The Many Faces of Social Work

1
The Many Faces of Social Work

• Department of Social Work, University of Glasgow
• Sharpe Research
• Social Care Workforce Research Unit

2
What we want to know

• Is the new qualification equipping social work
  graduates with the competencies and skills
  required by employers and service users?
• Does the teaching/learning experience match the
  expectations of those entering the profession?
• How does the new qualification compare with the
  DipSW?

3
What we want to know

• Trends in applications, recruitment and
  retention information about experiences/
  motivations
• Quality of the teaching/learning experience
• What helps practice learning?
• Whether innovations are making a difference
• Are graduates prepared to enter the workforce?

4
How we will find this out

• Two main methods
• On line questionnaire mailed to all students
  starting the new degree in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
  (Sharpe Research/SCWRU)
• Six in-depth case studies of the new degree
  (Glasgow)

5
What we hope to find out from the wider study

• Application rates
• Progression rates
• Completion rates
• Potential for additional work on what happens to
  people after they qualify
• Contribute to wider workforce planning

6
Online Student Survey

• Web-based, self-completion
• Census all students, at all Universities and
  Colleges accredited by GSCC
• Longitudinal survey annual phases
• Successive student intakes
• Students at each level of the programme
• Survey results analysed and reported on annually
• Whether and how is the new degree working for
  students?

7
On line questionnaire

• Building on focus group discussions
• Will reflect real concerns of students
• Focus groups will be repeated to pick up new or
  developing issues
• Designed to be easy to complete
• Everyone starting new degree in England from
  September 2003 eligible
• Questionnaire to find out student backgrounds,
  motivations, experiences, satisfactions, sources
  of information and desirable improvements

8
What the Student Survey will cover

• Pros and cons of Degree programme
• Previous familiarity, exposure to social work
• As practitioner or service user
• Influences on progression, completion
• Surprises
• Acquisition of knowledge, skills, competencies,
  values
• Career aspirations
• Variability between programmes

9
Student Focus Groups some findings (1)

• Conscious of being guinea-pigs, but a privilege
• Degree status a definite plus
• Students enjoying their courses
• Hard work, though!
• Interesting mix of fellow students
• Widespread praise for tutors knowledge, wisdom,
  enthusiasm, support

10
Student Focus Groups some findings (2)

• Service user workshops valuable and eye-opener
• Links between theory and practice starting to
  make sense
• National Occupational Standards already a reality
• Looking forward to extended practice placements

11

• Example
• Jean started her social work degree in 2003. She
  has taken part in a focus group (and is very
  enthusiastic about the course). She reminded us
  that not every student is confident with IT. In
  November 2004 she will be asked to complete the
  survey and again in 2005.

12
Leaver Interviews

• Aim to interview a sample of those who do not
  complete programmes
• Around 450 people withdrew from programmes
  between April 02-March 03
• Around 100 people failed programmes between April
  02-March 03
• Identify factors that influence completion

13
Data triangulation

• In-depth studies will use multiple methods
• Documentary analysis
• Key informant interviews
• Focus groups
• Questionnaires
• Skills evaluation
• Use of vignettes

14

• Example
• Kalpa will be asked to help with this research.
  As a young person who has been in foster care,
  Kalpa is part of a group that talks to students
  about her experiences. We will ask her about this
  involvement.

15
What we hope to find out from the case studies (1)

• Influences on the degree
• Teaching technologies
• Practice experiences
• Local management
• Resource allocation
• Impact of national policies

16

• Martin is a lecturer in social work. We will
  ask him about the impact of the changes and may,
  for example, ask about the interviews process for
  applicants.

17
What we hope to find out from the case studies (2)

• The impact of innovations in
• Recruitment
• Teaching learning (including e-learning)
• Assessment
• Practice learning opportunities
• User and carer participation

18

• David is the Head of Human Resources for a
  voluntary sector child care organisation. We will
  interview him to explore his expectations about
  newly qualified social workers and the students
  who undertake placements there.

19
What we hope to find out from the case studies (3)

• Preparedness to practice to what extent can
  students
• Apply skills, knowledge, research and analytical
  abilities
• Reflect social work values in their practice
• Manage change and deliver outcomes
• Communicate with users and carers
• Function in multi-disciplinary teams

20

• Laura is studying at one of the six case study
  programmes. We will ask her and her fellow
  students to complete a piece of work in their
  first year and another in their final year.
• Will we be able to see any difference?

21
What we hope to find out overall

• Effectiveness of the degree
• Perceptions of those delivering the degree
• Perceptions of those undertaking the degree
• Perceptions of key stakeholders

22
Key challenges

• Dealing with complexity
• Lack of baseline data
• Not a before and after study
• Knowledge and skills are difficult to assess
• Complex inter-relationships between contexts,
  process and outcomes
• Using comparatively untried methods in this area
• On line questionnaires under utilised as yet
• Obtaining student contact details
• Encouraging a good response

23
How to find out about progress

• Project Newsletter
• Published twice a year
• Links available on all research partners websites
• Other dissemination
• Journals (professional and academic)
• Conferences
• Interim reports and final report due 2007