March 14, 2016

Learning On The Job

Over the past few years students have become a regular and welcome sight around our services, providing invaluable assistance while developing their social work skills.

We have around 40-50 students per year, most of whom come from the social work BA or MA at Liverpool Hope University. There are two types of placement, the first lasts for 70 days and the second runs for 100 days and takes place before qualification – near the end of a BA or MA course. Each student has a Practice Educator – a
qualified social worker who helps to make sure the skills and theories they’ve studied in the classroom transfer into their practical work on placement. Pam Foy describes the role as “supporting, teaching and ensuring the students learn their craft. Having so many students come through PSS each year means we’re creating hundreds of ambassadors for our organisation.”

Pam and Rose: “We would like to say a huge thank you to all our 2015/2016 students for the hard work, enthusiasm and positive attitude shown whilst on placement with PSS, we wish you well for the future.”

What the students say…
“Lots of support, no pressure to take on high caseloads or lone working until I felt ready. At the same time, my supervisor and Practice Educator gave me the freedom to take on work if I expressed an interest. As a result I took on as much as possible and felt comfortable and supported to do so.

” “Having other students in the same place meant that you had people that understood your experience in terms of nerves etc. PSS houses various services and this was such an advantage because you had the opportunity to learn from other services as well as your own.”

“Pam was a amazing Practice Educator, always encouraged and helped keep me calm when I was stressed with work. She went the extra mile to make sure I was getting the best out of my
placement.” “I didn’t feel like I was a student, I felt like I was part of the team straight away.”