Using student stand out moments to reclaim school-based social work placement

Jennifer Rafter; Barry Fearnley; Cathryn Jani

doi:10.1921/jpts20242270

Authors

Jennifer Rafter Anglia Ruskin University, Deputy Head of School of Social Work https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6187-9990
Barry Fearnley University of Keele, Lecturer https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0840-8081
Cathryn Jani Social Work England & University of Warwick https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5077-858X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts20242270

Keywords:

social work students, placements, schools, stand out moments, social wokr in schools, SWIS

Abstract

During the pandemic, one university experienced considerable challenge sourcing placements for student social workers. In response, they developed the SWIS project through which placed nearly 50 students in schools. To capture their experiences in practice learning, students were invited to participate in a reflective workshop. This paper focuses on one activity where students were asked to reflect on ‘stand out moments’ (SOM) when undertaking their school-based placement. The paper is underpinned by transformative learning theory, through which we explore the journey or process in practice learning which can facilitate growth and change. The data was collected as part of a wider action research study, with findings reasserting the centrality of direct work and relationship-based practice. The discussion section highlights how school-based placements provided significant opportunities for learning and development, such as being afforded the ‘freedom’ to be creative in developing child focused interventions. This paper has implications for revisiting the potential for school-based practice learning, as settings with wide ranging learning opportunities, which can inspire and empower students.

Author Biographies

Jennifer Rafter, Anglia Ruskin University, Deputy Head of School of Social Work

Jennifer Raft is a qualified social worker, who started her career in adult mental health in East London. She then worked for a children's charity as a social based social worker across schools in the East of England. She then joined Anglia Ruskin university, where she has always championed the role of social workers in schools. In response to the pandemic, she launched the SWIS (social workers in schools) project - the project now entered its 4th year and works with over 130 schools who host social work student placements. She was then commissioned to roll out a project in the region by a neighbouring teaching partnership and has been invited to present the success of SWIS at national and international events. She is now in her final year of doctoral study in relation to school practice. She has formed an international network of academics who share her passion and interest in school social work and she has begun to collaborate and share her early insight of the potential benefits of the project.

Barry Fearnley, University of Keele, Lecturer

Barry is a social worker with over 20 years experience working with children and families. He is currently a lecturer at the University of Keele. Previous experience includes children and families social work. He has been a practice educator for social work students in children and families, adults including mental health, and voluntary settings. This also includes the role of placement co-ordination and practice educator for social work students in schools. As placement Lead for a university he initiated and led on two significant pieces of work; supporting students with additional needs when undertaking their placements and quality assurance of placements. His PhD explored the everyday experiences of young women who are also mothers.

Cathryn Jani, Social Work England & University of Warwick

Cathryn qualified as a social worker in 1989. In her early career Cathryn worked with children and families, both as a local authority social worker and as a Family Court Advisor, for Cafcass. Cathryn is a keen practice educator and has supported social work students in a variety of placement settings. Cathryn developed an interest in developing social work student placements in schools whilst employed as Placement Coordinator by the University of Lincoln, she went on to start a social enterprise Support Circle, developing and supporting social work student placements in schools across the East Midlands. Cathryn is currently employed as a Professional Case Examiner for Social Work England and as a Practice Educator for the University of Warwick.

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