On a Wing and a Prayer! An Exploration of Students’ Experiences of External Supervision

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Cleak ◽  
Ines Zuchowski ◽  
Mark Cleaver
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Field Education ◽  
Supervisory Relationship

Abstract Field education is a core component of social work courses globally and has been recognised as providing significant learning opportunities to develop professional practice. Evidence highlights the strong correlation between student satisfaction with their supervisory relationship and their satisfaction with placement, but current practices have resulted in more reliance on placements with a variety of supervisory arrangements, which may be compromising a quality and supportive supervisory relationship. This article reports on an Australian online survey of 284 social work students about their experience of supervision, focusing on 119 students who received external supervision. Both quantitative ratings and qualitative comments showed that students generally described their external supervision as valuable and offered space to reflect critically on practice. Nevertheless, many felt disadvantaged without a social work presence onsite and not being observed or observing social work practice. Concerns were raised about task supervisors who offered supervision ‘on the run’ and had limited understanding of social work roles and values. Many students struggled on placement and felt that, once placement was confirmed, they received minimal support from University staff. Findings should alert field education programmes that students require consistent and ongoing involvement.

Gaps between academia and practice: Perspectives on new graduates’ readiness for social work practice in Georgia

2021 ◽  
pp. 002087282110263
Author(s):  
Inga Saitadze ◽  
Darejan Dvalishvili
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Academic Program ◽  
Field Education ◽  
Academic Programs ◽  
New Graduates ◽  
Readiness For Practice

The study explores the perspectives of social work students, faculty, and the main employer of social workers with regard to new graduates’ readiness for social work practice in Georgia. The results of focus groups and in-person interviews revealed significant gaps and tension between academic programs and professional practice contributing to students’ low levels of readiness for practice. Participants identified various concerns regarding academic program curricula, field education, and professional practice; although, reasons for new graduates’ lack of readiness for practice highlighted by the main employer and academic program faculty were conflicting and pointed need for further actions.

scholarly journals Preferences and Orientations of Social Work Students towards Methods and Forms of Professional Practice

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-81
Author(s):  
Ginka Mehandzhiyska
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Social Work Education ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Research Data ◽  
The Social ◽  
Work Education

This article presents results from research on preferences of social work students (n=60) towards particular methods and forms when practicing their profession. A conceptual model has been applied, where measurements and analysis lead to identification of two methodological orientations: micro- and macro-orientation. Based on research data conclussions are made about the profile of the students' interests for practicing the social work profession in particular areas and settings. Presented analysis concludes that social work education prepares professionals with profiles relevant to the needs of social work practice.

Keeping MANDELA alive: A qualitative evaluation of the MANDELA supervision framework four years on

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-58
Author(s):  
Prospera Tedam ◽  
Millicent Munowenyu
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Field Education ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The University

Four years after the development of the MANDELA model by Prospera Tedam, an independent evaluation of its effectiveness was conducted in 2014 with 45 social work students and 6 practice educators. The framework was incorporated into the University of Northampton (UN) Social Work Practice Learning Handbook as a recommended practice placement supervision tool for use by students and practice educators. This article summarises the process, findings and recommendations arising from the evaluation. The project sought to evidence the justification for the model’s continued use in social work practice placements. Though the intended audience for this publication are primarily social work students and practice educators in practice placement settings, the model’s underpinning ethos as a strengths based anti-oppressive tool and its unique attributes as a framework that proactively promotes and permits in-depths discussions on pertinent issues of difference, life experiences, individuality and diversity would be of benefit to any university lecturer and other stake holders in the fields of health and social care. The model can also be adapted and used in field education in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and the USA and in other countries where cultural and ethnic diversity in higher education is resulting in differential experiences and outcomes for students from minority backgrounds.

scholarly journals Development and implementation of social work practice learning opportunities in NHS settings with no previous experience of social work education

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-45
Author(s):  
Marianne Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Interprofessional Practice ◽  
Professional Groups ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Direct Inter ◽  
Work Education

The purpose of this paper is to outline the knowledge and practice used at a strategic, organisational and practice level in the planning and implementation of effective social work practice learning opportunities in NHS settings new to direct social work practice and social work education.The paper outlines the process which was used in order to create new interprofessional practice learning opportunities and it is intended to add to ‘process knowledge’ (Sheppard et al., 2000). Additionally the paper draws on the content of the ‘matrix of drivers and barriers to integrated working’ developed for the area of interprofessional practice (Stewart, Petch, & Curtice, 2003) and transfers this knowledge as applicable to Social Work education.In practice, across human services, there continues to be views of ‘other’ professional groups that can create obstacles to the development and maintenance of positive inter-professional working, and that can undermine effective service delivery for service users (Report of Caleb Ness Inquiry, 2003). The experience of inter-professional practice learning, when combined with emotional intelligence (Morrison, 2007) can impact positively to increase the confidence, knowledge-base and direct inter-professional practice of newly qualifying Social Workers.

scholarly journals Failing to fail students in the caring professions

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-54
Author(s):  
Mike Shapton
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Field Education ◽  
Personal View ◽  
Practice Teaching ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Practice Assessment ◽  
Practice Teacher

This article represents a personal view of the phenomenon of professionals ‘failing to fail’ students of questionable competence. It is mainly drawn from the author’s experience first as a practice teacher, then as a lecturer and manager of a social work qualifying programme and recently as tutor of a programme preparing social workers and others to become practice teachers and assessors. The article first examines aspects of the process of practice assessment and then argues that the turnover amongst those given this responsibility means that the expertise appropriate to undertaking such a complex task is difficult to accumulate. It then offers some remedies that focus more on organisational responses than simply on the individual professionals who take on this essential responsibility.Much of the recent concern about social work practice teaching and assessing has focussed on the question of quantity. Getting enough practice learning opportunities is a perennial problem in itself- but this article addresses an issue of quality, namely ensuring that both pass and fail decisions are made with confidence.As the author’s background is social work in England, the article will use social work terminology and refer to social work and other documents from the English context, but he hopes that readers from other professions and countries will find the debate useful.This article is developed from a talk given by the author at the fifth International Conference on Practice Teaching and Field Education in Health and Social Work, York, 10-12 July 2006.

An exploration of issues affecting the assessment of social work students on practice placement in England

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridget Caffrey
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Field Education ◽  
Student Groups ◽  
Practice Teaching ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Training And Support ◽  
The Impact

Abstract;This PN explores issues affecting assessment of social work students on practice placements in England.  The authors have many years of experience in this area of social work and aim to highlight concerns about the complexity of assessment in practice settings. The PN reports on research presented by (author) at the 12th International Conference on Practice Teaching and Field Education in Health and Social Work, September 2018 to consider student perspectives. These highlight a sense of feeling powerless and judged. The PN also explores the wider issues potentially impacting on the assessment of students practice. Acknowledging the challenges of all assessments the PN considers how assessment of student practice may be further complicated by factors including the role and demands of universities, the impact of training and support for practice educators and pressures within current social work practice. The PN highlights longstanding inequalities within social work assessment on placements for some student groups, including BAME students. The authors draw on Brookfields (1998) reflective lenses and encourage the social work profession to reflect and consider how current practice might be improved. The authors invite ideas and feedback to stimulate a professional debate and new ideas.

An Exploration of Issues affecting the assessment of social Work students on practice placement in England

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 68-82
Author(s):  
Bridget Caffrey ◽  
Helen Fruin
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Current System ◽  
Current Model ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Field Education ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
Social Work Training ◽  
Work Training

The authors of this practice note acknowledge the centrality of practice learning in social work training in England. They recognise it is a defining feature of social work training. However they critically discuss the current model used to assess social work students on placement in England; a process prompted by research one of the authors presented at the 12th International Conference on Practice Teaching and Field Education in Health and Social Work, September 2018.The PN reviews persitant issues in the assessment of students on placement  and argues these have been exacerbated by changes to practice within the English  higher education system and social work practice. They argue the current system is fundamentally flawed and encourage the SW profession  to reflect using imagination and creativity to envisage alternative ways to assess students practice and to identify new ideas to pilot. 

scholarly journals Who owns the case record? Client access to case records in Canadian social work practice

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-350
Author(s):  
Marina Morgenshtern ◽  
Nilan Yu
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Case Record ◽  
The Core ◽  
Core Issue

This study looked into client access to their case records routinely maintained by social workers in the course of professional practice. An online survey and semi-structured interviews were undertaken with Canadian social workers. The study found that while the majority of the participants indicated that they granted clients access to their case records, clients were not effectively granted such access in practice. Client access to their case records is a core issue in social work, and social workers need to proactively grant such access if they are to live by the core values of social work.

scholarly journals ‘They thought I wasn’t good enough for social work practice’

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 17-35
Author(s):  
Alberto Poletti ◽  
Ann Anka
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Assessment Criteria ◽  
Work Experiences ◽  
Personal Problems ◽  
Clear Information

The few studies of why social work students fail their practice learning opportunity (PLOs) have been undertaken through the lens of practice educators, lecturers and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with no input from students. Using qualitative interviews; this research explores the reasons for failure from the perspective of the students. The findings identified a number of interrelated issues such as previous work experiences, family history and personal circumstances as the rationale for what led those interviewed into social work. Issues such as ill health, personal problems and lack of clarity around assessment criteria as well as perceived lack of support from HEIs were identified as some of the factors that led students to fail their practice learning experiences. Recommendations from those interviewed included the suggestion that HEIs should, at the recruitment stage, provide clear information about the implications of failing practice learning opportunities and clarify what type of support for is available for those who fail. The students interviewed also echo the desire expressed by the HEIs and practice educators for clearer assessment criteria/frameworks and a more supportive process for all parties.

scholarly journals Reflektavimo kompetencijos struktūra socialinio darbo studentams atliekant praktikas

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 50-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remigijus Bubnys
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Learning From Experience ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Experiential Analysis

Šiaulių valstybinės kolegijosSveikatos priežiūros fakultetoSocialinio darbo katedraM. K. Čiurlionio g. 16a, LT-76228 ŠiauliaiTel. (8 41) 52 41 66El. paštas:[email protected] Straipsnyje atskleidžiami reflektavimo kompetencijos komponentai, išryškėję socialinio darbo studentų profesinėje praktikoje. Faktorinės analizės rezultatai leidžia teigti, kad socialinio darbo studentų reflektavimo kompetenciją sudaro refleksijos apie mokymąsi ir mokymuisi, savirefleksijos ir refleksijos mokantis bei kritinio mąstymo ir problemų sprendimo, patirties analizės ir mokymosi iš patirties gebėjimai. Tyrimo metu išryškėjo, kad socialinio darbo studentai praktikose sėkmingai taiko tris patirties reflektavimo kompetencijos gebėjimus – reflektavimą mokantis (ko?), apie mokymąsi (ką?) ir mokymuisi (kam?). Menkiausiai studentų įgyti savirefleksijos gebėjimą sudarantys įgūdžiai yra išgyvenamų emocijų atpažinimas ir valdymas bei kritinis mąstymas ir problemų sprendimas.Pagrindiniai žodžiai: aukštoji mokykla, reflektavimo gebėjimai, reflektavimo įgūdžiai, reflektavimo kompetencija, socialinio darbo praktika, studentas. THE STRUCTURE OF REFLECTION COMPETENCY DURING SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS’ PRACTICESRemigijus Bubnys SummaryThe article discloses structural components of reflection competency, which distinguished themselves during social work students’ professional practice. The results of factor analysis allow stating that the structure of social work students’ reflection competency encompasses reflection on learning and for learning, self-reflection and reflection in learning as well as abilities of critical thinking and problem solving, experiential analysis and learning from experience. It was found during the research that during the practice social work students successfully applied three abilities of reflection on experience competency: reflection in learning, on learning and for learning. Students’ least mastered skills making up the self-reflection ability are recognition and management of lived emotions, critical thinking and problem solving.Key words: social work practice, reflection competency, reflection abilities, student, higher education institution

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