Community Practice Experience - SPY00033I
Module summary
For this practice experience, students will undertake work experience in a community or social care setting. This module is designed to allow students to experience work in social care first hand, building relevant workplace and employability skills and knowledge while exploring their own specific career interests.
The module will be delivered over the course of one semester, with a three hour introductory/practical session taking place at the end of the previous academic year to allow students to start searching for their practice experience in advance.
Practice experiences can be completed within term time or during university holidays, at the discretion of the student, which would allow the student to explore alternative settings.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2026-27 |
Module aims
During the Community Practice Experience module students will begin
to develop professional knowledge and skills. In particular, module
content and assessment is designed to:
- Build an understanding
of professional working environments, including language, culture, and
how things are achieved.
- Develop an employability profile
within the sector and be able to communicate skills and experiences in
the workplace; by applying for and negotiating practice experiences
through to appropriate endings.
- Gain practical skills such as
time management, prioritising work and time, self-motivation and
initiative and autonomy, interpersonal and networking skills.
-
Develop work-based confidence, knowledge and skills.
- Develop
creativity and innovation; the ability to identify goals and
opportunities, to put new projects into practice, and to observe or
measure the outcomes.
- Tailor goals to individual development
needs and career interests.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to demonstrate the
following common learning outcomes:
- Good workplace skills,
including the ability to take responsibility and an ability to
communicate effectively. Students will articulate this through ongoing
reflection regarding their development over the duration of the
community practice experience.
- An ability to describe the
legal, organisational and social context within which the
service.
- Understand the parameters and limits of their
organisation and to work safely and effectively within this remit.
Demonstrate awareness of how those using the service perceive their
experience with and of that service
- Identify their impact on
the provider organisation through a critical analysis of their
individual role and the tangible outcomes of their work.
-
Develop a sense of career direction based on an exploration of their
own values, skills and motivations arising from their community
practice experience placement.
Further learning outcomes may be developed individually by each student, as adapted to their specific practice experience setting and personal learning needs.
Module content
Sessions are workshop style, each session including practical tasks that will enable students to successfully complete a community practice experience.
Workshops and drop-in Q&A sessions will take place throughout the module, and students can also arrange 1:1 sessions with the module leads.
Community Practice Requirements:
Practice experience will
consist of:
33 hours practice experience, consisting of:
Preparation: planning / applying / training
Direct practice or
work experience
Reflective learning
Hours may vary depending
on the practice setting.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100.0 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100.0 |
Module feedback
Feedback will be given in accordance with the University Policy on feedback in the Guide to Assessment as well as in line with the School policy.
Indicative reading
Students will identify texts specific to their own setting, and will draw on texts used throughout the course to date.
Social Care Institute for Excellence (2010) ‘The Good Practice
Framework’ http://www.scie.org.uk/news/mediareleases/2010/090710.asp
(accessed 12/5/2017)
Wheelan, S.A. (2013) Creating Effective
Teams: A Guide for Members and Leaders, London: Sage Publications, pp. 58-67.