Practice learning and assessment on bsc (Hons) social Work: ‘Service user conversations’

I think all service users should get involved with this. I felt really listened to for the first time. (Service User, 2003, University of Plymouth) The new BSc (Hons) Social Work requires students to undertake an assessed preparation for practice. For students in their first term at the University of Plymouth and Cornwall College, a corner stone of this ‘Safety to Practice’ assessment is the ‘service user conversation’. Service users and carers meet individually with students to tell them what they think a good social worker should be like. Students write an account of the conversation and are given feedback on their interpersonal skills and on the accuracy of the record. This process involves service users and carers as ‘teachers’ and contributors to assessment from the beginning, thus reversing the usual power relationship. The conversations have proved to be a fascinating journey for all those involved, with significant implications for future practice. The students' learning needs come into sharp focus at the very beginning of their course and an assessment of their performance is meaningfully ascertained through this process. The method has been evaluated with many of the service users and carers who were involved and the outcomes of this research are presented. This innovative and creative process has much to offer in the education and the professional development of new social workers in ways that are both ethical and inclusive. We share the richness of the experience that has gone beyond our expectations and seek to encourage discussion about the possibilities of a fully inclusive approach to social work education.