Strategic Objectives
Operating until March 2006, the Taskforce will work with all stakeholders to increase the quantity, quality and diversity of practice learning opportunities.
In its final year, the Taskforce is taking a strategic, project-based approach to achieve the following key objectives:
- To maintain and enhance the profile of practice learning.
- To facilitate the establishment of a robust regional infrastructure for practice learning and increase the capacity for practice teaching and assessment.
- To increase the number and range of practice learning opportunities within the private, voluntary and independent sectors.
- To increase the number and range of practice learning opportunities within the statutory sector.
- To encourage an increase in inter-professional practice learning opportunities and the capacity for inter-professional practice teaching and assessment.
- To develop the capacity for service user and carer involvement in the delivery and assessment of practice learning.
- To improve the quality of practice learning opportunities, ensuring that the student perspective is incorporated.
- To enhance the diversity of practice learning opportunities, including in Black and Minority Ethnic organisations, and facilitate practice learning planning for disabled students.
- To promote the concept of the Learning Organisation and the adoption of workforce planning across social care agencies.
- To assist in the development of pre and post qualifying training for social workers and social care workers.
The Practice Learning Requirement
The latest figures (September 2004) reveal that by 2006/07 1,168,795 practice learning days are required, which translate into 14,667 practice learning opportunities. From the DipSW baseline provision in 2002/03 an increase of 603,271 days (107%), 6175 (73%) practice learning opportunities are needed.
For more detailed statistics, see the National Data page.
Key Challenges
- Stand alongside social workers with a very real understanding of the pressures they face
- Help create new ways of thinking about the challenge of increasing the quality, quantity and diversity of practice learning.
- Provide hands on help, creative solutions and share best practice in setting in motion a legacy of ideas and initiatives to increase and improve practice learning.
- Recognise the importance of the overall context - the practice learning experience is an important phase of lifelong learning which ideally will be embedded in 'learning organisations' with creative workforce planning arrangements
- Create positive and enduring partnerships - the challenges faced by the social care profession can only be delivered through co-operation and sharing, not through competition and isolation.
During 2005/06 the Taskforce will take a stategic, project-based approach to challenge some of the more difficult areas of change for practice learning Download
