PVI Student Placements Gold or Dross Jo Tulloch

The Context l Need to improve SW education / training l Increasing use of

The Issues l PVI agencies may have different: aims l professional approaches to their

First, the problems l l l Motivation = labour & funds to meet capacity

Then, the Value of PVI Placements l Innovative & creative ways of working l

Research Pilot l Hypothesis: PVA placements have valuable pros for SW training & cons

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PVI Student Placements Gold or Dross? Jo Tulloch, June 2011

The Context l Need to improve SW education / training l Increasing use of PVI placements – “vast range” l No research found on fit between SW training and PVI sector placements

The Issues l PVI agencies may have different: aims l professional approaches to their work l understanding of the social work role & l motivation for taking students than statutory social work agencies. l Does this matter?

First, the problems l l l Motivation = labour & funds to meet capacity deficit Limited awareness of SW role & placement requirements Different approach to supervision Challenge to find student workload with sufficient SW content Difficulty in managing struggling students

Then, the Value of PVI Placements l Innovative & creative ways of working l Supportive relationships with clients l Use theory-based counselling skills l Strong focus on valuing diversity l Group work & community analysis l Initiative & an open approach to problem-solving & risk l Flexible organisational structure & accountability l Commitment to individual clients & holistic practice

Research Pilot l Hypothesis: PVA placements have valuable pros for SW training & cons that need to be addressed l Aim: to confirm or disprove that these are widespread issues needing further research l Outcome: if hypothesis confirmed, pass on to academic team to follow through