Innovation
Research around the impact of failing a social work student on the practice educators / work based supervisors who make that decision. This led to the establishment of a support project for practice educators based upon the above. In addition we are currently involved in enhancing training (post grad) in this area
What prompted innovation?
- Conversation with practice educators involved in this situation and their concerns regarding the lack of support
- Limited research suggesting practice educators are unwilling to fail students – this has critical implications for future professional competence of those working with vulnerable people
- Serious case reviews/government enquiry (Laming 2003) raising concerns regarding social work training/fitness to practice
- Extensive research into stress and coping
What makes innovation different?
- The research undertaken was original, there had only been three previously published papers relevant to social work which were not research based.
- The resulting project (see below) is as far as I am aware unique to Staffordshire University
Changes in practice
Formalised support is now available for WBS / PEs. Such support is helpful on an individual basis, but also provides the opportunity for feedback to the department regarding placement issues to the university.
Impact
Informal feedback is positive and I am collecting formalised feedback data on people who have participated in the project. However numbers will be low (the number of struggling placements is only 5% approx on the cohort and people wishing to participate in the project is a proportion of this), hence it will take some time to reach any substantial numbers.
Dissemination
- A paper with the original research and recommendations was presented at the national practice educators conference (2009)
- A paper was accepted for presentation at the international practice educators conference in 2010 (in Bruges) but departmental funding was not available to cover my expenses in relation to this
- Published in British Journal of Social Work (2010)
- Disseminated to partner organisations (participants are also welcome from partner organisations if relevant)
- Formally included in a specific practice learning module
- Current plans are to integrate this with increased practice educator support – this will help to make Staffordshire University a leading organisation in relation to practice educator support.