module specification

The Practice Learning 2 module provides you with the opportunity to prepare for professional practice in social work under supervised conditions and 

• Develop your knowledge, values and skills in relation to working with people with lived experience in more complex situations, taking responsibility for managing your time and workload effectively.
• Develop an understanding of, and an ability to apply ethical principles and relevant legislation whilst working alongside professionally qualified social workers in a setting and with a people with lived experience group that contrasts with the first placement.
• Consolidate and integrate the skills and knowledge developed in your first placement and university-based teaching modules.
• Demonstrate knowledge and effective application of the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF), BASW Professional Standards and the Knowledge and Skills Statement (KSS) (DfE and DoH)

By the end of their final placement students are expected to be practising at the level that will be required of a newly qualified social worker.

Successful completion of module SW7W00 (Practice Placement 1)
SW7062 (Applied Law for Social Work)

You will undertake a minimum of 100 days within a suitable agency under the direct supervision of a practice educator who will allocate work to you in relation to the 9 domains Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) at final placement level.  A structured induction will be provided for you and learning activities, including direct work with vulnerable people, will enable you to demonstrate your capabilities against the PCF at final level.

• Opportunities to visit related agencies, attend team meetings, prioritise and manage more complex direct work with people with lived experience - with greater autonomy.
• Work alongside professionals from different disciplines and utilise opportunities to gain a critical understanding of the role of the agency within its organisational and legal context.
• Students will be provided with an appropriately qualified practice educator. The practice educator will provide the student with 1.5 hours of formal supervision per week.
• Practice learning will be dependent on the individual circumstances and learning opportunities available in each placement. This will be related to specific people with lived experience groups, for example older people, children and families, people with mental ill health, people with disabilities.
• The placement will be governed by a learning agreement drawn up by the practice educator, practice supervisor (where applicable), student and the placement tutor.  The placement tutor will also meet with the practice educator, practice supervisor and student at the midway stage to review progress.
• A practice placement handbook provided to both student and practice educator gives detailed information about placement requirements and processes.

Learning Outcomes LO 1 - 4

Evidence of practice capability will come from your practice educator as well as from you. You will be provided with variety of different teaching and assessment models, including a minimum of two direct observations of your practice.

The 1.5 hours of formal supervision per week should include reflection on your progress towards meeting the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF).

The placement will be governed by a practice learning agreement drawn up by in collaboration with yourself, practice educator, practice supervisor (where applicable), and a placement tutor from the University at the beginning of the placement.  The placement tutor will also meet with you and your practice educator/practice supervisor at the midway stage. 

The final portfolio will be submitted at the date agreed by yourself, the practice educator and the placement tutor, usually 1 week following the formal end of the placement.
You will be required to write and submit a 3,000 word Practice Study which will be a critical evaluation based upon your practice working directly with a person, family or group with lived experience. This will be submitted, usually 1 week following the formal end of the placement.

By the end of the module, you will be able to:
 
Provide demonstrable evidence of meeting the BASW’s Professional Capabilities Framework, SWE’s Professional Standards and the DfE and DoH’s Knowledge and Skills Statement at the appropriate level.
Additionally, you will:

LO1. Demonstrate professionalism and the ability to maintain personal and professional boundaries, prioritise workloads, use supervision appropriately and reflect on the role of the social worker in a range of contexts and developmental processes. Demonstrate ethical practice, applying a professional value base in decision making, including through partnership with people with lived experience.
LO2. Demonstrate an integrated understanding of how social work theory, models of intervention and law, apply to social work practice. Apply critical understanding of human rights, anti-racist, anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive principles in practice, taking account of how an individual’s identity is informed by a range of circumstances and social contexts.
LO3. Critically analyse the context of partnership working and demonstrate the ability to operate effectively within multi-agency and inter-professional settings in order to contribute to the development of services and organisations as well as to practice.
LO4. Demonstrate critical reflection and analysis as well as a range of communication skills to inform and provide a rationale for decision making using critical thinking supported by creativity and professional curiosity

There is one placement portfolio summative assessment for this module. You must pass this assessment but the portfolio is not graded and the outcome of the module does not contribute to the classification of your degree.

The placement practice portfolio includes (but is not limited to):

● 4 Reflective Learning Summaries
● Direct Observation feedback of your direct practice
● Feedback from professionals and or colleagues within the agency
● Feedback from people with lived experience
● The assessment of your practice capability against the PCF at the end of the first placement level made by your practice educator – A Mid-way and Final assessment report
● Your practice educator will be required to conclude their report with the recommendation of either a Pass/Fail.

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