Practice Education in Social Work

Paula Beesley is a registered social worker with a background in working within children services, particularly with parents with a learning disability. She is a qualified practice educator and has supported numerous students, both in her role in local authority teams and as an independent Off-Site Practice Educator (OSPE). She now works at Leeds Beckett University as a Senior Lecturer in Social Work, specialising in skill development and placement preparation and support. She is writing her doctoral thesis on developing knowledge and skills in social work student supervision.Sue Taplin is a registered Social Worker with 18 years’ experience as a Social Work Researcher and University Lecturer. Prior to embarking on an academic career, Sue practised in the voluntary sector as a Palliative Care Social Worker and Practice Educator. Sue currently works at the University of Gloucestershire, where she brings her passion for practice and interprofessional learning and teaching to the undergraduate and postgraduate social work programmes. Sue is the editor of Innovations in Practice Learning, published by Critical Publishing in 2018.

“Whatever academics may believe about the brilliance of their teaching or research, the fact is that what most matters to qualifying social work students is the quality of their placement opportunities - the quality of practice educators, the support offered to students with diverse learning needs, the practice environment, and the fairness and transparency of assessment. This accessible, coherent, logical guide helps all of those engaged in the practice learning process to achieve the very best for students and therefore, implicitly, for those in need of social work services. The book makes a major contribution to assuring the future of social work by ensuring that students are given the best opportunities within practice learning contexts.Nigel HornerVisiting Professor for Social Work and Interprofesssional Education, University of Lincoln

• 1 – Introduction 2 – Preparation and planning 3 - Enabling learning 4 – Critical reflection and values 5 - Reflective supervision 6 - Assessment 7 - Dealing with placement challenges 8 – Practice Educator professional standards for social work Appendices