The course is for registered social workers who wish to gain a qualification as a Social Work Practice Educator. This unit aims to:

Please note that this course used to be called Supervising a Learner in Practice.

Intended learning outcomes (ILOs):

By the end of the unit, you should be able to demonstrate:

1. Take full responsibility for managing the learning and assessment of a qualifying social work learner in practice in a work-based learning situation. Ensuring the provision of an effective and anti-oppressive learning and assessment environment whilst maintaining the quality of service delivery.
2. Critically apply appropriate skills, knowledge and attributes to facilitate the development of professional capability in others, using a range of strategies that encourage and support critically reflective practice.
3. Use professional judgement to make decisions about the holistic assessment of the professional capability of learners against agreed objectives and criteria.
4. Critically reflect upon aspects of their own professional development as a practice educator, showing how they integrate appropriate professional and personal values with all aspects of teaching and assessment, using power and authority appropriately and applying new learning to future practice.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of relevant contemporary practice education issues, including evidence of a critical understanding of current theories, research, policies and legislation.

Learning and teaching methods

Within this unit students will encounter a range of learning and teaching methods, including lectures, small group work, directed self-managed learning, seminars, reflective activities and guest speakers. They will have access to a variety of pre-recorded lectures to deepen their learning and understanding.

The main approach to teaching will be reflection and action learning to help students to translate their theoretical knowledge into potential practice applications.

Students will be expected to participate actively in all aspects of the learning process including preparatory engagement with materials and discussion.

This course requires 100% attendance.

Learning outcomes

 Having completed this unit the student is expected to:

1. Take full responsibility for managing the learning and assessment of a qualifying student (or equivalent) in a work-based learning situation. Ensuring the provision of an effective learning / assessment environment whilst maintaining the quality of service delivery.

2. Apply appropriate skills, knowledge and attributes to facilitate the development of professional capability in others, using a range of strategies that encourage and support critically reflective practice.

3. Use professional judgement to make decisions about the holistic assessment of the professional capability of learners against agreed objectives and criteria including learners who are at the point of qualification.

4. Critically reflect upon aspects of their own professional development as a practice educator, showing how they integrate appropriate professional values with all aspects of teaching and assessment, using power appropriately and applying new learning to future practice. 

5. Demonstrate knowledge of relevant contemporary practice education issues, including evidence of a critical understanding of current theories, research, policies and legislation.

Assessment

The coursework comprises a portfolio containing two pieces of coursework

1. A reflective assignment (2,000 words). This assessment element contributes 100% of the mark for the unit.
2. A Practice Assessors Report (1,000 words) based on a minimum of two observations of practice and feedback from a learner. This assessment element is marked on a Pass/Fail basis