The focus of this project is to explore student social work placements in third sector organisations to better understand how third sector experience contributes to preparing students to enter the profession confident and ready. There will be a focus on the learning relationships involved in student placements, and understanding the processes and structures that support high quality student practice and experiences in third sector placements. The lead sector partner is People Know How – a charity based in Edinburgh and the Lothians that aims to improve wellbeing across communities by supporting people to overcome barriers and thrive.
Exploring what goes into preparing to host a student on placement
There’s a lot of work that goes into preparing to host a social work student on placement in a third sector organisation, from communicating with universities, meeting with students and their tutors, to ensuring students have access to the IT systems they need when they start. Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) are busy preparing before a student arrives.
Getting clear on the value of third sector placements for social work students
Having been working on Voice and Visions for nearly six months, it is safe to say we have heard a lot about the third sector social work student placement world; from third sector representatives, link workers, practice educators and people in the university world. Thank you so much to those who have lent their experiences to this project so far.
But, we still have time for more! We are next meeting online on 23rd September, and we’d love to see you there. You can sign up here https://forms.office.com/e/8nnahMV4Q0.
Perspectives shared from third sector organisations at our first Voices and Visions session
And we are off! Earlier this week, we had our first Voices and Visions online session. We were delighted to welcome so many representatives from third sector organisations who are currently, or who are planning to host social work student placements. We wanted to listen, and to hear broadly about different experiences, and to begin to unpick what’s involved for third sector organisations when they host a social work student placement.
Collaborating for improved third sector social work student placements
Along with our project partner, People Know How, we are beginning to look at social work student placements in the third sector; how they are now, and building a vision for the future.
