DA5112 - Level 5 Placement

A combination of lectures, seminars, group guidance tutorials and a 70-day placement including practice-based supervision will be used to support both academic and professional learning on this module. Lectures and seminars will be delivered by the module team and will focus on key concepts introduced within the main topics and subject areas of the module. Individual and group work will facilitate academic learning and some of the module learning will be encouraged through delivery of key areas of professional practice by specialist practitioners. The module staff team will provide academic support throughout the course of the module. Learning in practice will be supported and assessed by an allocated Practice Educator (PE). The PE will provide an apprentice with practice learning support and will be responsible for assessment of the apprentice’s practice-based learning. Throughout the duration of practice-based learning apprentices will have regular supervision with their PE in relation to development of practice competence in meeting the requirements of the PCF and demonstrating professional standards outlined by Social Work England. Teaching and learning strategies provided by the PE will include supporting an apprentice in preparing for supervision preparing for and undertaking direct observations of practice and managing the practice experience.

Apprentices will be supported in the following ways:
Supervision with a Practice Supervisor and Practice Educator will support apprentices in discussing professional issues and focus on encouraging critical reflection on their learning experience. During the period of practice-based learning a Personal Tutor (PT) will support apprentices and monitor their professional development and provide academic support during placement.
Practice Learning Team meetings attended by the Apprentice, Personal Tutor, Practice Educator and workplace mentor will be held near the beginning and middle of placement, learning needs and progress will be discussed and tailored support will be offered to assist with professional development. Apprentices will receive in-depth support from the placement team through detailed feedback on their written reports and placement documentation. This support is to enable apprentices to reflect upon, identify and develop their learning needs whilst encouraging best practice in academic reading and writing which in turn will contribute to enhanced proficiency in English reading and writing.
Apprentices will also have access to a workplace mentor.
For further details of the various roles and their responsibilities, please see your Programme Handbook, page 15 to 20.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding (K&U):
K&U –

At the end of the module apprentices will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding (KU):
1 Develop knowledge, understanding and an ability to work within the professional standards and meet the required level within the PCF for the end of the first year of professional practice in placement.
Intellectual/Professional skills & abilities (IPSA):
IPSA –
2. Analyse the role of the professional social worker in a range of contexts by undertaking a range of placement experiences and be able to work collaboratively with a range of key stakeholders.

3.Develop the ability to articulate the important role of supervision and make an active contribution to learning and practice in this process.

4. Developed competence in taking responsibility for managing self as a professional social worker within a range of organisational contexts providing social work services.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
PVA -
5. Develop apprentice’s value-base and an ethical approach to practice whilst being able to critically reflect on apprentice’s own development as a professional social worker.

Formative task:

Apprentices will be given the opportunity to review their existing experience and complete an audit of knowledge, skills and values/behaviours based upon previous experience and learning to date. This task will assist apprentices to develop a level 5 learning plan for the Degree Apprenticeship Practice Learning Documentation (DAPLD)

How will feedback be provided.
Feedback will be provided via seminars and personal tutorial sessions

A formative assessment will require apprentices to present to their Practice Educator (PE) and Personal Tutor (PT) a critical analysis of their practice at a mid-way meeting. Within the practice placement an apprentice's Practice Educator and Personal Tutor will provide oral feedback at a mid-way point. A formative assessment will require apprentices to present a critical analysis of practice at a mid-way meeting to their PE and PT. An assignment support session will provide verbal formative feedback to apprentices to assist them to develop their work for the 3,000-word summative assignment.

To assist Apprentices to prepare for the 3rd component, Preparation of Placement profile, Apprentices will be provided with a profile guidance session and will be encouraged to submit a draft of their profiles which will be reviewed by the module team with feedback for development of the summative assignment.
(MLO1,2,3,4,5)

Summative Assessment:

Summative Assessment consists of three components

The summative assessment comprises three parts:
Part 1
Apprentices are required to present a complete and well-presented Degree Apprentice Practice Learning Document (DAPLD) which will be completed throughout the placement and will include a signed recommendation from the Practice Educator indication whether the apprentice has met the full range of the Professional Capability Framework required at the End of First Placement level. The DAPLD will be marked by the Practice Educator as a Grade Pass or a Grade Fail. Submission is electronic via Turnitin.

Part 2
Apprentices are required to complete a 3,000-word written assignment demonstrating critical analysis and reflection on a piece of observed practice where they have collaborated with key stakeholders within their practice setting. This assignment must be based on practice which has been observed by the apprentice’s Practice Educator. Feedback will be provided by the Practice Educator (PE) and all the direct observation paperwork (including the PE feedback) must be submitted alongside the assignment. The assignment will be an electronic submission via Turnitin. The assignment is marked out of 100%.

Part 3
Apprentices are required to complete a Placement Profile on the Student Placement Portal (ARC) for the final 100-day placement. The content will be derived from the content of the previously submitted DAPLD. This is either ‘accepted’ or rejected’ (for amendments) by the module team but Apprentices must ensure that a rejected profile must be resubmitted by the deadline.
This will be marked either as a Grade Pass or Grade Fail.

Throughout the module apprentices will be offered feedback in seminar groups,and will receive ongoing feedback in relation to their practice-based learning via the supervision process with the Practice Educator (PE).
Written feedback for Parts 2 and 3 of the summative assessment will be provided by the module team.

Apprentices must also achieve a ‘PASS’ for all 3 elements to pass the module.

DA4088, DA4089, DA4091, DA4092, DA4093

DA5108, DA5109, DA5111

This module will enable apprentices to explore the professional social work context and work within a social care setting with a range of stakeholders. On examining the role of the professional social worker, apprentices will develop learning in organisational contexts and through a practice learning based opportunity build collaborative relationships with service users, carers, and other professionals. The specific themes, of concepts and topics covered within the module will include preparing for a first full-time practice placement, examining the relevant documentation and stages an apprentice will need to undertake within placement. Apprentices will draw on teaching from the wider programme to examine the nature and influence of power, hierarchy, culture and organisational policies and procedures in shaping the role of professional social workers in practice. On developing an understanding of the professional role and organisational context apprentices will acquire knowledge of models of supervision and the importance of contributing to the supervision process as part of the development of professional practice. Module benefits include an opportunity to understand and explore professionalism and to work collaboratively within different contexts to enhance professional knowledge, skills, and values. Successful completion of this module will provide 70 of the 200 days in practice required to apply for registration as a qualified social worker on successful completion of the programme.