About Practice Learning & FAQ's

Where can I get information about careers in social work?

Information is available on the social work careers website socialworkcareers.co.uk

Why does the social work degree put so much emphasis on practical learning?

The degree is vocational and the requirements are intended to ensure that a student is ready to practice on qualifying. The academic work on theory and research is an important part of the training, but this must be aimed at improving the student's ability to practice.

How will organisations new to the experience of offering practice learning to social work students be prepared?

Skills for Care regional offices can offer advice and support to any organisation interested in offering practice learning for the first time.

For further information, please email SWD@skillsforcare.org.uk

Is there funding for practice learning?

There is a comprehensive package for practice learning that includes:

A daily funding fee for private and voluntary agencies of £28.
A daily fee for local authorities of £18.
The daily fee will be distributed by Higher Education Institutes which will receive 2 per student per day.
Contribution to the involvement of service users and carers.
One of the key objectives of SWD funding is the development and support of practice learning.

One problem is that practice teachers get no additional payments for the extra work entailed in supervising students. Will there be more money available?

The decision as to whether additional payments should be made to practice teachers rests with the employer. There are a range of benefits to agencies from having students training with them. Some agencies acknowledge this by making individual payments to practice teachers. Others recognise practice teaching qualifications and performance through additional increments. Some include practice teaching within the remit of specialist posts, which are graded at senior practitioner level. Importantly, some organisations actively recognise that providing high quality practice experience involves the support and active participation of the whole team. These agencies provide their 'learning teams' by, for example, payments for team training events, books and other resources to support them in this role.