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Practice Learning Placement 2 - SPY00072H

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  • Department: Social Policy and Social Work
  • Module co-ordinator: Ms. Polly Sykes
  • Credit value: 40 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Related modules

Prerequisite - Practice Learning Placement 1

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25 to Semester 2 2024-25

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:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/knowledge-and-skills-statements-for-child-and-family-social-work

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

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.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Summative report 4000 words		 N/A 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.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Summative report 4000 words		 N/A 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.


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.