Practice

This evaluation explores the practitioner research initiative of Children 1st and the Glasgow School of Social Work which was aimed at supporting practitioners to develop and undertake their own small-scale research projects. The project sought to have an impact at three levels: individual, team, and organisation. The findings discuss the consequences, benefits and outcomes at all of these three levels.

Summary of a literature review undertaken to establish the context for practitioner research and its impact on practice through identifying practitioner research carried out in a social services context. The review formed part of an evaluation into the initiative taken by Children 1st and the Glasgow School of Social Work to develop a practitioner research programme. The evaluation was commissioned by Iriss with funding from the Scottish Government's Changing Lives Fund.

Preliminary findings of a study of practice-related research activity within social work agencies.

Dr Ogilvie-Whyte reports on the existing evidence base supporting (or otherwise) the effectiveness of specialist training and education in child care and protection social work, particularly as it impacts on professional practice and outcomes for abused and neglected children.

Our aim was to consider new opportunities for inter-professional learning within a range of existing and new service settings and explore the possibilities for a shared approach to the assessment of social work students in these placements. We have done this by placing one cohort (8) of Fast-track Direct Practice 1. (D.P.1.) Diploma in Social Work (Dip.S.W.) students in a range of placements provided by Quarriers.

Between November 2003 and July 2005, the Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education commissioned The Universities of Edinburgh, Dundee and The Robert Gordon University to undertake a study of Learning for Effective and Ethical Practice (LEEP), the main purpose of which was as follows: To improve radically the quality, quantity, range, relevance, inter-professionality and management of practice learning opportunities for the new social work honours degree.

The overall aim of the Integrated Assessment Project was to develop innovative flexible and aligned assessment methods to promote deep learning for ethical and effective practice. It comprised of three discrete projects with the following key objectives:

• Project 3.1 New Methods of Assessment
• Project 3.2 Shared Assessment
• Project 3.3. Involvement of Users and Carers

Evaluation of a novel method of supporting the integration of learning for practice in Social Work settings: the Academic Advisor role. This evaluation examines the process and workings of a new approach to the integration of learning and practice, namely the introduction of Academic Advisors to practice learning settings in Edinburgh, Midlothian and Glasgow.

Shared educational experiences between professionals is seen as one way of improving joint working once students qualify in their respective professions. The aim of this shared assessment project is to explore and document the ways in which professionals from disciplines other than social work can contribute to the performance assessment of social work students and conversely where they are less able to do so.

Demonstration project evaluation report. Three Higher Education Institutions are involved in the development of the LEEP Project: the University of Edinburgh has a leading role in enhancing the integration of learning for practice (objective 1), the University of Dundee is focusing on developing opportunities for inter-professional learning (objective 2), and the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, is working in partnership with social work agencies to achieve objective 3.