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Practice Education Professional Standards (PEPS) Stage 1 - SPY00174M

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  • Department: Social Policy and Social Work
  • Module co-ordinator: Ms. Polly Sykes
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

The module is designed to enable candidates to acquire the knowledge, value base, skills and confidence to support learners in a practice setting, in accordance with the Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS).

Candidates must be registered social workers with a minimum of two years; post-qualifying experience, according to the PEPS.

The assessment is based on the application of taught work to a student placement; candidates will need to have supported at least one student on a practice learning placement. The training will take place over the course of a full academic year to ensure that candidates have the opportunity to undertake the practical work.

Professional requirements

Candidates must be registered social workers with a minimum of two years' post-qualifying experience, according to the PEPS.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Summer Semester 2024-25

Module aims

This module will enable candidates to:

  • Critically reflect upon their understanding of social work values and ethical practice, and learn how to support student social workers to develop their own professional value base.

  • Understand how to work with students to help them to gain a critical understanding of contemporary issues in theory, research, policy, legislation and practice.

  • Develop applied knowledge of supervisory models, roles and skills.

  • Understand and effectively implement a range of methods to assess professional competence of student social workers in line with the Professional Capabilities Framework.

  • Gain confidence to both support and challenge students effectively, in order to produce capable practitioners who can reliably support and intervene on behalf of the individuals and families who use social work services.

The training will take place over the course of a full academic year to ensure that candidates have the opportunity to undertake the practical work.

Module learning outcomes

The overall learning outcome of the course is that candidates will demonstrate that they have understood the theoretical base of practice education and met the PEPS guidance statements at M level equivalent. They will be able to supervise social work degree students up to but not including the final assessment prior to qualification, in accordance with Practice Educator Professional Standards at Stage 1:

  1. Work with others to organise an effective learning environment (Domain A).

  2. Teaching, facilitating and supporting learning and professional development in practice (Domain B)

  3. Manage the fair and transparent assessment of students in practice (Domain C)

  4. Developing knowledge and continuing performance as a practice educator (Domain D).

  5. Demonstrate knowledge and awareness of values for work based assessors, in order to promote anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practices.

Module content

There are two general sessions, which are a requirement for PEPS Stage 1 candidates. These sessions are also open to PEPS Stage 2 candidates, and to all PEs and Work Based Supervisors who are hosting a University of York student. Both sessions are repeated.


Day 1 Orientation and refresher training (full day 10am - 4pm)
Report writing (half day 10am - 1pm) There are three full day sessions (10am – 4pm) specifically for PEPS Stage 1 candidates:
Day 2: Introduction to the PEPS Stage 1 course and to teaching and learning models. Overview of academic writing, VLE and library.
Day 3: Supervision, Direct Observation, Giving Feedback
Day 4: Assessment, Supporting Students, Theory to Practice & Reflective Practice.


In addition, candidates are entitled to up to 4.5 hours of tutorial time, which can be face to face, phone or email. This includes 1.5 hour academic workshops.

Assessment

None

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

PEPS Stage 1 dates:

For all Trainee PEs except those with North Yorkshire Council, PEPS Stage 1 submission

deadlines are: 1st June: submit portfolio and essay

North Yorkshire Council Trainee PEs: 1st September: submit portfolio and essay

Applicants need to have at least six weeks between the student finishing practice and the submission of the portfolio, so if the student finishes within six weeks of the submission date then an extension will need to be sought.

The assessment consists of an essay and a portfolio:

  • 1500 word essay which can be undertaken at any point.

  • Portfolio: a practical portfolio, verified by the PE mentor. This will cover various work undertaken by the PE in the course of supporting a student, including at least 1 direct observation of supervision.

  • 1500 word reflective essay, on the experience of supporting a student on placement.

Candidates may undertake the PEPS Stage 1 and the PEPS Stage 2 awards consecutively. In line with the PEPS guidance, they will need to have had experience of working with at least two separate students during this time. Taking this route, candidates will submit an assignment for the full 40 credits consisting of:

  • Two 1500 word essays which can be undertaken at any appropriate point.

  • Portfolio: a practical portfolio, verified by the PE mentor. This will cover various work undertaken by the PE in the course of supporting two students, including at least 3 direct observations of PE practice with the student.

  • 3000 word reflective essay, on the experience of supporting a student on placement.

Reassessment

None

Module feedback

Assessments are marked within 6 weeks of hand in, and feedback provided. Candidates will be notified by email when the marks and comments are available for collection. Late submissions may be subject to a delay in marking.

Indicative reading

Various reading suggested throughout course and in module reading list, to include the following journal sources:


Journal of Social Work Practice
Journal of Practice Teaching
Social Work Education
Journal of Social Work


And books:

Field, P., Jasper, C., and Littler, L., 2016. Practice Education in Social Work. Achieving Professional Standards. 2 nd Edition. Northwich: Critical Publishing.
Williams, S., and Rutter, L., 2021. The Practice Educator’s Handbook. 5 th Edition. London: Sage.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.