EBOOK: Practice Educating Social Work Students: Supporting qualifying students on their placements

Book excerpt: This brand new book is essential reading for anyone involved in practice educating social work students. Whether you are an on-site or off-site practice educator, or a workplace supervisor, the book will guide you through your role, providing practical and straightforward advice about the process from start to finish. With handy references to the Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) throughout, the book helps first-time practice educators to quell their anxieties and supports both new and experienced practitioners to develop skills to support their students and deepen their own professional expertise. The book provides enlightening and unintimidating guidance on how to: Establish expectations with social work students at the start of a placement Assess and support your students to achieve to the very best of their abilities Ensure the highest quality placement experience is offered in your setting Write clear, constructive and helpful reports at the mid and end points of the placement Tackle difficult conversations and create action plans when things go wrong Guarantee your students fulfil the criteria of the Professional Capabilities Framework and that you achieve the requirements of PEP domains Written by two experienced professionals, the book is packed with practical tips, handy checklists and realistic examples, providing the time-pressed practice educator with at-a-glance "Best Practice" points and "Common Pitfalls" to avoid. "When I read the book, I found it to be helpful and easy to negotiate, offering really practical and straightforward advice in an easy style. I would recommend it to all Practice Educators, whether long in the tooth or fresh in to the profession." Steve Harding, Social Work Tutor, University of Leeds, UK "An increase in expectations and practice standards, in recent years, now requires the Practice Educator role within social work to be enshrined in evidence-based educative practice theory, specialist professional standards, ethics and values. This publication consolidates professional practice standards alongside the PCF within the context of current social work education and would be an invaluable tool for practice educators new and old. It is clear, insightful and above all, comes from an experienced practitioner base. I wish I had had this type of publication when first starting out. I will have no hesitation in recommending this book to my own Trainee Practice Educators within and outside the social work field." Kathryne Thomson, Associate Lecturer, Practice Educator Professional Standards 1 + 2 Mentor and Assessor, Practice Educator + Consultant affiliated to Bucks New University, UK