Cardiff School of Education & Social Policy>Courses>Enabling Practice Learning Award

Enabling Practice Learning Award

Are you a Social Worker interested in your own continuing professional development? Do you want to meet the requirements of Social Care Wales re-registration criteria? Do you like seeing people grow and develop? Would you like to undertake a critical role in social work education and promote the learning and teaching of student social workers?

If this interests you, completing our Enabling Practice Learning Award at Cardiff Metropolitan University, will provide you with Social Care Wales approved qualification to enable you to undertake a critical role in social work education and become a Practice Educator (previously known as Practice Assessor / Practice Teacher).

This Award, as well as promoting your own professional standing, contributes to continuing professional development and provides excellent evidence of post-registration training and learning as well as providing a wonderful opportunity to be part of developing the future of social work in Wales. It enables you to acquire knowledge and skills in relation to supervising and assessing social work practice at either qualifying or post qualifying levels. Whilst practice educator can be a demanding role, it draws upon many of the social work skills that you already possess, such as communication, negotiation, collecting and analysing information, setting and working to targets, managing, enabling others and writing reports.

The Enabling Practice Learning Award at Cardiff Met is taught face-to-face on the Llandaff Campus and is available at both Level 6 and Level 7 (Masters) and the Award is 30 Academic Credits. The module is interactive, is taught by experienced lecturers (who themselves have undertaken the practice educator role, previously known as practice assessor) and the six taught days (in addition to a half day induction) provide the opportunity for you to acquire evidence-informed knowledge related to practice assessing and, meet other candidates who like yourselves, aspire to be part of the student learning journey.

​Course Content

You will have the opportunity to discuss and analyse a range of subject areas which will prepare you for the Practice Educator role:

  • Planning & managing practice development
  • The application of adult learning theory and learning styles
  • The supervisory and learning process
  • Direct observations of practice
  • Constructive feedback as a learning and teaching tool
  • Developing reflexivity through supervision
  • The Welsh context within practice assessment
  • Anti-oppressive practice in the assessment of social work students
  • Managing the mid-point review process
  • Supporting students who are having difficulties in evidencing their competence
  • Enabling students with specific learning support needs within practice assessment
  • Evidencing outcomes and effective report writing
  • Use of theory and research in developing social work practitioners


Learning & Teaching

The Enabling Practice Learning Award assessment at Cardiff Met is taught face-to-face on the Llandaff Campus and consists of six and a half-taught days. There are two cohorts for this programme per year.

The Award is taught using a myriad of teaching and learning strategies and methods, to aid and support learning of the diverse adult student community, such as lectures, exercises, case studies, videos, discussions, and interactive exercises to promote candidates own learning. Resources are also provided during the sessions that can be utilised by the candidates when supporting the student in practice.


Assessment

There are two parts to the assessment of this module: academic summative assessment and a practice element. Successful achievement of both elements results in the Award being granted.

Summative Assessment:
The module will be assessed by two summative assessments. These include one academic essay and one extended reflective analysis of a piece of practice. You will need to pass both assessments to successfully complete the module.

Practice Assessment:
The practice element consists of two direct observations of your practice by your mentor. These observations will take place during your supervision of the student.


Entry Requirements

You must have been qualified as a social worker for a minimum of two years.


How to Apply

As noted above, you must:

  • have been qualified as a social worker for a minimum of two years.
  • have the agreement of your management and discuss your desire to undertake this Award with your Local Authority Training Team who manage the application process in conjunction with Cardiff Met.


It is a requirement of the Award that you will be assessing either a social work student on one of the longer placements, e.g., 80 days practice learning opportunity or on a 100 days practice learning opportunity during this module. You need to have your own Practice Learning Assessor in place before starting the programme and these arrangements are managed by your Local Authority training team).

By applying for this Award, you agree to participate in all of the six teaching days (including the ½ day induction).


Contact Us

If this exciting opportunity interests you, then initially please contact your Agency Workforce Development Team/Manager (or your Local Authority Training Team if you do not work for a local Council).

For further information about the course at Cardiff Met, please contact:

Kate Andrews, KAndrews@cardiffmet.ac.uk (Award Administrator)

Jude Badmington-Fowler, JHBadmington-Fowler@cardiffmet.ac.uk (Programme Director for Post Qualifying Social Work and Award Co-ordinator)

We look forward to hearing from you if you have any queries and to help support you in your professional development.

Key Course Information

​Campus: Llandaff

School: Cardiff School of Education & Social Policy

Course Length: Six and a half taught days

Course Cost: £750

Start Dates: The next cohorts are starting in October 2023 and January 2024

For course start dates and any enquiries, please contact Kate Andrews, KAndrews@cardiffmet.ac.uk (Award Administrator), and/or Jude Badmington-Fowler, JHBadmington-Fowler@cardiffmet.ac.uk (Programme Director for Post Qualifying Social Work and Award Co-ordinator).

Full terms and conditions in relation to accepting an offer to study at Cardiff Metropolitan University can be found by visiting www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/terms