot of my knowledge as I am very much a person that learns on the job.

My student experiences helped me understand that you will always gain something from an experience even if it’s not in a speciality you particularly favour.

What was your biggest challenge and biggest achievement during your studies?

My biggest challenge is that I worked in London on the weekends, meaning I never had a day off.

My biggest achievement was thriving on placements. I am not the most academic person, but placements showed me I was on the right track.

What advice would you give to students currently studying at the University of Birmingham?

Make the most of the opportunities presented to you! On placements, I always went above and beyond, asking to do more and shadow other professionals at work.