Keele University

What you'll study

This postgraduate pathway focuses on the knowledge, skills and values required to support, teach and assess social work students and newly qualified practitioners in placement settings. Core areas of study typically include practice education theory, models of learning and supervision, assessment of competence, reflective practice, professional and ethical issues, diversity and anti-oppressive practice, and placement management.

Programme delivery is practice-focused and blend of taught seminars, workshops, case-based learning and assessed practice activities. Typical modules and components are:

• Principles and theories of practice education — adult learning theory, supervision models and approaches to mentoring in social work placements.
• Assessment of practice and competence — using professional standards to assess student progress, evidence-based assessment methods and quality assurance in placements.
• Professional and ethical issues in practice education — confidentiality, boundaries, safeguarding and addressing diversity and inclusion in supervision and assessment.
• Placement management and partnership working — working with universities, placement organisers and employers to ensure learning objectives and placement quality.
• Reflective practice and continuing professional development — developing reflective supervision skills, action planning and maintaining currency as a practice educator.
• Research and evidence-informed practice — for routes that lead to a postgraduate diploma or MSc, a module or dissertation element introduces research methods and application to practice education contexts.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally qualified social workers or allied health and social care professionals with relevant registration (for example with Social Work England or another professional regulator where applicable) and substantive post-qualifying practice experience. Typical requirements include a minimum period of post-qualifying professional experience and current employment in a setting that can offer practice educator opportunities and employer support for practice assessment activities.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate experience of supervising or supporting learners in practice, an understanding of professional standards for social work, and the ability to study at postgraduate level. Employers may be expected to confirm placement support and provide access to learners whom the candidate will supervise and assess as part of the programme. A satisfactory enhanced DBS (or equivalent) check may be required where work with vulnerable people is involved.

Career prospects

Graduates of the practice education programme typically move into roles such as accredited practice educator, placement coordinator, practice learning lead, or workforce development officer within local authorities, NHS trusts, voluntary and private sector organisations, and higher education institutions. The qualification supports career development in practice supervision, student and staff development, quality assurance of placements, and organisational roles that focus on developing the next generation of social care professionals.

Completing postgraduate study in practice education can also create routes into teaching, practice learning management and policy or commissioning roles related to workforce development and practice learning strategy.

Why study at Keele University

Keele’s social work and social care teaching is delivered within a campus-based, interdisciplinary environment that emphasises strong links between academic staff, practice partners and regional employers. The university has a well-established approach to practice learning and offers small-group teaching, experienced tutors with current practice backgrounds, and support for students to link academic content directly to workplace practice.

Students benefit from Keele’s emphasis on applied learning, opportunities to engage with practice networks across health and social care, and access to research-informed content that reflects contemporary responsibilities for safeguarding, anti-oppressive practice and professional assessment. The programme is designed to be compatible with employer needs and to support practitioners to meet recognised practice education standards.