Statutory placement experiences of final year students on a BSc (Hons) social work program in England

ABSTRACT

Local authority social work departments in England have been facing challenges from a number of different areas for several years. The onset of austerity in 2008 resulted in funding reductions and constraints, many authorities have been deemed to be ‘inadequate’ or ‘in need of improvement’ by Ofsted, their inspectorate, and working conditions for practitioners have been found to be poor. It is against this backdrop that social work students on qualifying programs undertake their final year statutory placement. This research investigates the experiences of final year social work students on a BSc (Hons) Social Work program in England. Focus groups and interviews were used to explore the experiences of 18 students placed within both Adults’ and Children’s Services in three local authorities. Data were analysed thematically and revealed commonalities and differences in experience. Differences between services were apparent with students from Children’s Services focusing upon local authority processes whilst Adults’ Services gave greater consideration to supervision and support. The areas of motivation and values, awareness of others, power and process also emerged as significant themes.

KEYWORDS:

• Social work
• student placements
• statutory placements
• field education
• process

Disclosure statement

This work was supported by a Research Priority Area Sport, Exercise, Health and Wellbeing Grant from the University of Gloucestershire.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Gloucestershire.

Notes on contributors

Emma Perry

Emma Perry is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at University of Gloucestershire. Her research and teaching interests are student experiences of practice placements, older people and relationships in later life.

Samantha Hughes

Samantha Hughes is a PhD student at University of Gloucestershire. Her particular area of interest is well-being and investigating how this can be supported, sustained and enhanced in vulnerable populations and groups (such as people living with mental health needs).