Take advantage of Liverpool Hope University’s state-of-the-art Physiotherapy & Sport Rehabilitation Clinic - and you’ll help students in their career progression, too.
That’s the advice from Ellie Jones, Hope’s brand new Placement and Clinic Coordinator.
A recent graduate, Ellie says the Clinic is a fantastic resource for any staff members or students who might be struggling with an injury, or who have strength and conditioning concerns.
With heavily-discounted treatments starting from just £5, she’s determined to make sure that the entire Hope family is aware of what’s available.
And she stresses that the won’t just help to get individuals back up to speed, it also plays an essential role in ensuring students on Hope’s BSc (Hons) course get the crucial hours of work experience they need.
Ellie explains how students will often support sessions in the Clinic, and adds: “\The British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT), our governing body, requires students to complete 400 hours of work placements within settings such as the NHS, strength and conditioning, rehab, and physiotherapy, as well as 50 hours of ‘shadowing’ a more experienced practitioner.
“Hope’s Physiotherapy & Sport Rehabilitation Clinic plays a crucial role in allowing students to get that work experience under their belts.
“And I really do see it as a win-win situation all round - staff and students benefit from everything the Clinic has to offer at incredibly competitive rates, while Hope students can expand on their clinical practice and ultimately go on to thrive in their careers.
“I’d urge anyone with any injury, or who might need advice on rehabilitation, to take advantage of what’s on offer, right here on the Hope campus.”
The Clinic operates from the Hope Park Sports facility located at the Hope Park campus.
Ellie, based in Ormskirk, Lancs, is herself a recent Sports Rehab graduate from the University of Cumbria - and also enjoyed time working in a clinic-based setting.
Other placements she undertook include organising running events and even getting to grips with Rugby League sides St Helens and Thatto Heath Crusaders as a Massage Therapist.
Alongside her role at Hope, she also currently works with Pilkington Recs RFC as well as with Bolton Wanderers Football Club’s youth academy.
As Placement Coordinator at Hope, she’ll use her vast array of industry contacts to land similar work experiences opportunities for current Hope students, as well as building further relationships to identify new openings.
She adds: “There’s a lot of emails, phone calls and knocking on doors to secure placements. But LinkedIn is a valuable resource for me being able to contact me, and we’ve been able to build-up great working relationships with organisations like Tranmere Rovers Football Club.
“In terms of our first year students, they’ll undertake a lot of ‘shadowing’ work.
“And being in our Clinic is a real safety net for them, because they’ll always have a familiar face there to support them. Then the more they learn - with their massage or their injury and musculoskeletal (MSK) assessments - the more they’ll get the confidence to get even more experience out in industry.
“Ultimately, it’s about preparing them for the world of work when they leave Hope.”
Anyone who books a session at the Clinic will have the option of allowing a student to observe, but, equally, you can opt out if it makes you more comfortable.
If you’re struggling with a niggle, if you need expert sports strapping ahead of a competition, or if you need a dedicated exercise programme preparing, simply email theclinic@hope.ac.uk to get the ball rolling and Ellie, or another member of staff, will be in touch.
You can see the full range of services and prices on the , with an initial consultation lasting 40 minutes costing £35 for Hope staff, or just £20 for a Hope student.
A 30 minute sports massage, on the other hand, costs £20 for Hope staff or £15 for Hope students.
Ellie adds: “A lot of people know that they’re carrying an injury but they say things like, ‘Oh, I don’t have time for physio or rehab’, and carry on, potentially making the injury even worse.
“Don’t fall into that trap. And with the Clinic operating right on your doorstep, there’s no reason not to seek help.”