I qualified as a practice educator in 2011 and I have been committed to being a practice educator throughout my career since. I am experienced with supporting and assessing student social workers in a range of placement settings, in 70- and 100-day placements on undergraduate and apprenticeship university programmes.

 

I am passionate about supporting students. I prioritise providing quality supervision tailored to a person’s learning needs, utilising the placement learning opportunities to positively challenge thinking.

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The learning and development support that I provide includes the following:

 

• Develop practice learning agreement (PLA) with student and attend the PLA meeting.

• Complete a supervision agreement and provide fortnightly supervision between 1 ½ - 2 hours duration.

• Ensure an appropriate programme of work is being provided by the placement provider.

• Communicate regularly with the agency-based supervisor to utilise learning opportunities and communicate needs of student. 

• Carry out each of the direct observations and complete a report.

• Assist the student with the integration of the knowledge, values and skills into social work practice

• Provide regular constructive feedback on the student’s work and progress, both verbally and through the written holistic assessment

• Where required, to ensure that action plans are carried out

• Carry out one of the two (First Placement) or two of the three (final placement) planned observations of practice and provide feedback on each

• Carry out formative assessments on the student’s work

• Carry out interim review and final assessments and make a recommendation regarding whether the student has Passed/Failed

• In consultation with the student bring to the attention of the university tutor any significant changes in the arrangements or any concerns about the progress of the placement

• Advise on how to gather and provide feedback from service users and carers.