The portfolio weighted at 100% consists of:-
(1) a critical career review in which the practitioner reflects upon and evaluates how professional career development to date has been consolidated within their chosen specialist area.
(2) A range of evidence which demonstrates how capability has been applied to their chosen field of specialist practice.
(3) Using the provided assessment schedule, the student must also successfully complete a summative observation of practice completed by an assessor working within the practitioners chosen field of specialist social work practice. Assessing all LO's

Formative assessment:
Students will receive feedback on their plans for their critical areas review in tutorials, they will also receive verbal feedback on case presentation in groupwork session.

The aim of this module is to enable professional practitioners to consolidate their post qualification practice to date within their chosen specialist practice area. The module will be centred around the development/further development of reflective, critical, analytical and evaluation skills in order to enable a self-review of practice. The practitioner will firstly be introduced to the reflective and evaluative philosophy of concepts and models of reflection utilised in current professional practice. Evaluation theory and strategies will also be explored. Contemporary issues facing professionals and drivers relevant to the student’s area of practice will be explored, identifying and discussing the changing landscape and the implications for practice. Through the use of small group work, practitioners will be encouraged to draw on their experience of being a professional practitioner to date, reflecting upon their induction into and development of ongoing practice, exploring assessments, interventions and partnerships that enable the application of professional values, theoretical perspectives, policy and legislation to their area of practice throughout. Through small group work, practitioners will also be enabled to develop their use of reflection and peer review as strategies for evaluating issues arising from their own practice. In addition, the use of other personal review strategies, such as the use of practice observation and supervision, using evidence from the evaluations of users of services and other service providers will be encouraged. Personal Development Planning (PDP) as a basis for managing further continuing professional development will be introduced.

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: (30 hours)
Because of its emphasis on developing the reflective and self evaluative skills necessary to consider and consolidate practice within a chosen specialty, small problem focused group work (12 hours) will provide a focal learning strategy for the module. Students will be allocated to groups of between 5 and 8 members with experience in the specialist setting. In order to support the development of propositional knowledge to support practice analysis, reflection and evaluation, interactive core lectures and specialist seminars will also be utilised (15 hours). Group and individual tutorial support will also be provided (3 hours)

Guided Independent Study: (120 hours)
Independent learning time will be utilised to firstly enable practitioners to explore the related theory, law and policy that will provide an informed reflection on and evaluation of own practice issues , their contribution to the problem focused small group work and the development of their critical career review (72 hours). Students will also undertake a range of independent learning activities to support the development of their reflective skills, this will include the development of a reflective learning log and access to reflective and supervisory discussion with a nominated experienced specialist practitioner /assessor (36 hours). Practitioners can independently access resources and support for their learning using Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) (12 hours).

Audio visual aids and equipment: laptop PC and data projector, flipchart and DVD player.
Appropriate rooms for small group work
Peer group within action learning set
Module and personal tutor.
Practice assessor working within the practitioners chosen field of specialist practice.
PC with internet access, access to Blackboard VLE

Cottrell,S (2003) The Personal Development Planning Handbook , Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan
Means, R. Richards, S and Smith, R. (2008) Community Care 3rd Edition. Basingstoke, Palgrave
Thompson, N. & Thompson, S. (2007) Understanding Social Care. Lyme Regis, Russell House
Wallace. M & Wray, A (2016) Critical Reading and Writing for Postgraduates (3rd edition). London, Sage.

Applicants must be working in a Health, Social Work, or Social Care setting.
Must be currently working in the relevant context for chosen specialist practice route.
Will have an identified practice assessor to support work based development and provide observation of practice.

1. Systematically review and apply the legislation, policy and theories that underpin practice within an identified specialist setting (Analysis, Knowledge and Understanding)

2. Reflect on own induction, post qualifying professional competence and development within a specialist setting (Application, Learning, Reflection)

3. Demonstrate how competent practice, underpinned by professional values and ethical practice, has been consolidated in a specialist setting (Analysis)

4. Analyse own strengths and weaknesses in creating effective partnership working with service users, carers and other disciplines and agencies (Enquiry, Problem Solving)