Your responses to the poll in our September newsletter identified that the most important concern is the quality of supervision and assessment provided on placement.
Over 300 of you said this was the most important factor. And 70 per cent of respondents felt that students on their final placement should be assessed by a Qualified Social Worker competent in practice teaching and assessment.
In its interim report the Social Work Task Force (SWTF) highlighted concerns about the quantity and quality of placements for students and identified the challenge of providing “high quality practice placements which are properly supervised and assessed.”
Considerable work has already taken place through the National Social Work Partnership to develop new national standards for practice educators which have recently been out for consultation. The National Social Work Parnership is a collaboration between the GSCC, the Children’s Workforce Development Council and the Scottish Funding Council to support practice learning in social work.
The results from the poll very much reflect the views expressed through other sources to the SWTF, but the answers to these specific questions will further contribute to the SWTF’s understanding of the issues.
The Social Work Task Force report which was published on 1 December included a number of proposals to improve the quality of practice learning. The GSCC will play an important role in making sure that this happens through its role as the regulator of social work education.
I was on placement at the Colchester Social Services department and the Ipswich Probation department between 1982 84 and the quality of supervision etc was excellent.I am shocked by what Ihave been reading.
Allan Winchester
11 Jan 2010
I am fortunate enough to be studying in one of the Russell Group of Universities. The level of education I have received so far at university is a million miles away from the learning and experience I am getting at placement. Like a fellow commentator has quite aptly stated, I am a glorified administrator. I fear that my current placement will leave me handicapped when it comes to my practice as I have learnt nothing new, apart from maybe becoming a dab hand at photocopying and making coffee. The GSCC requirement of 200 days of placement needs serious reconsideration. I feel that unless and until 200 days of quality placement can be guaranteed we would be better served by a shorter, high quality placement while spending the rest of the time in an academic environment. As far as placements are concerned quality rather than quantity should be the objective.
Sam
21 Dec 2009
I am a second year student currently on placement with a mental health supported living company. I have no contact with any social workers and there are no trained professionals in the company for me to learn from. I am a unpaid support worker and spend my days shopping, cooking and playing games. My supervisor has had no training, does not know what social workers do or what supervision is, I therefore do not get supervision. How is this providing me with opportunities to develop my skills and understanding of the social work role? I have raised my concerns with the university but they say there is nothing they can do as there are no other placements available. The standard of placements must improve if we are to have confident and talented social workers in the future. Supervisors need to be provided with training and there needs to be national standards for placement settings. Until this happens, the social work profession shall remain in crisis. Surely it is better to train fewer students and provide them with quality placements rather than providing the masses with inadequate training and support.
Jane Smith
21 Dec 2009
I welcome the task force recommendations but fear that with the drive to personalise services particularly in adults, it has already resulted in many teams across a number of Local Authorities being deleted or dramatically reduced. So, apart from losing experienced social workers, where can students go to for adult statutory experience? There are hardly any now, or for the forseeable future.
helen fruin
19 Dec 2009
All social workers would agree that the quality of placements, supervision and assessments are vital components required for a holistic learning experience for students. This would enable students to begin their journey to become effective practitioners. Let us move on from what we already know, to action! It is abundantly clear to me, and others, that more resources are needed to train and support individuals and agencies to enable them to meet the learning needs of students. Unless we are serious about adequately funding this provision there will continue to be a shortfall in quality practice learning opportunities. It is time we put Service Users and Carers first and provided high quality practice learning opportunities to all students who, would then be best placed to meet the needs of the people they are trained to serve.
Lelsey Parish
13 Dec 2009
The 'burden' to SW practice teachers of having a student SW to teach, mentor, supervise and assess is not recognised in the work place in terms of the time commitment needed to establish a good learning experience for the student.
J A Daniel
13 Dec 2009
Standard of many SW students poor, sent CV from a placement co-ordinator i.e. Senior lecturer, the CV was poor with spelling mistakes and very poor grammar. Declined to accept. i have informed dept that i will only consider post grad students. I am not comfortable with the idea of 18 year olds training, the age bar was there for a purpose.
JJ
11 Dec 2009
I am a 3rd year social work student on my final placement in Mental Health. I believe it is so crucial 2 not just have a qualified social worker on the final placement, but a knowledgable and competentent practitioner, with lots of experience in various settings. rnThis is simply because a lot of students are ill-prepared for their final placement, as a result of the second year non traditional placement that includes social work students being in primary school helping as teaching assisstant and homeless shelters serving food. rnTherefore without a well experienced social worker in the final placement students graduate as unexperienced social workers.
Adebanke
11 Dec 2009
I am a 3rd yr SW student in A Community Mental Health Team for Older People. I totally agree it is vital that students get a high quality placement supervisor. I am fortunate that I have an experienced SW assessor. I do however feel very strongly, as do many other students that I know. That Universities make a big mistake when they expect students to carry out other modules whilst on placement! The 3rd yr placement is the most important one, it is when you are given the most autonomy (caseload) to manage. As you would in practice once qualified. How can we give 100o/o to placement reflection and relating theory to practice, when we are studying every night after placement on other modules. It is too much to expect and we are not able to enjoy our placement as we should. After all as soon as we are qualified we will hit the ground running, hopefully.
Gil Sharp
10 Dec 2009
The most important issue for the assessed year for NQSWs is surely not only a balanced case-load but an appropriately 'protected' one. There should be a limlt on the workload, 'case-load' also implies 'case- work', what about alternative ways of working- i.e. groupwork, community work, advocacy etc. ?
Steve Ambler
10 Dec 2009
This article discusses the need for proper assessment and supervision on student placments. However, it fails to recognise the importance for students to experience, firsthand, social work settings amongst qualified social workers. Myself, and many of my fellow students feel frustrated with the sorts of placments we are on, and the experiences we gain from them. Many of us are glorified admin workers, filing papers,with little or no interaction with either service users or social workers! How can we possibly learn without this experience. Experience within a statutory placement is vital, yet a small percentage of students get this opportunity. Something needs to be done!!
Hannah Davis
10 Dec 2009
I am a Social Worker with over 30 years experience. I have undertaken the Managing Practice Placement Course and the Practice Teachers Award. I have now retired from full time employment and would love to update my practice teaching skills and do some long arm practice teaching. How do I find out where the posts are and whwere I can access some training. I have tried but so far to no avail.
Sandy Savage
10 Dec 2009
I am 100% in agreement with this article. Why? Because this is happening at the very moment with my final practice placement.
Social Work Student (Third Year)
09 Dec 2009
