Blended learning placements: A case study of an innovation to alleviate placement capacity issues for occupational therapy and physiotherapy learners

This case study discusses the implementation of blended learning placements (BLPs) for undergraduate occupational therapy (OT) and physiotherapy (PT) learners. This innovative placement model was created during the global pandemic, to alleviate severe placement capacity issues for learners requiring clinical experience. The BLP consisted of a hybrid placement model, involving learners combining 50% on-site clinical activities with 50% remote project work. The projects focused upon service improvements, developed in partnership with health and social care organizations, to benefit patient care. This case study examines the benefits and challenges of this innovation from the perspectives of the learners, educators, and Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) as well as the overall impact on workforce and placements capacity. BLPs helped learners build key employability and professional skills while offering educators flexible, resource-efficient placements that strengthened partnerships and improved services. Despite reduced clinical exposure and preparation demands, the model supported meaningful development across education, leadership, and practice. This article was published open access under a CC BY licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .