The Practice Learning Consortium is an organisation that assists Social Workers to find placements that will help them develop their skills and knowledge . Here is a case study from their website about Get Sorted.
Get Sorted was established in 1995 and has grown and developed over the years into a highly recognised music charity for children and young people. Although music and the arts is the hook for engaging young people, we also provide a range of other activities and services including mentoring, support, volunteering opportunities and work placements. Get Sorted also has a learning centre for young people who are on the verge of exclusion from mainstream education or for those with a range of syndromes, behavioural and mental issues. We are a registered charity and provide a wide range of services and activities for the people of Rotherham as well as some areas in Sheffield. We deliver workshops both on site and in the community. Get Sorted has received some excellent awards for its community work as well as having two visits from Prince Andrew.
All social work students are given placements in the learning centre as this is where the hardest to reach young people are. These young people have a wide range of issues which need addressing in between trying to provide them with a learning programme which meets their individual needs. The staff in the learning centre provide much needed pastoral care, attend multi agency meetings and meet the individual needs of the young people. For those that need additional support, we are able to bring specialists into the centre so they can support where needed. There are many benefits of taking social work students on a placement with us. First, they get hands on delivery and learning, see a wide range of problems and issues which face our young people and are able to fill their assignment criteria due to the young people we work with. There are lots of opportunities for our social work students and the flexibility to attend case conferences, do home visits with our staff, visit other agencies where the young people may need to go etc. As for Get Sorted, taking on social work students benefits both our young people and our staff. It also helps our organisation because it means a new face for the young people, a different perspective on things, another pair of hands, a different type of expertise, and most importantly, we enjoy watching our students grow and develop even though it is only for a relatively short period.
The Consortium provides plenty of help and advice if we run into any difficulties, problems or just want to enquire about something. I have always been pleased with the support we have been given.
By belonging to a consortium of members, you can share information, learn from each other, attend courses as well as knowing you can pick up a phone and talk to someone if there is a problem. I have talked to other providers, and we do seem to share the same thoughts. Any partnership work is important and networking is also very useful for gaining and sharing information.
One of the main things that we have noticed is that many of our students come back to see us once their placement has finished. We have had a few gone on to do some paid work for us during the summer and one of our students, who became a social worker, actually worked with us with the same client. That was a very proud moment for us. To see our student in an official role, leading a case conference which included one of our very hard to reach young people. It is also interesting when students pop in and let us know what they are doing, where they are now working. Keeping in touch has been a highlight for us as it is always interesting to know where our students have gone once they have completed the course.
No comments:
Post a Comment