Social Work Placements

This clear and concise textbook is an invaluable guide for students embarking on their social work placements. Packed with tips, quotes, activities and illustrations, it offers coherent advice on how to get the best out of practice learning opportunities, as well as an insight into students' perspectives for practice assessors, lecturers and practitioners. Following the process of placement, the book guides students through their preparation for practice placement modules by presenting helpful ideas and practical advice on how to overcome potential challenges and make the most of the opportunities offered to students on their placements. Written by experienced academics, this is an essential companion for students at any stage in their social work course, as well as those studying other areas of health and social care practice.

Embarking on a first practice placement can be an anxious experience for social work students. This textbook takes them step-by-step through the process, holding their hand through preparation for practice modules and during the course of the placement itself. Focusing on practicalities, knowledge, values and skills, the authors guide students through the challenges they may face. Chapters include numerous real-life case examples which reflect a range of varying placement contexts including different settings, service-user groups, locations and areas of practice. The book will help students become confident on placement and lead to rich placement experiences which will benefit them throughout the rest of their degree and upon entry to the profession. Your Social Work Practice Placements is essential reading for all social care students.

Placements can be one of the most exciting parts of social work training but also one of the most daunting. This guidebook uses case studies and a cast of students, work-based supervisors, practice educators and college tutors to help make the most of practice learning opportunities.

This practical guide will takes you step by step through your social work placement, guiding you through what you will be expected to do, and helping you to make the most of your placement. You will learn how to apply the theory and skills you′ve learnt in practice, to your own observations as well as to your placement portfolio, and how to gain the feedback you need. The books is packed full of hands-on advice, alongside a variety of learning features: student voices talking about their own placement experiences, chapter checklists, reflective tasks, and potential placement pitfalls and opportunities which demonstrate different ways to approach situations you may encounter on placement.

This unique core text helps BSW and MSW students structure their field placement learning around the nine CSWE professional social work competencies. Empowering students to go beyond merely completing tasks, the book facilitates mastery and integration of these competencies by elucidating key concepts and applying them to realistic competency-based case scenarios. Each user-friendly chapter—directly linked to a particular competency—promotes thought-provoking reflection about field work with critical thinking questions, a detailed case example, and an online competency reflection log template. These tools reinforce learning by connecting competencies directly to students’ internship experiences. Cases are structured to serve as models when students prepare their own cases and include a review of the competency; detailed practice settings; socioeconomic and context factors at micro, macro, and mezzo levels; a problem overview; an assessment of client strengths and weaknesses; and a closing summary. Additional learning aids include chapter opening vignettes and objectives, plus chapter summaries. Web and video links offer students a wealth of supplemental resources, and a robust instructors package provides teachers with PowerPoints, written competency assignments with grading rubrics, and discussion exercises. The print version includes free, searchable, digital access to entire contents of the book. Key Features: Integrates field placement experiences with the nine CSWE 2015 competencies Promotes thought-provoking reflection about fieldwork with detailed case studies and challenging learning tools Includes discussions of ethical dilemmas, technology, and social media to reflect growing use and the challenges associated Includes online instructors’ resources including, PowerPoints, written competency assignments with grading rubrics, and class discussion field reflection activities Print version includes free, searchable, digital access to entire contents of the book

Showcasing how you can use a work placement to develop your research and professional skills, this warm and personable book demonstrates how you can transfer and grow skills from your academic training to the workplace and maximise the benefits of learning by doing. The book also: · Helps you confidently navigate the entire internship process, providing reassuring guidance about key steps such as applying and interviewing for placements · Highlights the importance of practicing reflective learning and encourages you to become a reflective researcher · Empowers you to make an internship work for you, giving you key employability and workplace skills. Drawing on a range of real student voices, this pragmatic guide helps you make the most of the opportunities offered by a work placement and shows how the skills you learn will help you thrive in academia and beyond.

Placements can be one of the most exciting parts of your social work training but also one of the most daunting. This Guide will help you to make the most of your practice learning opportunities. The guide highlights how you can make the most of your placement, as well as anticipating some of the problem areas and pitfalls to avoid. It covers: preparing for your placement getting to grips with placement documentation understanding how and what you might learn on placement integrating theory with practice non-traditional placements anticipating difficulties and dealing with them getting the best from assessment and evaluation. Using a cast of ‘fellow travellers’ – students, work-based supervisors, practice educators and college tutors – to illustrate issues raised, the Guide is accessible and contains plenty of case studies. It is the ideal book for anyone wanting to make sure their placement goes as well as possible, whether they are a student or a supervisor.

This clear and concise textbook is an invaluable guide for students embarking on their social work placements. Packed with tips, quotes, activities and illustrations, it offers coherent advice on how to get the best out of practice learning opportunities, as well as an insight into students' perspectives for practice assessors, lecturers and practitioners. Following the process of placement, the book guides students through their preparation for practice placement modules by presenting helpful ideas and practical advice on how to overcome potential challenges and make the most of the opportunities offered to students on their placements. Written by experienced academics, this is an essential companion for students at any stage in their social work course, as well as those studying other areas of health and social care practice.