How do we professionalise social work without losing our soul? A reflection on the role and purpose of practice placements within social work education

Abstract

A recurring question of social work is its purpose. To change culture or to help the individual. One drawing on systemic radical social work skills, the other relationship-based social justice skills. Placements are an important part for practicing, developing and consolidating academic learning. It is social work in practice, and the place to hone employability skills. This reflection explores the benefits and challenges of the change considering whether this is towards professionalisation or marketisation.

Social Work England: A regulator worthy of our collective dissent

“…This primacy of statutory placements for social work students in England has been shown to have gradually been perpetuated through discourse in government policy and reports and could therefore also be seen as forming part of the aforementioned programme of reforms narrowing and restricting social work knowledge and practice (Bald & Howells, 2019;Hanley, 2021a). The Narey (2014) report, for example, recommended that any university that is unable to provide at least one statutory placement per student should not receive regulatory endorsement.…”

“…The Narey (2014) report, for example, recommended that any university that is unable to provide at least one statutory placement per student should not receive regulatory endorsement. However, in contrast there is a large and growing body of research that suggests that statutory placements are not superior to other placements, and there is arguably more evidence for the value of non-statutory placement opportunities for social work students (Bald & Howells, 2019;MacDermott & Campbell, 2015;McLaughlin et al, 2015;Perry & Hughes, 2021;Scholar et al, 2012). Unfortunately, this body of research has yet to receive any public consideration from SWE.…”