Studying at York
Practice Learning Placement 2 - SPY00178M
- Department: Social Policy and Social Work
- Credit value: 40 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
- See module specification for other years: 2024-25
Related modules
Prerequisite - Practice Learning Placement 1
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2023-24 to Semester 2 2023-24 |
Module aims
All social work students are required to undertake a 100 day final placement. This module will provide students with the competencies required to pass their final placement and qualify as Social Workers (see End of Final Placement: Student PCF Descriptors available on the British Association of Social Workers Website).
Placement will start any time from Semester 1 Week 3 through to the beginning of January, dependent on placement provider capacity. 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.
‘Professional Development Groups’ (PDGs) are embedded at intervals throughout the placement; PDGs are 1 hour sessions at which students reflect on their practice experience in small groups.
Students will be out in practice for 100 days altogether. Any days that students miss (e.g. for vacation or illness) will be added to the end of the placement.
Module aims:
During the final placement students will acquire professional capabilities across 9 domains at qualifying level. In attaining these capabilities, the national (Social Work England) expectation is that students 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).
Students 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 students 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
Expectations of undergraduate / postgraduate learning outcomes throughout placement.
Both undergraduate students (MSocW) and postgraduate students (MA) undertake a Practice Learning Placement 2 (final placement). While both sets of students are ultimately required to meet the nine domains of the ‘Professional Capabilities Framework: End of First Placement’, in line with the professional award, we do expect students to bring the appropriate level of knowledge, insight and criticality to both their practical work and the resulting reports.
We expect postgraduate students (MA) to demonstrate professionalism in their practice, and to critically explore the nature of professionalism. We would like to see an ability to critically apply social work ethics within complex working environments, Students should be able to critically apply their knowledge of diversity and equality in practice, and to undertake work directly relating to the rights, justice and economic wellbeing of those who use the service while showing critical awareness of the broader context impacting on these areas. Students should be able to critically apply on a range of knowledge, including law and policy, theory and research to inform their practice. We would like them to reflect on and analyse their practice experiences, demonstrating critical self awareness. They should demonstrate a critical insight into the different contexts and organisations within which social work is undertaken, including complex multi-agency and inter-agency working. Finally, they should be able to demonstrate professional leadership; responding to leadership in others and building on their own ability to lead.
Module content
There will be an introductory lecture in Year 1, Semester 2 Week 3, along with a drop-in ‘Placement Applications’ session. 4.5 skills days will include 2.5 court & report writing days (law), a leadership day and a day on ‘Getting Your First Job’.
Placement will start any time from Semester 1 Week 3 through to January, dependent on placement provider capacity. 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.
‘Professional Development Groups’ (PDGs) are embedded at intervals throughout the placement; PDGs are 1 hour sessions at which students reflect on their practice experience in small groups.
Students will be out in practice for 100 days altogether. Any days that students 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 student 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 3 observations, critical reflections, and evidence provided in relation to the Professional Capabilities Framework.
There is a partner report from the PE, who has observed student practice throughout the placement and will make a recommendation around whether the student is ready for practice.
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 student 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
Students receive feedback from their Practice Educator as part of the report writing process. Students are informed about their grade (P/F) within 4 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.
Lomax, R. (2010) Surviving your social work placement. New York : Palgrave Macmillan.
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.
Thompson, N. (2021) Anti-Discriminatory Practice: Equality, Diversity and Social Justice, (7th Edn.). London: Red Globe Press.