What is Practice Learning?
Social work education is now an honours degree qualification, with a clear emphasis on learning for and in practice. As part of their programme of study, students must undertake a total of 200 days on placements in social care settings. Placements can be in a range of settings for example residential, day care, community care and duty teams. Over the 200 days students must work directly with at least two different service user groups.
What does the Children's Workforce section do?
We work with the local universities to provide quality practice learning opportunities for social work students. We find and support placements children’s social care settings in CYPS, other statutory providers and the private, voluntary and independent sector.
We also provide training and support for social care practitioners to act as Practice Assessors.
What do Practice Assessors do?
Practice Assessors work with and assess the students while on placement. The GSCC National Occupational Standards provides the framework for assessing practice. Students must demonstrate their practical application of knowledge, skills and values, and their ability to deliver a service that creates opportunities for service users.
How do I become a Practice Assessor?
You need to attend one of our Managing Practice Learning courses (link on left gives more information.
You do not need to be a qualified social worker to become a Practice Assessor.
If your setting does not have direct contact with service users you may still be able to offer a practice learning placement. However it is important for students to experience direct work so the placement will probably need to be split with another team.
If you are unsure about being a Practice Assessor you may like to consider allowing a student to ‘shadow’ you for two days. Some students must complete this prior to starting their first placement in order to meet GSCC requirements.
Contact us
Please contact us if you have any questions about practice learning or being a Practice Assessor.
Lizzie Clark / Emma Maddock / Rachel Yarrow
Children's Workforce Section
Bristol 600 Training Section, Knowle
Tel: 0117 35 32504
Email: practicelearning@bristol.gov.uk