Making It Work - Social Work Practice Learning in new NHS settings

1. Making It Work - Social Work Practice Learning in new NHS settings Marianne Hughes, Practice Learning Resources Manager, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council January 2008

2. External Drivers • “Confidence in Practice Learning” (Scottish Executive 2003) – requires increase in quality, quantity and diversity for SW Practice Learning; • “Framework for Social Work Education in Scotland” (Scottish Executive 2003) – requires increase in knowledge & skills in inter-professional work by SW students

3. Initial development • Positive contact between NHS Clinical Development Manager and Practice Learning Resources Manager (SSSC funded post in Voluntary Sector, EVOC) • Initiative by NHS Clinical Development Manager to contact specific teams with no previous SW contact & this achieved active interest

4. Starting stages of Practice Learning Opportunity • Meeting between Substance Misuse Services Clinical Nurse Manager & Practice Learning Resources Manager (PLRM) • Importance of status, enthusiasm and follow-through by Clinical Nurse Manager in her team • Importance of experience, enthusiasm & knowledge of PLRM re: development of SW Practice Learning in non-statutory SW settings

5. Matching of SW student to practice learning opportunity • Importance of PLRM’s relationship with University Practice Learning Co-ordinator in requesting experienced & enthusiastic student • Importance of SW student’s openness to new, untested practice learning opportunity & her relevant transferable experience • Pre-placement meeting between Clinical Nurse Manager, PLRM and SW student (May 2006)

6. During Practice Learning Opportunity • Importance of regular 3-way meetings for open discussion of differences arising from SW perspectives and nursing perspectives • Weekly supervision between PLRM & SW student to address SW role within each aspect of workload

7. Evaluation and Next Steps • Evaluation sought by PLRM from all parties involved in the practice learning opportunity • Further SW placement offered by Substance Misuse Services, which was taken up • Further contact with Clinical Development Manager & interest from other NHS teams • In November 2007, new SW practice learning opportunity developed by same PLRM, and started with ANNITT (Anorexia Nervosa Intensive Treatment Team) with positive results (exploration of longer team SW presence within team being undertaken)