Studying at York
Practice Learning Placement 2 for Apprentices - SPY00077H
- Department: Social Policy and Social Work
- Credit value: 60 credits
- Credit level: H
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
Professional requirements
100 days in practice learning are the requirement of Social Work England for this placement.
Related modules
Prerequisite: Practice learning placement 1 for Apprentices
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2024-25 to Semester 2 2024-25 |
Module aims
All social work apprentices are required to undertake a 100 day final placement. This module will provide you with the competencies required to pass your final placement and qualify as a Social Worker (see End of Final Placement: Student PCF Descriptors available on the British Association of Social Workers Website).
Placement will start in Semester 1 and while on placement, students will be supported by a Practice Educator (Registered Social Worker with at least 2 years’ post-qualifying experience and a ‘Practice Education’ qualification) and a University Liaison.
There will be five ‘Professional Development Groups’ (PDGs) running alongside the placement, embedded within 5 Skills Days. Skills days are designed to help apprentices to develop their professional social work skills, and PDGs are 1 hour sessions at which apprentices reflect on their practice experience together.
Apprentices will spend 100 days in practice learning. Any days that apprentices miss (e.g. for vacation or illness) will be added to the end of the placement.
Module aims:
During the final placement apprentices will acquire professional capabilities across 9 domains at qualifying level. In attaining these capabilities, the national (Social Work England) expectation is that apprentices will gain practical experience of at least 200 days. This should include three elements –
-
30 days of skills practice
-
70 days first placement
-
100 days final placement
This module is the 100 day final placement. Details of the Professional Capabilities Framework are at: https://www.basw.co.uk/pcf/. “The Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) is the profession-owned backbone of social work education and professional development in England” (BASW 2018).
Apprentices will also gain an understanding of the role of the Knowledge and Skills Statements (post-qualifying standards) as a framework for post-qualifying practice, in preparation for future employment. Details of the KSS for adult social work can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/adult-social-work-knowledge-and-skills
Details of the KSS for child and family social work can be found at:
Module learning outcomes
During the final placement apprentices will demonstrate ‘professional capabilities’ across 9 ‘domains’ at the level appropriate to the End of Final Placement.
LO1: Professionalism
LO2: Values & Ethics
LO3: Diversity & Equality
LO4: Rights, Justice & Economic Wellbeing
LO5: Knowledge
LO6: Critical Reflection & Analysis
LO7: Skills & Interventions
LO8: Contexts & Organisations
LO9: Professional Leadership
Details of professional capabilities expectations for each domain at: https://www.basw.co.uk/pcf/capabilities/?level=8
In the course of the placement, and through the placement report, students will demonstrate their ability to apply knowledge and skills to practice. This includes a practical insight into how theory, law and policy are translated into real life situations.
Module content
Five skills days will include court & report writing skills and leadership skills.
‘Professional Development Groups’ (PDGs) will run alongside the placement. PDGs are five hour sessions at which apprentices reflect on their practice experience together.
Apprentices will spend 100 days in practice learning. Any days that apprentices miss (e.g. for vacation or illness) will be added to the end of the placement.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
Pass/fail & Non-compensatable
Additional assessment information
The formative assessment is a report which is undertaken mid-way through the placement. The summative assessment builds on the formative assessment, leading to one final 4000 word report in which the apprentice's progress is clearly charted over the course of the placement. The assessment counts for 100% of the marks and is pass / fail.
Included in the report, there are at least three observations, critical reflections, and evidence provided in relation to the Professional Capabilities Framework.
There is a partner report from the PE, who has observed the apprentice’s practice throughout the placement and will make a recommendation around whether the apprentice is ready for practice as a qualified social worker.
There is an 'action planning process' in place to manage any practice difficulties, though occasionally this may not be followed if it is not deemed appropriate for the apprentice to continue due to the nature of the concern. An Independent Practice Panel (IPP) can review action plans and make recommendations if difficulties have not been resolved – see IPP policy.
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Apprentices receive feedback from their Practice Educator as part of the report writing process. Apprentices are informed about their grade (P/F) within four weeks of submission.
Indicative reading
Banks, S. (2021) Ethics and Values in Social Work, (5th Edn.). London: Red Globe Press.
Beesley, P. (2019) Making the Most of Your Social Work Placement, London: SAGE Publications
Doel, M. and Shardlow, S. (2016) Modern Social Work Practice: Teaching and Learning in Practice Settings (3rd edn.). London: Routledge.
Rogers, M., Whitaker, D., Edmondson, D. & Peach, D. (2020) Developing skills for social work practice. (2nd Edn.). London: Sage.
Teater, B. (2014) An Introduction To Applying Social Work Theories And Methods. (2nd Edn.). Basingstoke: Open University Press.
Tedam, P. (2020) Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice. London: SAGE Publications