The main aim of the programme is to provide an integrated course of knowledge, skills and values to equip you to work effectively as a social work practice educator.
You will:
- develop a critical understanding of the ways you can work with others to create a supportive learning culture and environment
- develop competence in the provision and facilitation of learning opportunities within and across settings
- utilise a range of advanced skills and techniques to support the learning of students in practice placements
- appraise theories of learning so that you can devise and adapt your approach according to the needs of different students
- exercise responsibility for evaluating students’ learning against professional standards of practice
On successfully completing this programme, you will obtain a Graduate Certificate at SCQF Level 10.
Modules
The programme has been developed in accordance with the Rules and Requirements for Specialist Training for Social Service Workers Scotland (2005) and the Standards for Practice Learning Qualifications at SCQF Level 10. Successful entrants are funded through their employer.
The programme consists of three modules, which need to be undertaken in sequence. The first two are taught modules, while the final module consists of a supervised, assessed student placement.
Module 1: Creating, Supporting and Evaluating Learning Opportunities in Practice Settings
Module 1 will have a specific focus on establishing effective working relationships to support learning as part of a wider interprofessional context. You will consider how to lead the creation of a positive learning culture and environment that supports your own and others’ learning and, more particularly, how you will support and create learning opportunities for a social work student. You will be able to reflect on your own experiences as a learner, while being introduced to theoretical approaches to adult learning. Social work values and the Scottish Social Services Council’s Codes of Practice will underpin all your learning, as you consider ethical practice in the practice educator role. The teaching materials and linked assessments will give you an opportunity to start preparing for the supervised practice learning placement.
Module 2: Supervising and Assessing Social Work Students in Practice Placements
Module 2 focuses on the supervision and assessment of social work students in practice placements. You will consider how you can support students to maximise their individual potential within the context of legislation, policy and guidance relevant to the setting. You will learn about assessment frameworks and strategies to ensure that the assessment of students is fair and based on solid evidence, linked to the Standards in Social Work Education. You will consider how you can involve people receiving services and carers in these processes. Alongside this, you will reflect on your own knowledge base and how you will support students in making links between theory and practice. The role of supervision in supporting students will be explored and you will prepare for the challenges of working with students who fail to meet the required standards.
Module 3: Supervised Social Work Practice Learning Placement
Module 3 is a formally assessed supervised practice placement where you will bring all of your learning together in practice to supervise a social work student, in your role as a trainee practice educator. You will be supported and assessed throughout by an experienced practice assessor. You will provide a placement to a social work student from Edinburgh Napier University or from another university in Scotland. This will be arranged in conjunction with our Placement Co-ordinator. As social work placement dates vary across different universities, your completion of the GCPL programme may be anywhere between January and June in the year following your start date.