Practice Educator Stage One (Social Work)

Introduction

The Practice Educator qualification is offered as a non-credit bearing Short Course; there is a follow on Short Course for Stage 2. The course can be undertaken on a stand-alone basis by experienced qualified practitioners facilitating the learning of social work students / learners.

It is delivered at level HE7 (MA) and carries 20 academic credits if taken as a credit bearing course. This is optional and there is an additional cost when taking the course for academic credit. The course is designed to meet the requirements of the BASW Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) (2019).

Who is this course for?

Candidates will be facilitating the learning of a social work student (or ASYE) on a placement of at least 50 days during the course. It is possible to complete the course on the basis of supervising a qualified social worker or a social work assistant, as long as they are actively engaged in significant learning appropriate to social work related activities and being assessed against the Professional Capabilities Framework. Please discuss this with the course leader or Programme Director.

About the course

There are six taught sessions and a pre-course workshop. Sessions are offered in a blended format, with recorded and online material available before sessions, and live online seminars for group discussion and consolidating learning. Topics to be covered will include the following: social work education and practice/work-based learning, creating an effective learning relationship, anti-oppressive practice, adult learning theories, practice teaching, social work supervision, assessment of practice, managing failing and challenging placements, and the role of the practice educator. Candidates must be able to participate through day release for the duration of the course.

Work-based activities, reflection and self-directed learning are also essential elements of the course.

Practice Assessor

Candidates must arrange to have a practice assessor during the course. This assessor should be professionally qualified and hold a Practice Educator Stage 2 qualification (or equivalent).

The assessor can be the candidate’s workplace supervisor or another practitioner in the same or a different workplace. The assessor’s role is to support and assess the candidate’s work-based learning during the course, verify the evidence in their portfolio, provide a report on direct observations of the candidate supervising/teaching a learner, and provide a pass/fail recommendation for the course. If the assessor is based in a different workplace the candidate’s workplace supervisor will also contribute to assessing/verifying evidence.

Candidates, with the help of their managers, should ensure that they have a learner and an assessor in place before the course begins.

Assessment

The portfolio assessment for this short course includes:

• Learning Agreement
• 3 teaching plans.
• A report of 2 satisfactory direct observations (these can be remote / virtual if needed)
• An Assessment of Practice Tool for the course providing evidence of how they meet the requirements for Practice Educator Domains A – D
• Evidence of supervision and learner feedback
• Evidence of work completed with learners

Candidates are required to pass all elements of this short course.

Course costs

Please email timothy.odell@canterbury.ac.uk for fees information.

The deadline for application is 15 July 2024.

To obtain further information or application forms please contact: canterbury-healthadmin@canterbury.ac.uk.