An Exploration of Issues affecting the assessment of social Work students on practice placement in England

Bridget Caffrey; Helen Fruin

doi:10.1921/jpts.v16i1.1224

Authors

Bridget Caffrey University of Chester
Helen Fruin Uni of Chester

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts.v16i1.1224

Abstract

The authors of this practice note acknowledge the centrality of practice learning in social work training in England. They recognise it is a defining feature of social work training. However they critically discuss the current model used to assess social work students on placement in England; a process prompted by research one of the authors presented at the 12th International Conference on Practice Teaching and Field Education in Health and Social Work, September 2018.

The PN reviews persitant issues in the assessment of students on placement and argues these have been exacerbated by changes to practice within the English higher education system and social work practice. They argue the current system is fundamentally flawed and encourage the SW profession to reflect using imagination and creativity to envisage alternative ways to assess students practice and to identify new ideas to pilot.

Author Biographies

Bridget Caffrey, University of Chester

senior lecturer

registered social worker

practice educator

Helen Fruin, Uni of Chester

Senior lecturer in Practice Learning

References

Bailey-McHale, J.; Bailey-McHale, B. & Ridgway, V. (2016). Angels and demons: Student Nurse Perceptions of Mentorship in Practice. Paper presented at NET Conference, Cambridge, September 6-8.

Bailey-McHale, J. and Caffrey, B. (2018, September) Using visual methodology: Social work student's perceptions of practice and the impact on practice educators. Paper presented at the 12th International Conference on Practice Teaching and Field Education in Health and Social Work, Oxford. England.

Bailey-McHale, J.; Bailey-McHale, B.; Caffrey, B. & Ridgway, V. (2018). Using visual methodology: Social work student’s perceptions of practice and the impact on practice educators. Practice: Social Work in Action. doi.org/10.1080/09503153.2018.1476477

Basnett, F., and D. Sheffield. 2010. “The Impact of Social Work Student Failure upon Practice Educators.” British Journal of Social Work 40 (7): 2119–2136.

BASW England (2018) Get involved in the refresh of PEPS 13 September 2018, England Retrieved from; www.basw.co.uk/media/news/2018/sep/get-involved-refresh-peps

BASW England, (2018 b) Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Work in England: The 2018 Refreshed PCF https://www.basw.co.uk/professional-development/professional-capabilities-framework-pcf

Cleak, H. and Zuchowski, I (2018) Empirical Support and Considerations for Social Work Supervision of Students in Alternative Placement Models Clinical Social Work Journal https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-018-0692-3

Department for Education (May 2016) Social work teaching partnership programme pilots: evaluation. Final research report. Government Social Research (UK)

Department for Education (2018) Post-qualifying standard: knowledge and skills statement for child and family practitioners Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/708704/Post-qualifying_standard-KSS_for_child_and_family_practitioners.pdf

Department of Health and Social Care (2015) Adult social work: knowledge and skills for Social Workers in Adult Services Retrieved from; https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/411957/KSS.pdf

Fairtlough, A., C. Bernard., J. Fletcher and A. Ahmet. 2014. Black Social Work Students’ Experiences of Practice Learning: Understanding Differential Progression Rates. Journal of Social Work, 14(6): 605-624. doi:10.1177/1468017313500416.

Finch, J., J. Schaub, J., and R. Dalrymple. 2014. “Projective Identification and the Fear of Failing: Making Sense of Practice Educators’ Experiences of Failing Social Work Students in Practice Learning Settings.” Journal of Social Work Practice 28 (2): 139–154.

Finch, J., and A. Poletti. 2014. “‘It’s Been Hell. Italian and British Practice Educators’ Narratives of Working with Struggling or Failing Social Work Students.” European Journal of Social Work 17 (1).

Hackett, S. & Marsland, P. (1997) Perceptions of power: An exploration of the dynamics in the student-tutor-practice teacher relationship within child protection placements, Social Work Education, 16:2, 44-62, DOI: 10.1080/02615479711220141

Hastings, A., Bailey, N., Bramley, G., Gannon, M., & Watkins, D. (2015) The cost of the cuts: the impact on local government and poorer communities Joseph Rowntree Foundation (www.jrf.org.uk/publications)

Litvack, A.; Bogo, M.: & Mishna, F. (2010). Emotional Reactions of Students in Field Education: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Social Work Education, 46(2): 227-243.

Maclean, S. (2016) Reflective Practice Cards: Prompt Cards for Social Workers Rugeley Kirwin Maclean Associates

Maidment, J. and Woodward, P.(2002) Student supervision in context : a model for external supervisors. In Shardlow, Steven and Doel, Mark (ed), Learning to practise social work : international approaches, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London, England, pp.93-109.

Masocha,S. (2015) Reframing Black Social Work Students' Experiences of Teaching and Learning,Social Work Education, 34:6, 636-649, DOI: 10.1080/02615479.2015.1046429

McCaughan, S., Hesk, G. and Stanley, A. (2018) Listening to Black Students: A critical review of practice education in Taplin, S. (Ed) Innovations in Practice Learning St Albans Critical Publishing.

McNicoll, A. and Schraer, R. Community Care (June 18, 2015) https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2015/06/18/college-social-work-close-due-lack-funds/

Narey. M. (2014) Making the education of social work consistently effective. London. Department of Education.

Rose, G. (2016). Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to Researching with Visual Materials. 4th ed. London: Sage.

TCSW (2013) Practice Educator Standards for Social Work retrieved from https://www.basw.co.uk/resources/practice-educator-professional-standards-social-work

Trevithick, P. 2012. Social Work Skills and Knowledge. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Tulloch, J. (2011) PVI Placements: Gold or Dross? National Organisation of Practice Teachers (UK) nopt.org/admin/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/PVI-Student-Placements.ppt

Watson, D. and West,J. (2003) The role of the tutor in social work education; building an emancipatory tutorial relationship. Social Work Education, 22 No 2 139 – 149

Wheeler, J. (2017) Shaping identity? The professional socialisation of social work students in Webb, S. A. (ed) Professional Identity and Social Work Routledge Oxon

Williams, C. (2009) Social work degree failing to prepare students Community Care www.communitycare.co.uk/2009/02/06/social-work-degree-failing-to-prepare-students/

Zuchowski,I. (2015) Field Education With External Supervision: Supporting Student Learning The Field Educator Simmons College School of Social Work Volume 5.2