You will have a practice learning opportunity or `Placement' in a social work/social care setting within the statutory, voluntary or private sectors. This will focus on the Professional Capabilities Framework (TCSW 2012) and Standards of Proficiency (HCPC 2012) and a Practice Educator will be allocated to you to assess your learning over the duration of the placement.

The Learning Outcomes identified here are the Capabilities required of social work students by the end of their first placement. By the end of their second placement students will also be required to demonstrate having achieved threshold Standards for Social Workers in England as specified by the HCPC and known as Standards of Proficiency (SOP). These are listed below in the appendix.

You will be required to develop and agree a learning contract between yourself, the university and the local authority, to review this at mid-placement and to submit a portfolio of evidence of your capabilities at the end of the placement.

It is a recommendation of the College of Social Work (TCSW) that you complete 70 full days in placement.

In exceptional circumstances students may carry forward days at the discretion of the Practice Assessment Panel.

The learning on this module will take place through experiential learning in the practice setting and independent study

You will complete 70 days practice in placement supported by independent learning, practice supervision and tutorials. In addition to Supervision and tutorials you will attend two formal learning meetings, one at the beginning of the placement and one at the midpoint which your practice educator and academic tutor will also attend.

This module carries zero credits, though you must pass the module in order to continue with the course. You are therefore required to submit a portfolio of evidence (weighted at 100%). This should include:

- A description of the placement setting and the work undertaken.
- Three direct observations of your practice,
- A mid placement review of your practice.
- A completed assessment report of your practice by your Practice Educator
The portfolio will be assessed against all learning outcomes for this module by a Placement Assessment Panel (PAP) comprising representatives of the Regional Partnership, Practice Educators and Academic Tutors)

Please refer to the Placement handbook for further details.

Students who fail the practice element will not be given a second assessment opportunity.

This module is open only to students enrolled on Pre Qualifying Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work
A formally convened Practice Assessment Panel to have recommended a pass for the Readiness for Direct Practice Portfolio element of the Foundation in Social Work Practice module (HSSAP74101-7)

Personal tutor.
Suitably experienced and Qualified Practice Educator (see HCPC SET5 & TCSW PEPs)
Suitably experienced and Qualified Work based supervisor (see HCPC SET5 & TCSW PEPs) if Practice Educator is `off-site'
Blackboard/VLE on line video & voice communication.
Service Users
Practitioners
Local Authority placement setting
PC with internet access.

Davies, M. (2012) (Ed) Social Work with Adults. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
Pritchard, J. (2008) Good Practice in Safeguarding Adults: Working Effectively in Adult Protection. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Cree, V. (2003) Becoming a Social Worker. London, Routledge
Lomax, R. (2010) Surviving Your Social Work Placement. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.