What do we know about the current strengths and weaknesses ...

What do we know about the current strengths and weaknesses of practice learning in Scotland ?

Deirdre FitzPatrick Open University

Aims of Enquiry

● The aims of this enquiry were to: ●  ● Explore existing models for practice learning across Scotland

as well as consider the models of other professions.

● Identify key challenges and possible solutions to enhance practice learning.

● Begin to identify alternative models that would best prepare social workers of the future. ●  

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Methods

● Literature Review- social work, nursing, teaching.

● Semi Structured interviews with:● Reps from 4 HEIs● L & D leads in 6 local authorities● 2 third sector agencies● 1 rep from SCoPT● 9 Practice educators- 3 were independents● 5 students from 3 universities

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Nursing Models

●  Mentors, Practice Educator Facilitators,●  Service level agreements

●  Standards for Pre-Registration Nursing Education (NMC, 2010), Quality Standards for Practice Placements (NES, 2008) and the accompanying audit tool for Standards (NES, 2010).

●  Review of Nursing Education 2012- 1 of 6 key aims was to further improve practice learning

●  The National Strategic Group for Practice Learning (NSGPL) was set up to progress this aim. They have 3 main functions:

●  To influence, develop and approve strategic guidance for enhancing the practice learning experiences for all learners, and support associated educational developments devolved from ‘Setting the Direction National Delivery Group.

●  Facilitate and ensure governance for, the creation of a strong evidence base to underpin practice learning.

●  Provide a national strategic forum that promotes consistency, co-ordination and sharing of information to inform and guide contemporary nursing and midwifery practice learning experience.

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Teaching

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●  GTCS coordinate placements centrally via an online Student Placement System. ●  Students spend approx. 30 weeks on placement●  No specific qualification required for placement based staff.

Wales & N. Ireland

●  Wales has service level agreements in place between HEIs and employers which facilitates the provision of placements.

●  Northern Ireland Degree in Social Work Partnership (NIDSWP) consists of academics and employers. The Partnership facilitates the development of regional policies and approaches in relation to selection, practice learning and course content. They coordinate placements and provide an annual handbook for all stakeholders.

●  They also have a toolkit for PEs and students.● 

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Tension: academy + practice

Hit the ground running or hit the ground thinking?

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Findings

Goodwill & Relationshipsthe glue that keeps Scotland’s Practice Learning Afloat

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Differing Perspectives

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● Universities- lack of available placements- particularly statutory, concern about role of learning cultures,

● Employers- (stat) Impact of austerity, staff shortages, shrinkage of L& D teams with range of roles, PL only small %., massive caseloads.

● Employers (Vol)- impact of austerity, funding insecurity, demands of service level agreements for increased service delivery, require PL fee for training budgets

● Practice Educators- insecurity of work- juggling peaks and troughs of work depending on placement timetable. Within agencies, juggling demanding caseloads with student supervision.

● Students- Insecurity about placements, concerns about lack of choice and matching of needs, concerns about limited information.

Challenges & Solutions?●  Lack of availability placements- particularly statutory- increase nos of blended

PLOs? Tap into pool of qualified and underused PEs in LAs.

●  Developing Learning Cultures- the development of a National Forum would enable a shared understanding of the needs of PL and a shared ownership of PL- similar to Nursing. More knowledge exchange activities between HEIs and employers.

●  Quality Assurance Concerns- Practice educators and practice learning Opportunities- register for PEs, streamline and centralise quality assurance checks for PLOs similar to nursing; expand remit of PE briefings

●  Preparation for Practice- co-produce preparatory weeks with employers, PEs and HEIs.

●  Workload Pressures- role of HEIs to assist the support & dev of PEs in the field, HEIs streamline PL paperwork

●  Placement Fee- all suggested an increase. Fee used by stat and vol orgs to bolster training budgets.

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