6 Reflecting on your values as an educator
It was not until 2013 that the national (England) requirements were set out for practice education with the Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) being launched by the College of Social Work following recommendations from the Social Work Reform Board. The PEPS are currently provided as a ‘good practice’ guide that learning providers and social work agencies supporting placements have embraced whilst the regulator decides on their approach for quality assuring programmes and annotating the Register for those who are qualified.
The PEPS have been revised and updated over the years with the most recent ‘refresh’ being in 2022. This review of the standards was informed by the importance of embedding anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice into the guidance.
As a qualified social worker, you will be demonstrating your values as guided by the British Association of Social Workers. It is important that you are familiar with the PEPS guidance in relation to your values as an educator too. Whilst you have already reflected on the domains in Section 2 of this course, you will now reflect on your values as an educator.
Activity 6 Reflecting on values in the PEPS domains
Part 1 Values in the PEPS Domains
Read the Values statements (page 6–7) and Domains (page 18–22) in the PEPS and then answer the questions below.
Table 5 Value statements
| Questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| How are the needs and interests of people with lived experience represented in the Values statements? | |
| Value statement 5 refers to the need for PEs to identify and question their own values. Which PCF Domain is this aligned to? | |
| In Value 6, the requirement to accept and respond to the needs of learners is highlighted. What ways might this be achieved? | |
| Value statement 8 requires PEs to take responsibility for their own work and development. How is it suggested they do this? | |
| Which Domain statement requires PEs to ensure an effective collaborative relationship with their learner? | |
| Being critical about your own development as a PE is vital. Which Domain statement refers to this? | |
| Which Domain refers directly to the role of people with lived experience with social work learners? |
Discussion
Table 5 Value statements (completed)
| Questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| How are the needs and interests of people with lived experience represented in the Values statement? | Value 4 refers to the requirement for PEs to ensure that those with lived experience should play an active part in assessing those being accepted onto and undertaking training in practice education. |
| Value statement 5 refers to the need for PEs to identify and question their own values. Which PCF Domain is this aligned to? | Domain 3 |
| In Value 6, the requirement to accept and respond to the needs of learners is highlighted. What ways might this be achieved? | Those involved in practice education should recognise and build on learners’ strengths, consider individual learning styles and use a range of assessment methods (including those preferred by the learner). |
| Value statement 8 requires PEs to take responsibility for their own work and development. How is it suggested they do this? | Critically reflect on their own practice and identify development needs in order to improve their own performance, raise standards, and contribute to the learning and development of others. |
| Which Domain statement requires PEs to ensure an effective collaborative relationship with their learner? | A1 |
| Being critical about your own development as a PE is vital. Which Domain statement refers to this? | D4 |
| Which Domain refers directly to the role of people with lived experience with social work learners? | C2 – encourage learners to seek the views of people with lived experience. |
Part 2 Reflecting on Domain C
Following on from the list you came up with in Activity 4 of methods and approaches you might use to ensure that your assessment of a learner is a fair one, reflect specifically on how it helps you to evidence meeting Domain C and importantly how that then links to evidencing your values as a practice educator.
(In Table 6 the terms student and learner have been used interchangeably.)
Table 6 Domain C
| Domain C Descriptor | Evidence in your own practice as an educator | Links to the specific Values statements 1-8 |
|---|---|---|
| (C1) Ensure that holistic assessment decisions are the outcomes of informed, evidence-based judgements, drawing on evidence, which is relevant, valid, reliable and sufficient from a range of sources, including direct observation. Clearly explain the decisions to students. | ||
| (C2) Encourage students to self-evaluate and seek service users, carers and work-based colleagues feedback to develop their performance. | ||
| (C3) Provide timely, honest and constructive feedback on student performance in an appropriate format. Review student progress throughout the assessment process, identifying strengths and any areas requiring improvement, making clear to students how they may improve to meet the acceptable standard. | ||
| (C4) Ensure that all assessment decisions, and the supporting evidence, are documented and recorded according to the required standard. Provide holistic assessment reports which demonstrate clear evidence for decisions. Demonstrate ability to work well with others in the assessment process, particularly if learner’s practice is marginal or failing. | ||
| (C5) Engage students in the design, planning and implementation of methods to assess students’ performance against the appropriate standards. | ||
| (C6) Extend the development of all students including those who already have strong skills or are experiencing difficulties. Ensure that disagreements about assessment judgements and complaints made about the assessment process are managed in accordance with agreed procedures. |
Discussion
As you have already explored in Section 4, in your role as a PE you have responsibilities to ensure a fair and ethical assessment of learners in practice. This should be guided by the structures in place to ensure you are providing the best possible learning environment for that to happen. Furthermore, as this activity has shown, this needs to be underpinned by the values of the social work profession in this educative context.
OpenLearn - Supporting social work learners: practice educator refresher (England)
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