Accessibility statement

Community Practice Experience - SPY00033I

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

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

For this 10 day / 60 hour 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.

During the Community Practice Experience module students will begin to develop professional knowledge and skills. In particular, module content and assessment is designed to:

  • Develop workplace skills through first-hand experience of working within a community / social care setting, learning to negotiate the challenges of real world practice.

  • Evaluate applied empirical knowledge and theoretical perspectives learned throughout the course.

  • Begin to contextualise and reflect critically on one or more aspects of practice.

  • Use communication skills effectively in order to engage with the individuals / groups / families who use the services, colleagues, teams and professionals.

  • Take responsibility for their own wellbeing and resilience through reflection and effective use of onsite support.

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.

  • Understand the remit of their practice experience provider and work safely and effectively within this remit, paying due attention to policies and procedures.

  • An ability to describe the legal, organisational and social context within which their service is set.

  • An insight into how those using the service perceive the support that they are given, and how support might be further developed to meet the needs.

  • The ability to independently identify and analyse or critique interventions and approaches employed in social care support.

Further learning outcomes will be developed individually by each student, as adapted to their specific practice experience setting and personal learning needs.

Module content

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.

The practice experience is flexible, consisting of 10 days or an equivalent number of hours. Students should keep the module convenor appraised of progress / obstacles, and should they fall short of the recommended number of hours the convenor will discuss with them the sufficiency of their experience and support them to make progress.

  • Preparatory session (Year 1 Semester 2):

The community practice experience is introduced, with input from the module convenor, Careers and Placements, the local accredited volunteer centre (York CVS), and interested local organisations.

Students plan and create a community practice proposal. They will agree parameters with input from the module leader and from any relevant provider organisation. Confirmation of practice / project suitability lies with the module convenor, who will ensure that these practice experiences are in a different setting from the prospective qualifying social work placements that take place over the final two years of the programme.

  • Year 2, Semester 1

Students work with provider organisations, building their skills and gathering a portfolio of evidence. Progress is discussed within drop in sessions and small group sessions, where students can access support from academic staff and peers. Specific teaching includes:

Weeks 1, 2 & 3:

2 hour sessions exploring various aspects of the practice experience, employability & reflection.

Week 11:

Students have a final session, designed to help them to reflect on their learning and prepare for the assessment. Students reflect on their progress and prepare their report.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Practice Learning Report		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Practice Learning Report		 N/A 100

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.

Fanthome, C. (2017). Work placements – a survival guide for students. London: Bloomsbury Publishing

Woodcock, B. and Keaveney, J. (2019). Successful applications: work experience, internships and jobs. London: Bloomsbury Publishing

Williams, K., Woolliams, M. and Spiro, J. (2020). Reflective writing – pocket study skills. 2nd Edn. London: Bloomsbury Publishing


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.