SCI conferenceKilkenny
March 2012Margaret Gilmore, IT Sligo
A look back…Current courses have origin in Kilkenny one
year course (1970-1980)Original demand was to train workers in
residential child care settingsCourses were mostly 2 or 3 year National
Cert./Diploma (now levels 6 & 7)Small classes, mix of theoretical and practical Short placements e.g. 2 weeks x 2 yearly
Now and towards the future … • Current courses at BA levels 7 or 8, available
countrywide• Prepare students for social care work in a
wide context, both residential and community settings
• BA level 7 is the professional qualification for social care practitioners
Placement Standards set by -Minimum of 800 hours specified by HETAC
(2010)Draft standards from Coru (May 2010) with
registration coming shortlyIASCE
Placement Policy document (2011)Practice Placement Manual available to IASCE
members (2009, 2nd ed.) or colleges using their own manuals
Supervision course available since 2006
In practice, what happens?Students have time and financial pressuresInstitutes may have difficulty with allocating
resources to placementsPlacement agencies are under pressures of
staffing, inspections, financial shortfalls Many agencies have closed Shortage of relevant Social Care settings
with appropriate supervision
Importance of PlacementPlacement is vital to ensure that students
can experience real life situationsApply theory to practiceExperience best practiceTest their own aptitude for Social CareDevelop their identity as Social Care
ProfessionalsGet feedback from supervisor and work
colleagues
Importance of PlacementFor the profession - Students bring enthusiasm, questions, energy,
insightsProfessionals give and gain new perspectives into
theory and/or practiceCloser links between workplace and courses
Supervision course, other collaborationsMeeting with visiting tutorsProfessional identity re-inforcedMirrored by formation of Social Care Ireland from
IASCW, IASCE and RMA
So – how to raise/retain standards?• Course boards / Head of Department ensuring
centrality of placement in documentation and resource allocation
• Acknowledge placement as vital in each student’s learning
• Mentoring of students before, during and after placement
• Supporting supervisors –pre-arranged supportive tripartite visits, offering supervision course, clear documents, available to discuss issues
One Institute’s approachOverview1)Students2)Agencies3)Visiting Tutors
Regular review of practice
One Institute’s approachAt IT Sligo we have
Placement Committee as sub-committee of Course Board
Placement co-ordinator (lecturing staff member)
Time allowance for visiting tutorsActive membership of IASCE, using meetings
to check best practice, using placement subcommittee as required
Supervision course run regularly
One Institute’s approach1) Students
work within Placement Committee policies - Submit placement request plus CVAttend mandatory placement preparation classesMeet placement co-ordinator as requiredAttend for interview / preliminary visitSign IASCE principles and agree to IASCE
placement policiesPass mandatory pre-placement essay before
being allowed to go on placement
One Institute’s approach1) Students
– Complete 30 hours per week x 13 weeks in semester 4 and again in semester 6 (each worth 30 ECTS)
– Keep a learning journal– Complete Placement portfolio comprising 3
projects– Participate in 2 tripartite meetings– Participate in Placement Review and give a
presentation to peers & staff
One Institute’s approach2) Agency
– Is matched to student by placement co-ordinator– Formal request for placement by letter stating
parameters / guidelines / learning objectives– Plus Practice Placement Manual and invitation
to Supervision Course– Sign Placement Contract with student – Provide weekly supervision meetings with
student– Participate in tripartite meetings– Complete the final report on placement
One Institute’s approach3) Visiting Tutor
Is a member of staff lecturing on SC programme (job description is agreed)
Completes an induction before visiting placements
Is automatically a member of Placement Committee which has drawn up Placement Policies document
Visits each student twice during placementParticipates in Placement ReviewMarks visits and placement portfolio
Critical Review1) Students – like the support, find the associated
work challenging but overall worthwhile2) Agencies – appreciate the visits and
collaboration with the Institute; use the opportunity for relevant feedback / advice
3) Visiting Tutors – find the experience helps them in continuing professional development; takes major commitment to fulfil role
4) Institute – benefits from PR aspect, collaboration with Social Care professionals, international contacts etc.
Challenges remaining at IT SligoHow can we implement the IASCE Placement
Policy guidelines e.g. on pre-placement screening?
Re-inforce thatPlacement is earned, not a student’s rightOnly 2 attempts allowed for placementService users / agencies must be consideredWe need to devise a system to ensure students
are alerted to possible difficulties and supported in overcoming them: pre-placement portfolio of placement readiness
Personal Development Profiling (PDP) and Placement Readiness
PDP is already established for studentsMay be adapted to fulfil IASCE Placement
Policy on placement readinessWill require more time input alongside
Placement Preparation classesPilot to begin 2012
Other Challenges Are we offering enough support to
students and agencies? Feedback is positive but e.g.
Should we use social media?Should we make more use of Moodle?
Should we use webinars?
Other ChallengesRange of experience
Social Care covers all ages and vulnerable groups
Currently we use 2 placement settings/studentTransferable skills v. situation-specific skills:
Should we increase placement hours?Should we encourage volunteering?Can we adequately monitor international placements?Should we develop specialisms in undergraduate
course?
Other Challenges• Conforming to Coru and HETAC standards• Recessionary times• Developing an identity as a Social Care
Professional• Developing strong, pro-active professionals
who can cope with the wide demands of Social Care as a career
• Developing self-care to prevent burnout• Preparing students for Registration
SummaryTaking stock and heading forward ....Importance of placements in educating
future generations of social care professionals
Upholding standards One college’s approach & challenges
remaining -
All comments and feedback are welcome
ReferencesIASCE: Supervision course IASCE: Practice Placement Manual (2009)IASCE: Practice placement policy guidelines,
available at http://socialcareireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IASCE-Social-Care-Placement-Guidelines.pdf
Share P. & Lalor K. (eds) Applied Social Care, 2nd ed. Gill & Macmillan, Dublin
References 2HETAC standards:
http://www.hetac.ie/docs/B.2.9-5.5_Awards_Standards_Social_Care_Work_2010.pdf
CORU (HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PROFESSIONALS COUNCIL) DRAFT STANDARDS FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING Version 6 May 2010
Discussion – Where to now?