In this episode, our hosts explore the role of the Practice Educator, reflecting on their own experiences of supporting and assessing student social workers in practice. They discuss the responsibilities and expectations of the role, the rewards and challenges of practice education, and the impact that openness within learning environments can have on the development of future social workers.

To support listeners, some of the professional terms discussed during the episode are explained below.

Statutory Social Work

Statutory social work refers to social work undertaken within the legal duties and powers of local authorities. It includes safeguarding and promoting the welfare and wellbeing of children, adults at risk, and communities, and often involves making complex decisions that balance rights, risks, and needs. Responsibility and accountability for these statutory interventions rest with registered social workers.

Source: Scottish Government, The Role of the Registered Social Worker in Statutory Interventions. https://www.gov.scot/publications/role-registered-social-worker-statutory-interventions-guidance-local-authorities/pages/2/

Psychological Safety

Psychological safety is a shared belief that people can speak up, ask questions, admit mistakes, raise concerns, or offer different perspectives without fear of embarrassment, punishment, or other negative consequences. It enables open communication, learning, and effective teamwork.

Source: McKinsey & Company, What is Psychological Safety? https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-psychological-safety

Code of Professional Practice

In Wales, the Code of Professional Practice for Social Care sets out the standards of conduct and practice expected of everyone registered with Social Care Wales. The Code describes how social care workers should uphold the rights, wellbeing, voice, and choice of people who use care and support services, while acting with honesty, integrity, professionalism, and accountability. It provides the framework for ethical practice and professional decision-making across the social care workforce.

Source: Social Care Wales, Code of Professional Practice for Social Care.

Social Justice

Social justice is the principle that everyone should have equal rights, opportunities, and access to resources. Within social work, it underpins efforts to reduce inequality, challenge discrimination, and improve access to opportunities and support, particularly for people who experience disadvantage or marginalisation.

Source: National Association of Social Workers, Social Justice Priorities. https://www.socialworkers.org/Advocacy/Social-Justice/Social-Justice-Priorities

In this episode, our hosts introduce the National Occupational Standards (NOS), with a particular focus on NOS 1: Maintain an Up-to-Date Knowledge and Evidence Base for Social Work Practice and NOS 2: Develop Social Work Practice Through Supervision and Reflection. The discussion is designed to support student social workers, Practice Educators, and those who are either undertaking or considering the Practice Educator qualification.

Throughout the episode, the hosts explore how the NOS can support learning, professional development, and reflective practice approaches within social work. The episode also includes responses to two questions submitted by student social workers relating specifically to the NOS and their application in practice learning and professional development.

To support clarity throughout the podcast, some professional terms referenced in the discussion are explained below.

Relational Social Work Practice

Relational social work practice is commonly understood as an approach that uses the professional relationship between the social worker and service user as the primary means of achieving change. Tosone (2004) describes it as a practice that recognises the interconnected nature of individuals’ internal experiences, interpersonal relationships, and wider community systems. Key features include the importance of the therapeutic relationship, the dynamic and often asymmetrical nature of interactions between practitioners and service users, and the influence of both personal and structural factors on engagement and outcomes. Ruch, Turney and Ward (2010) and Megele (2015) note that there is no single agreed definition, and debate continues as to whether relationship-based practice should be understood as a set of guiding principles or a broader theoretical approach.

Source: Ingram, R. (2013) Locating Emotional Intelligence at the Heart of Social Work Practice. Available at:

https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/148840484/13_Winter_relational_social_work_KW02APR2018.pdf

National Occupational Standards (NOS)

The National Occupational Standards (NOS) are UK-wide standards that outline the knowledge, skills, and understanding required to work in social care and early years and childcare settings at nationally recognised levels of practice. The NOS are organised into suites of standards and work areas, providing guidance and examples relevant to specific professional roles.

Source: Social Care Wales – National Occupational Standards (NOS)

https://socialcare.wales/qualifications-funding/national-occupational-standards-nos

Got a question or topic you'd like us to discuss? We'd love to hear from you. Send your questions and feedback to sowhatsocialwork@gmail.com.

So What: Social Work with Abigail & Josh. Real conversations about adult social work, from people who've lived it.

Find us on social media @SoWhatSocialWork

This episode explores student social workers’ Practice Learning Opportunities (PLOs), more commonly known as placements. Our hosts reflect on their own experiences of undertaking PLOs during social work training, discussing expectations, different placement settings, commonly used acronyms, and the differences they have encountered both as students and as Practice Educators. The episode also features questions submitted by three social work students, which are discussed and answered throughout the conversation.

To support clarity throughout the podcast, some professional terms referenced in the discussion are explained below.

Statutory Social Work

Statutory social work refers to social work carried out under the legal duties and powers of local authorities. This includes protecting and promoting the welfare and wellbeing of children, adults at risk, and communities, often involving complex decisions that balance rights, risks, and needs. Accountability for these statutory interventions rests with registered social workers.

Source: Scottish Government, The Role of the Registered Social Worker in Statutory Interventions

https://www.gov.scot/publications/role-registered-social-worker-statutory-interventions-guidance-local-authorities/pages/2/

Practice Learning

Practice learning describes the experience students gain through practical placements, where they develop and apply the skills, knowledge, and values required of professional social workers.

Source: Social Care Wales, Practice Education Guidance (2019)

https://socialcare.wales/cms-assets/documents/Practice-education-guidance-2019-English.pdf

Got a question or topic you'd like us to discuss? We'd love to hear from you. Send your questions and feedback to sowhatsocialwork@gmail.com.

So What: Social Work with Abigail & Josh. Real conversations about adult social work, from people who've lived it.

Find us on social media @SoWhatSocialWork