Introduction to Facilitating Learning in the Workplace

Course overview

• 20 Credit Module at Level 7

This module is aligned to the Practice Educator Professional Standards for Social Work. On successful completion registered social workers will achieve Stage One Practice Educator status and other professionals will receive recognition as a Practice Supervisor.

The module supports candidates to consider all of the requirements to plan for and support a social work student who is completing a degree or master level qualification. In addition to the academic component, candidates obtain practical experience as they support a student during their professional social work programme.

The aim of the module is to engage practitioners in the principles of facilitating learning to enable them to support and assess a learner in the work place. The module will enable successful candidates to achieve the status of Practice Supervisor or Stage One Practice Educator as required by The College of Social Work (2012). The module covers topics which include (but not limited to):

• Planning and organising opportunities for a learner in the workplace
• Principles of assessment and supervision
• Self-reflection and CPD as a facilitator of learning
• Understanding diversity and individual needs of learners

Learning outcomes and aims

On successful completion of this module a student will be able to:

• Critically reflect upon their role as a facilitator of workplace learning
• Critically explore learning and teaching theory
• Critically reflect on the assessment of learning in the workplace
• Demonstrate skills to support and supervise a learner in the workplace.

Entry requirement

This module is aimed at:

• registered social workers (with a minimum of two years post qualified) who are interested in becoming a stage one practice educator for social work students,

OR

• those who support social work students in the work place and wish to achieve the status of practice supervisor (this includes professionals who are not social workers).

All candidates need to ensure that they have a relevant undergraduate degree at 2:2 or above or evidence of their ability to study at postgraduate level.

All candidates need to ensure that they have the opportunity to support a social work learner and gain observation of the practice by a Stage Two Practice Educator.