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Number of items: 632.

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How should we be in a lecture? (Animation)

This animation was created as a prompt for discussion on how we behave respectfully towards each other in a classroom situation e.g. dealing with lateness and disruptive noise. We wanted to create these 'rules' as a group and not enforce them ourselves. You can also access this animation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iImMRhV9uFQ If you do this animation, we'd love it if you let us know how you used it.

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Learning together: animation

This animation gives an overview of our view of the ideal classroom, a place in which we can learn from each other, rather than lecturers being the font of all knowledge, and students passive recipients. We designed it to be used as a prompt for discussion of classroom dynamics with a new group of students. It is also available for use on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAgzq7zEAOo If you do use this animation we'd love it if you got in contact and let us know.

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A road less travelled: working with men as fathers' in Family based services’ A road less travelled: working with men as fathers' in Family based services’ A road less travelled: working with men as fathers' in Family based services’ A road less travelled: working with men as fathers' in Family based services’ A road less travelled: working with men as fathers' in Family based services’ A road less travelled: working with men as fathers' in Family based services’ A road less travelled: working with men as fathers' in Family based services’

The nature and shape of Australian families has changed significantly in recent decades (Smit 2005; Berlyn et al., 2008). Even with these changes, there have been many contested understandings about what constitutes fatherhood (Fletcher et al., 2008; BBC, 2000). There has been an emerging trend internationally to understand fatherhood (Scourfield, 2006; Milner, 1993; O’Hagan, 1997; Featherstone, 2003; 2006; Daniel et al., 2005). Despite this interest, there is still more need for research to be undertaken in Australia about the attitudes of professionals towards fathers, male input into family life and, in particular, the experiences of fathers who are described as being absent from family based services. This will result in a greater understanding and application of ‘father inclusive practice’ (Berlyn et al., 2008; King, 2009).

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Just Call Me Dad: Health and Social Benefits to Fathers and their Children

In the past 20 years, social change and expectations for both maternal and paternal responsibilities have highlighted the need for services for families to better understand the role of a father in family relationships. In Australia, as well as internationally, there have been many contested understandings about what constitutes ‘good fathering’ in research, social media and in the political sphere. More specifically, there has also been an emerging trend to understand the challenging task of recruiting and maintaining men’s involvement in child and family services programmes, particularly those fathers who are deemed a risk to children and mothers, violent or have been separated from their children. That many child and family/welfare services have exercised dedicated effort to work with fathers is still a relatively recent phenomenon, and has only emerged following criticism that services have been too geared towards working only with mothers. Despite this increasing interest, there is still ongoing need for more research to be undertaken in Australia. An important area of focus is the views of professionals about their perception and engagement of fathers, particularly the views of fathers who are described as being absent from family-based services. The purpose of this article is to report briefly on a study undertaken to examine how child and family welfare workers engage fathers in their work. First, this paper will describe some of the social and health benefits to fathers and their children, focusing on the key role of attachment through play. Research into effective service delivery involving fathers will then be presented, concluding with key practice factors necessary for fathers to be involved in family life.

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Book Groups in Social Work Education

Presented is a Storify that chronicles a university based 'Book Group in Social Work Education'. Book Group has evolved into a national project. It is a teaching strategy that can be embedded into modules, study groups and as a single programme teaching and learning event. It has the potential to be developed and implemented in a CPD context; mapped alongside the incremental nature of The College of Social Work 'Professional Capabilities Framework' and the Health Care Professionals Council 'Standards of Proficiency' outline. It provides a platform to develop 'Communities of Learning' and 'Communities of Practice' and is therefore a creative and flexible medium through which learning can be propelled, reviewed and secured.

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Social Work Social Media App

This app offers you an amazing way to explore some of the ethical issues of using social media in social work. In the app you will meet a Team Manager called Adrian, he will present some ethical dilemmas around social media use. Can you help Adrian make the right decisions to ensure his team’s practices are consistent with social work ethics and values? Based on the issues raised by Adrian, you are encouraged to reflect on your decisions and consider the potential impact these may have on your day-to-day social work practises in relation to social media use. Games based case study approach The app uses a games based approach. Therefore, if your advice leads to successful outcomes you will proceed through the scenarios. However, if your advice leads to unsuccessful outcomes for either Adrian’s team, agency or service users, you will have to start from the beginning again. Can you advise Adrian successfully the first time around?

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Test

Test

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Forget Me Not Song

Song Lyrics written by members of the Forget Me Not Swindon Centre about their experience of having dementia. The resource contains different versions/formats of the song as the group have amended it to suit the different events where they have performed it.

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SWAPBox Promotional Poster

This is a promotional poster for the SWAPBox repository

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Social Care TV: Living with young onset dementia

This film introduces Ian Grant and Sandy Reed, who were both diagnosed with dementia in their 50's. They describe their experiences of receiving such a diagnosis at an early age, and the lack of support that often follows. They are both now supported by the Forget Me Not Centre, which provides counselling and support to younger people with dementia and takes a reablement approach. This means that the support staff work alongside the individuals, help to break difficult tasks down into small steps, and encourage frequent practice until confidence in their abilities grows. The film also emphasises the importance of living life, taking risks and having new experiences, as well as the value of peer support.

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mhhehub

Mental Health in Higher Education aims to increase networking and the sharing of approaches to learning and teaching about mental health - across the disciplines in higher education. The mhhehub is a social networking site. Membership is open to educators (including service user and carer educators), practice mentors, students, practitioners, educational researchers and all with an interest in enhancing learning and teaching about mental health.

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Using Facebook to Explore Boundary Issues for Social Workers in a Networked Society: Students' Perceptions of Learning

This paper examines final-year MA and BA social work students' experiences of using Facebook as part of an enquiry-based blended learning design. A Think Family and Whole Systems module was redesigned using constructivist principles of emergent learning. This redesign enabled students to engage in life-like situations to help them reflect on the implications of using social networking sites as social work practitioners. It is suggested that student confidence in being able to outline the ethical issues, personal privacy concerns for professionals and service users, and the potential positive and negative aspects of using social networking sites for future professional development increased as a result of engaging with the learning design. To cater for the increasing use of social networks in society, a rationale for the learning design is outlined from the perspective of social work education. The paper then outlines the lessons learnt from students' engagement with Facebook as a site for learning.

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Service user and carer involvement in education

Collection of links on bundlr.

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Mental Health Law Teaching Resources

This collection on 'bundlr' draws together resources which may be of interest to those learning and teaching about mental health rights and legal issues.

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Managing problems and disputes (Bristol)

Example of guidance for managing problems and disputes relating to the assessment of students on placement.

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Why Society Drives You Mad

Clinical psychologist and vocal critic of psychiatry Richard Bentall reveals why social inequality, racism and the built environment have a far more significant role to play in mental illness than the biomedical establishment acknowledges.

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The Depression Project

The Depression Project challenges society's view on what a mental health problem is, and to show that in fact, no-one is "normal". It is currently being used within the NHS as a training tool. It was also shown as part of the University of Birmingham's Mental Health Awareness Week.

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Sanctuary

Sanctuary tells the stories of six asylum seekers and refugees living in Glasgow, and aims to address the stigma and discrimination often experienced by asylum seekers and refugees. With Glasgow hosting increasing numbers of asylum seekers and refugees over the last few years, it was considered a priority to ensure the mental health of this social group. With stigma and discrimination often an issue, there is a reluctance for people with mental health issues to seek help within these communities. A high quality film capturing the narratives of asylum seekers and refugees. Winner of the 'Respect for Diversity' category of the Principles into Practice Awards 2011.

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ADHD and me

ADHD and Me brings research interviews with children to (animated) life. The VOICES study (Voices On Identity, Childhood, Ethics & Stimulants: Children join the debate) investigated children's experiences with ADHD diagnosis and stimulant drug treatments. They interviewed over 150 children in the United States and the United Kingdom, recruited from NHS Trusts, university clinics and community pediatric centers. This film uses their actual interviews with children to present some of the most important discoveries of the VOICES study.

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Labelling and Self Identity

We call mad people lots of names. Most of them are not meant to be complimentary. But what do mad people call themselves? Do they accept labels that others stick on them? Do they apply their own labels? Why might one person choose a different label than another? This is a short documentary in which 12 Toronto activists discuss how they identify themselves. Documentaries are one of Ryerson University's online learning tools, used by instructors to spark discussion in the online student forums. This documentary is a part of unique and engaging online course called 'Mad People's History' (CDST 504), developed by Digital Education Strategies at The Chang School and David Reville, an instructor with the School of Disability Studies at Ryerson University.

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Other types of evidence - Presentation Bournemouth

Example of format for a presentation that can be included as evidence

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Managing problems and disputes (Plymouth)

Example of guidance for managing problems and disputes relating to the assessment of students on placement

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Managing problems and disputes Action Plan (Birmingham)

Example of a form that can be used when developing an action plan in response to problems and disputes

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Managing problems and disputes (Birmingham)

Example of a policy for managing a range of problems connected with assessment of a student on placement

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Other types of evidence - Blogging (Plymouth)

Example of assignment on reflective material to be submitted for a portfolio, including blogging

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Other types of evidence - Student learning profile (Pan London)

Example of student learning profile that can be shared across placements used in Pan-London region

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Work produced by student - Record of work undertaken (Plymouth)

Example of format for recording work undertaken by student while on placement

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Work produced by student - Summary of work undertaken (Bournemouth)

Example of guidance on methods of recording work undertaken by student while on placement

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Work produced by student - Work summary (Birmingham)

Example of guidance on how student records agency work for assessment

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Work produced by student - Record of work undertaken (Birmingham)

Example of guidance and form to record student's work while on placement

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Evidence from supervision - supervision record (Birmingham)

Example of form to record student's supervision while on placement

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Service user/carer feedback form (Birmingham)

Example of form for obtaining feedback from service user/carer

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Critical reflection practice analyses (Bournemouth)

Example of format for critical incident analysis of practice

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Critical reflection co-marked assignment (Bournemouth)

Example of guidance for assignment marked by university and practice educator

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Critical Reflection Guidance (Birmingham)

Guidance on critical reflection of practice while on placement

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Direct Observation - Live Teaching (Doel et al)

Extract from Doel, M. (2010) Social Work Placements: A traveller’s guide, Abingdon: Routledge, pp 64-70. Outlines the possibilities of the practice educator co-working with the student.

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Direct Observation (Plymouth)

Example of guidance and form to record direct observation

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Direct Observation (Bournemouth)

Example of guidance and form to record Direct Observation

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Direct Observation (Birmingham)

Example of guidance and form to record direct observation

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We're not mad, we're angry

Channel 4 screened Eleventh Hour's "We're not mad we're angry" in 1986. This was a unique docu-drama which took two years to make with a group of current and former psychiatric patients who held full editorial control. Many of the actors in the drama sequences had been service users; others were involved in the editing and production process. Many of the survivors interviewed were activists such as: Jan Wallcraft who became Mindlink's first co-ordinator; David Crepaz-Keay, who went on to manage Mental Health Media, then became Head of Empowerment and Social Inclusion at the Mental Health Foundation; Peter Campbell, the founder of Survivor's Speak Out'; Mike Lawson, the first survivor vice-chair of National Mind. This is the documentary in full, now available on Youtube.

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U Can Cope

Film about coping with suicidal thoughts and depression. May be of use to those involved in teaching mental health on prequalifying programmes.

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Handbook for External Examiners

Guidance for external examiners for the degree in social work, produced by the Prepared by:The Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Social Policy and Social Work (SWAP)with the Joint University Council Social Work Education Committee and the four UK Care Councils (the General Social Care Council, the Care Council for Wales, the Northern Ireland Social Services Council and the Scottish Social Services Council)

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Mental Health for All by Involving All

TED talk by Vikram Patel. Nearly 450 million people are affected by mental illness worldwide. In wealthy nations, just half receive appropriate care, but in developing countries, close to 90 percent go untreated because psychiatrists are in such short supply. Vikram Patel outlines a highly promising approach -- training members of communities to give mental health interventions, empowering ordinary people to care for others.

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Curriculum Guide - mental health and distress

This guide is intended for social work educators tasked with delivering teaching on mental health, for those teaching other areas to think how issues of mental health and distress intersect, and for course directors. Part of a series, being produced by the College of Social Work - intended as guidance, not prescription!

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Endings in Social Care

This is a blog post about endings in social care work. It is adapted from another post for Social Work students that contained examples from practice. If you would like access to the one with examples, please feel free to email me from your college/university email address to andrew.ellery@btconnect.com Other blogs of interest to social care/social work students and practitioners at www.andyellery.wordpress.com

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ALPS student observation assessment tool

This assessment tool is aimed at students and practice educators to record their commentary on observations done as part of their assessment of competence in practice. Students may also use it outside of formal observations as a reflective record of their own practice for discussion in supervision.This tool has also been adapted to fit with NQSW and Stage 1 and 2 practice educator training. It will be further adapted to fit with PCF. An evaluation of its use is available.

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Curriculum Guide: Human Growth and Development

Social work engages with people across the life course, and practitioners often work with groups of people at different stages of life. Developing a thorough understanding of human growth and development (HGD) to encompass the whole life course is therefore a central element of social work education and practice.

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'She didn't seem like a social worker': Practice Educators’ experiences and perceptions of assessing failing social work students on placement

This report seeks to investigate a key intersection of academic and practical learning in social work training: the assessment of students on placement and the challenges for practice-based assessors in assessing a failing student. Department of Health (2002) requirements for social work education require that students spend at least 200 days in practice learning (in at least two settings); gain experience of undertaking 'statutory' social work tasks (involving legal interventions); and provide services to at least two different service user groups. These practice placements are assessed by practice educators, either placed within organisations, or by independent assessors. Whilst academy-based social work educators generally have recourse to such support mechanisms as collegial discussion, opportunities for moderation and codified assessment procedures when making assessment judgments, the experience of the practice assessor is potentially more isolated – and certainly less well documented. What are practice educators’ experiences and views of the ‘challenging’ or ‘failing’ student on social work placements? What strategies have proved productive in supporting a failing student and what outcomes have educators observed? The present study seeks to answer these questions and to capture and codify some key principles and practices accordingly. In line with recent discussions and concerns within the profession regarding assessment of social work students on placement (Basnett & Sheffield, 2010), the study proffers a sustained and specific focus on the experiences and perceptions of practice educators (PE) to determine their views of the ‘difficult student’, and their sense of the support they require from academic colleagues in order to reach judgments and to implement interventions.

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Ethical dilemmas in working with families

Social workers have always paid careful attention to the ethical dilemmas in their practice. The power invested by the law in some of the social work tasks make this imperative. The complexities of the rights of each individual within the family are keenly debated in current social work practice. In legal situations who is the client? Does each family member have appropriate representation and so on. While the issues can be clarified it is not always simple to solve an ethical dilemma since the rights and interests of the individuals may be in opposition.

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Guidance for admissions tutors and partners implementingnew arrangements for the recruitment and selection of social work students in England

This guide provides detailed guidance in respect of all post-Reform Board changes in the arena of social work admissions.

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Personalisation

This film is the result of a group project done at CoolTan Arts centre - a charitable arts in mental-health organisation. The group was exploring Personalisation, a new government scheme aiming to distribute personal budget to people who suffer from disabilities, hoping to promote more self-control over one's treatment. The group explored the pros and cons of the new scheme.

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Developing an holistic and joined up approach to mental wellbeing

Produced by the National Health Universities Project this guidance package provides:background information, evidence and links to existing guidance for universities to promote mental wellbeing; general information on mental wellbeing as well as separate sections focussing on staff and student issue; suggestions on policy/procedures development, areas for consultation, potential internal/external partners to involve.

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Do the right thing: How to judge a good ward

Ten standards for adult in-patient mental health care. Useful for facilitating understanding of the in-patient environment.

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Burning Issues in learning and teaching about mental health

This collection of Burning Issues has been compiled by the Mental Health in Higher Education project (mhhe) and the Higher Education Academy (subject centres1) Special Interest Group for Mental Health (MHSIG). It provides a snapshot of the views of educators - from across the disciplines - about key issues that they face in teaching.

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Family work with Black and Minority Ethnic Families

Meriden Family Programme reading list

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Mental health of students in higher education

The main purpose of this report is to provide an update to a previous Royal College of Psychiatrists document, Mental Health of Students in Higher Education, published in 2003. Over the past decade, the demographics of the student population have undergone many changes that are of relevance to the provision of mental healthcare. The numbers of young people in higher education have expanded and they have become more socially and culturally diverse. There have been increasing numbers of students drawn from backgrounds with historically low rates of participation in higher education and growing numbers of international students. Social changes such as the withdrawal of financial support, higher rates of family breakdown and, more recently, economic recession are all having an impact on the well-being of students and other young people.

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Student mental wellbeing - making a whole university approach work

This document reflects on key issues concerning mental health and wellbeing promotion in the context of the updated report entitled ‘The Mental Health of Students in Higher Education’ (CR166), released by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) on 30th September 2011. It aims to expand on the concept of a ‘whole-university approach’ to wellbeing, some of the challenges with the implementation of the approach, and steps that can be taken. It proposes ways in which national stakeholders can establish coordination as a sector.

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Can Patients be Teachers? Involving patients and service users in healthcare professionals' education

There is strong evidence that involving patients and service users in healthcare professionals' education has short-term benefits for all involved. Longer term, there has been little evaluation to discover whether this involvement has an effect on the behaviour or practice of health professionals or on health outcomes. This newly published Health Foundation report aims to describe the current state of active patient involvement in the education of health and social care professionals, both in the literature and in practice. It aims to highlight areas for further research and development.

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What is forensic psychiatry

Dr Ali Ajaz, a specialty trainee in forensic psychiatry, interviews consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Paul Simon Williams about his work. Royal College of Psychiatrists podcast

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A patient's journey

Royal College of Psychiatrists podcast. A patient (Alan) talks to a consultant forensic psychiatrist about his admission to a medium secure unit

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E-learning presentation to engage learners and maximise participation

JSWEC/SWAP award winner, 2011 for innovative technology use. Power-point presentation covering main points of good practice in E-learning which supported real time release of case based problem solving.

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The challenge

A guide to challenging behaviour in mental health and social care settings.

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Psychosis: symptoms or strategies

A guide to psychosis

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Decisions

A guide to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

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Emotional management

How to run your own mood

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The Challenge

A guide to challenging behaviour interventions in health and social care

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Stressed

A guide to the stress and vulnerability model in mental health and disorder

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The Convention

A guide to the European Convention on human Rights (ECHR)

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What's a support worker worth

A short article on the value of support workers in mental health care settings

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Christian Brown's digital story

Digital stories from the University of Huddersfield MSc Social Work 2011

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Parental Substance Misuse

These elearning resources use audio, video and interactive technology to assist in exploring parental substance misuse, its effects on children and parenting capacity and the implications for social work practitioners.

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Implications for children’s social work practice

Explores the implications that parental substance misuse has for social work practice and to recognise when an assessment is needed.

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Understanding the impact on children

Explores how parenting capacity may be compromised and how children may be affected by parental substance misuse.

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Understanding substance misuse

An introduction to the different types of substances commonly misused and the effects that these may have on the people taking them.

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Twitter Tips for New Users

A short 'how to' guide to Twitter specifically for Social Workers who are new to it.

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Communicating with families

Explores the communication strategies that can be used to talk to parents, children and families about parental mental health issues.

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Managing complexity and leading practice

Provides a range of audit tools for front line managers to gauge the readiness of their staff to implement the ‘Think Family’ guidance. It also identifies the key drivers needed by strategic managers to target action at a local level, identify the barriers to change and potential solutions.

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Interventions

Explores screening, active signposting and early intervention, and their importance in addressing the needs of all parts of the family system.

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Care planning and review

oks at what makes an effective plan as well as considering how reviewing processes can be used to ensure changing needs are assessed and plans modified as a result.

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Working together with professionals

Explores the challenges facing workers in maintaining a multi-agency approach and how the Family Model can be used to strengthen professional working relationships.

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Working together with parents

Explores the key principles of working in partnership with parents.

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Think child, think parent and think family

Explores the impact of parental mental illness on all family members. Also looks at child development stages and some common diagnoses, interventions and treatments for mental illness.

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Introducing the family model

An introduction to the family model and the impacts of some common risks, stressors and protective factors.

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Parental mental health and families

These resource use audio, video and interactive technology to assist in exploring the nature of parental mental health and its impact on families.

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Interface between the MCA and MHA

Explores the relationship between the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and the Mental Health Act (MHA) of 1983 (as amended by the Mental Heath Act 2007) the difference between the two laws in relation to detention and deprivation of liberty.

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A guide to the deprivation of liberty safeguards

Looks at the law on deprivation of liberty safeguards (DOLS).

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Planning for the future

Explores who can make decisions on behalf of other people and when those decisions can be made.

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What to do when there is disagreement

Explores what kinds of disagreement can arise in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and possible solutions to resolve these.

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More complex best interests decision making

Explores how you begin to work out a person’s best interests in a practical context and the limits and challenges associated with best interests decision making.

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Making more complex decisions

Explores why, when and how to carry out a formal, recorded assessment of capacity.

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Best interest decisions about day-to-day care and support

Explores what the Act means by ‘best interests’ as well as when best interests decisions need to be made.

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Making day-to-day decisions about care and support

Explores what is meant by making day-to-day decisions and how we can assess a person’s capacity to make their own decisions.

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Supporting people to make their own decisions

Explores why the Mental Capacity Act 2005 was introduced and who is affected by the Act (Estimated sudy time: 20-30 minutes).

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Mental Capacity Act

These learning resources use audio, video and interactive technology to assist in exploring the many areas of the Mental Capacity Act.

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Journey to Safety

Online educational resource aimed at teachers, focusing on the Kindertransport, asylum seekers and refugees, migration to Britain and oral history. Uses oral history video clips collected from a project in schools. Contains questions and activities for pupils associated with the clips, as well as factsheets, lesson plans and worksheets for use by teachers.

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Symposium PP 2011: Critical issues in promoting equality for LGBT carers

Paper from 2011 Sexuality in Social Work Symposium

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Sexuality in Social UK Interest Group

ABOUT THE SEXUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK SYMPOSIUM Since its inception in June 2004, this UK-wide group has gained over hundred email members from education and practice settings and has developed a strong basis for generating new knowledge and practice innovations in the field of sexuality studies and social work. During this time, the group has successfully raised awareness of the relevance of sexuality issues as critical to social work knowledge, and to service users and carers’ everyday lives through hosting events (conferences at London South Bank University in 2006 and Salford University in 2007) and publishing peer-reviewed articles and, more recently, hosting special issues on Sexuality in Social Work Education (2008) and Practice: Social Work in Action (2009). The group has also played an important function in giving members the opportunity to flag issues relating to anti-oppressive practice, such as challenging homophobia in practice and in higher education, and campaigning for equality issues. Most recent activity - We held our 4th UK Symposium at Glasgow Caledonian University 1st September 2011. The symposium was attended by 22 delegates including social work practitioners from Scotland and England and social work educators from HEI programmes in Scotland, England and Wales. This is the fourth event hosted by the Interest Group and this year we focussed on the recent implementation of the Equality Act 2010 and its implications for social work practice, policy and education. Our event was opened by a welcome address from Professor Sue Scott, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University and distinguished sociologist in gender and sexuality studies. The programme consisted of five paper presentations and two workshops that spanned a variety of topics including lesbian and gay fostering, social care needs of LGBT carers, accessing mental health services for LGB consumers, anti-oppressive approaches to working with young sexual offenders and developing more sexually inclusive social work programmes. At our planning meeting, it was decided to make this an annual event to help build interest within this topic area; we plan to host a similar 1-day event next year at a HEI venue in central England.

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Crime

None

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Housing Deprivation

Abandoned housing

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Values Exchange

The Values Exchange is a unique way to debate social issues - with great potential for use in teaching. Its mission is to promote real democracy, based on the informed, collective wisdom of whole populations. Those who developed and belong to it believe everyone has the right to be part of serious debate about the issues that matter most to us. The Exchange consists of a number of interactive screens, linked to 'cases' - designed to encourage deep reflection on values. Each respondent's responses are recorded in the Values-Exchange database. Immediately you submit, every other respondent can see your values, just as you can explore theirs. Everyone can use the Reports Wizard to investigate reports – both for single cases and across many cases and groups.

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Using SWAPBox iPod Version

This short film can be used to provide information about the SWAPBox repository. This is an iPod version that tells how this JISC funded project houses social work and social policy learning and teaching materials. Dr. Helen Carmichael talks about her experiences of using SWAPBox to access teaching content and to collaborate and develop learning designs with the SWAPBox community. The SWAPBox Project partners are also listed as the Social Policy and Social Work Subject Centre (SWAP) at Southampton University, The Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Mental Health (CEIMH) at the University of Birmingham, The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS), The Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE) and The Centre for Human Service Technology (CHST). The project has been supported by Electronics and Computer Science, and the Library at the University of Southampton.

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Using SWAPBox

This short film can be used to provide information about the SWAPBox repository. It tells how this JISC funded project houses social work and social policy learning and teaching materials. Dr. Helen Carmichael talks about her experiences of using SWAPBox to access teaching content and to collaborate and develop learning designs with the SWAPBox community. The SWAPBox Project partners are also listed as the Social Policy and Social Work Subject Centre (SWAP) at Southampton University, The Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Mental Health (CEIMH) at the University of Birmingham, The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS), The Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE) and The Centre for Human Service Technology (CHST). The project has been supported by Electronics and Computer Science, and the Library at the University of Southampton.

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DiBL Planner Resource Pack (DiBL)

The DiBL tools have been created to make it easier for educators to create enquiry-based blended learning designs. This item contains a large number of A4 guidance documents to help you develop your enquiry-based blended learning designs.

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Enquiry-based Blended Learning Design Planner (DiBL)

The DiBL tools have been created to make it easier for educators to create enquiry-based blended learning designs. This item is a large planner that helps you consider a range of issues when developing an enquiry-based blended learning design.

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Learning Design Icons (DiBL)

The DiBL tools have been created to make it easier for educators to create enquiry-based blended learning designs. This item contains a large number of learning activities that can help stimulate a creative approach to learning and teaching activities.

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Designing for Enquiry-based Blended Learning (DiBL)

The DiBL tools have been created to make it easier for educators to create enquiry-based blended learning designs. This item contains a glossary of learning activity designs. Use this to consider a range of activities that you could employ in your teaching approach.

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Health

None

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Developing emotional intelligence, resilience and skills for maintaining personal wellbeing in students of health and social care

This resource sheet has been developed by the Mental Health in Higher Education project (mhhe), in conjunction with the Social Policy and Social Work Subject Centre of the Higher Education Academy (SWAP). It aims to raise awareness of the need for a focus on: developing emotional intelligence, enhancing resilience and those qualities that underpin it, and maintaining personal wellbeing for students who will become practitioners in health and social care. It outlines the rationale for highlighting these issues across the disciplines, and provides some pointers to examples of current practice and resources.

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IRISS Still Images

A collection of images of various social care settings

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IRISS Podcast: Karl Stern and associates

Karl Stern of Perth and Kinross Council chairs a panel discussion with Paul Henderson (Service Manager for People with Learning Disabilities) and Kim Marshall (carer).

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IRISS Podcast: Nick Andrews

The Welsh perspective on personalisation from Nick Andrews of Swansea Council. At Perth & Kinross Council Personalisation Event, Perth Concert Hall

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IRISS Podcast: Wendy Harrington and Joe Gough

A practitioner's view on personalisation at Perth Concert Hall, organised by Perth & Kinross Council Personalisation Event

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IRISS Podcast: Welcome and Introductions by Alison Petch

As part of a programme to foster better use of technology in the social services, IRISS, SSSC and the Learning Networks have organised a conference and exhibition on Friday 25 February 2011. The conference offered a range of workshops aimed at demystifying the use and range of learning technologies. It also offered assistance in developing cost efficient and accessible solutions for the social services workforce. Alison Petch, Director of IRISS, has spent most of her career involved with research and policy, latterly in health and social care. She welcomed and chaired the day.

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IRISS Podcast: Conference Introduction: Why Now? Imperatives for change & the role of the SSSC

As part of a programme to foster better use of technology in the social services, IRISS, SSSC and the Learning Networks have organised a conference and exhibition on Friday 25 February 2011. The conference offered a range of workshops aimed at demystifying the use and range of learning technologies. It also offered assistance in developing cost efficient and accessible solutions for the social services workforce. Anna Fowlie is Chief Executive of the SSSC. Before that she headed up the Scottish Government team improving outcomes for Looked After Children. She has also worked for COSLA.

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IRISS Podcast: Opening Keynote

As part of a programme to foster better use of technology in the social services, IRISS, SSSC and the Learning Networks have organised a conference and exhibition on Friday 25 February 2011. The conference offered a range of workshops aimed at demystifying the use and range of learning technologies. It also offered assistance in developing cost efficient and accessible solutions for the social services workforce. Steph Gray, as far as we know, was the first person in central government employed to deploy and embed social media skills and techniques across the organisation. He is now Director of Helpful Technology Ltd, a digital innovation agency, helping clients to use digital tools and techniques to work more effectively and save money.

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IRISS Podcast: Welcome Back!

As part of a programme to foster better use of technology in the social services, IRISS, SSSC and the Learning Networks have organised a conference and exhibition on Friday 25 February 2011. The conference offered a range of workshops aimed at demystifying the use and range of learning technologies. It also offered assistance in developing cost efficient and accessible solutions for the social services workforce. Gavin Oattes is the owner and MD of Tree of Knowledge, Scotland’s leading motivational training organisation. A former primary school teacher and stand-up comedian, Gav is now recognised as one of the top speakers in the country. His passion for inspiring others is infectious and he’s renowned for quite literally making a difference in people’s lives. Hugely entertaining and massively thought provoking, Gav empowers his audience to believe that anything is possible.

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IRISS Podcast: If you can do it in schools, could you do it for social services?

As part of a programme to foster better use of technology in the social services, IRISS, SSSC and the Learning Networks have organised a conference and exhibition on Friday 25 February 2011. The conference offered a range of workshops aimed at demystifying the use and range of learning technologies. It also offered assistance in developing cost efficient and accessible solutions for the social services workforce. In August 2010 at Cedars, Fraser successfully led the world’s first 1:1 deployment of iPads in a whole-school setting. He will explain the rationale behind the decision to invest in iPads and describe their impact on teaching and learning at Cedars School of Excellence in Greenock. Fraser Speirs is Director of Connected Flow, Ltd. He is also the Head of Computing and IT at Cedars School of Excellence in Greenock, Scotland. He has previously worked at the University of Glasgow on IT projects supporting the Large Hadron Collider experiment at CERN.

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IRISS Podcast: Setting the Scene for Change

Richard Murray, Senior Economic Adviser, Scottish Government. Critical Skills for Critical Times and conference and workshop organised by Moray Collaborative Learning Network, held at Moray College, 17th March 2011.

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IRISS Podcast: The Improvement Service, Collaboration and Learning

Colin Mair, Chief Executive, Improvement Service. Critical Skills for Critical Times and conference and workshop organised by Moray Collaborative Learning Network, held at Moray College, 17th March 2011.

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IRISS Podcast: Local Context

Calum MacPherson, Area Manager, HIE Moray. Critical Skills for Critical Times and conference and workshop organised by Moray Collaborative Learning Network, held at Moray College, 17th March 2011.

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IRISS Podcast: Closing Address

Mike Devenney, Principal, University of the Highlands and Islands, Moray College. Critical Skills for Critical Times conference and workshop organised by Moray Collaborative Learning Network, held at Moray College, 17th March 2011.

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IRISS Podcast: Discretion in local authorities

Dr Tony Evans is a national member of the SPRING steering group. He is an Associate Professor in the School of Health and Social Studies at the University of Warwick. He previously taught at Southampton, York and Oxford Brookes. Before this he worked as a social worker in mental health, and subsequently in forensic social work in the health service. Before training as a social worker he worked in policy development, and community representation in social services and the health service. His research interests focus on: practice research and professional knowledge; discretion, policy and professional practice; and community care and mental health. Tony's interests in practice research focus on: discretion and the impact of service organisation, policy and procedures on professional practice; and ethics and professional practice and service user rights, particularly in mental health. Alongside his membership of SPRING he is also involved with the Managerialism and Social Services Interest Group based at the University of Warwick.

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IRISS Podcast: Improving child protection, messages for research

Robin Sen currently works as a Lecturer in Child and Family Social Work at Sheffield. Prior to that he was a Teaching Fellow at the University of Strathclyde for three and a half years. His practice background is as a children and families practitioner in Glasgow, where he had a particular focus on working with looked after and accommodated children. He is also a qualified Practice Teacher in social work. Dr Pam Green Lister is Course Director of the Masters in Social Work Course. She mainly teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students on qualifying social work courses, but is also involved in research teaching on other masters courses. Her main areas of teaching are social work theory and practice and child protection. Her research interests are in the fields of social work education and child protection. She is currently involved in an evaluation of the social work degree in England, funded by the Department of Health, having previously undertaken research funded by Social Policy and Social Work Higher Education Academy and the Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education.

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IRISS Podcast: Introduction to the data linkage and mining conference

The evaluation of everyday multi-professional intervention to safeguard and promote the well-being of vulnerable children is limited and restricts both operational planning and professional intervention. The core aim of this programme are to contribute to the development of a platform that will support better understanding of the routes from intervention to outcomes for vulnerable children through utilising administrative datasets and longitudinal research. Janice McGhee teaches areas include social work and the law, psychology and human development. Current research interests are related to child welfare policy and law, the Children's Hearings system and the impact of recent child protection legislation. She has substantial practice experience in a range of settings. These include a local authority social work centre, an emergency duty team providing an out-of-hours service and as a senior social worker in a London teaching hospital.

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IRISS Podcast: The Scottish context: scale, scope and potential

The evaluation of everyday multi-professional intervention to safeguard and promote the well-being of vulnerable children is limited and restricts both operational planning and professional intervention. The core aim of this programme are to contribute to the development of a platform that will support better understanding of the routes from intervention to outcomes for vulnerable children through utilising administrative datasets and longitudinal research. Presentation title: "The Scottish context: scale, scope and potential" Fiona Mitchell is co-ordinator for the Scottish Child Care and Protection Network (SCCPN). The Scottish Child Care and Protection Network is a collaborative network of academics and key stakeholders in child care and protection. The network fosters connections, collaboration and the coordination of activities that promote the use of research evidence in child care and protection practice in Scotland.

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IRISS Podcast: The Scottish context: gaps in understanding what's effective in meeting children's needs for care and protection

The evaluation of everyday multi-professional intervention to safeguard and promote the well-being of vulnerable children is limited and restricts both operational planning and professional intervention. The core aim of this programme are to contribute to the development of a platform that will support better understanding of the routes from intervention to outcomes for vulnerable children through utilising administrative datasets and longitudinal research. Phil Raines is the Head of the Child Protection Policy Team in the Scottish Government and is leading the work around the change and updating of the Scottish Child Protection guidelines. Over his seven years in the Scottish civil service and prior to his current role, he has also held posts in European Structural Funds and economic strategy implementation. His presentation title is: "the Scottish context: gaps in understanding what’s effective in meeting children’s needs for care and protection"

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IRISS Podcast: Current data collection and linkage in Glasgow Child Protection Committee area

The evaluation of everyday multi-professional intervention to safeguard and promote the well-being of vulnerable children is limited and restricts both operational planning and professional intervention. The core aim of this programme are to contribute to the development of a platform that will support better understanding of the routes from intervention to outcomes for vulnerable children through utilising administrative datasets and longitudinal research. Paul is presently seconded from Glasgow social work where he works as a researcher in the child protection team. His work in Glasgow involves research and evaluation projects contributing to the development of evidence based practice in a variety of child protection areas in the city - these have included the use of computer assisted interviewing for gathering the views of children; the use of the Graded Care Profile as an assessment of neglect and the interface between child protection and criminal justice and addictions services. Paul is presently involved in the development of policy and research initiatives in relation to child trafficking in Glasgow. He has also worked in a research capacity in a Community Justice Authority and various local authorities designing and managing youth and criminal justice practice evaluations. Prior to entering the world of research Paul was a social worker and senior in a criminal justice team in Edinburgh, including a short secondment to the Scottish Executive criminal justice policy development. His presentation title is: Current data collection and linkage in Glasgow Child Protection Committee area.

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IRISS Podcast: Making use of routine date: lessons learned from the Getting It Right For Every Child pathfinder evaluation

The evaluation of everyday multi-professional intervention to safeguard and promote the well-being of vulnerable children is limited and restricts both operational planning and professional intervention. The core aim of this programme are to contribute to the development of a platform that will support better understanding of the routes from intervention to outcomes for vulnerable children through utilising administrative datasets and longitudinal research. Presentation title: Making use of routine date: lessons learned from the Getting It Right For Every Child pathfinder evaluation.

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IRISS Podcast: Developing outcomes framework for monitoring and evaluation

The evaluation of everyday multi-professional intervention to safeguard and promote the well-being of vulnerable children is limited and restricts both operational planning and professional intervention. The core aim of this programme are to contribute to the development of a platform that will support better understanding of the routes from intervention to outcomes for vulnerable children through utilising administrative datasets and longitudinal research. David is Head of Performance Improvement & Consultancy for Action for children. David holds the strategic lead for safeguarding and demonstrating impact within Action for Children. He has developed an impact strategy and led the organisation’s research partnership around neglect of children. David has extensive project management experience and qualifications in delivering strategic and operational input around a variety of children’s services issues across the UK. His presentation title is: Developing outcomes framework for monitoring and evaluation

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IRISS Podcast: Visualising data

The evaluation of everyday multi-professional intervention to safeguard and promote the well-being of vulnerable children is limited and restricts both operational planning and professional intervention. The core aim of this programme are to contribute to the development of a platform that will support better understanding of the routes from intervention to outcomes for vulnerable children through utilising administrative datasets and longitudinal research. Rikke Iversholt is a member of IRISS Innovation & Improvement team, she contributes to the development of tools, training and interventions that supports and enables the sustainable transformation of social services in Scotland. Rikke leads on the programme’s data visualization project, for which the objective is to provide new ways for social services staff to understand and gain insights into data that enables them to make better decisions about their service provision.

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IRISS Podcast: Linking national health services data: ISD and the Scottish Health Informatics Programmes

The evaluation of everyday multi-professional intervention to safeguard and promote the well-being of vulnerable children is limited and restricts both operational planning and professional intervention. The core aim of this programme are to contribute to the development of a platform that will support better understanding of the routes from intervention to outcomes for vulnerable children through utilising administrative datasets and longitudinal research. Stephen Pavis joined the Information Services Division (ISD) of National Services Scotland, NHS in 2003 and currently holds the post of Head of Programmes. His portfolio includes responsibility for the development of the Scottish Health Information Service, Medical Record Linkage, NHS Information Governance, and ISD's contribution to Scottish Health Informatics Programmes (SHIP). Previous roles within ISD have included Programme Principal for the Long Term Conditions, Social Care, and Drug and Alcohol Misuse. His presentation title is: Linking national health services data: ISD and the Scottish Health Informatics Programmes.

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IRISS Podcast: Good governance in data sharing and data linkage for research and evaluation purposes

The evaluation of everyday multi-professional intervention to safeguard and promote the well-being of vulnerable children is limited and restricts both operational planning and professional intervention. The core aim of this programme are to contribute to the development of a platform that will support better understanding of the routes from intervention to outcomes for vulnerable children through utilising administrative datasets and longitudinal research. Graeme Laurie is Professor of Medical Jurisprudence at the University of Edinburgh and Director of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Research Centre for Studies in Intellectual Property and Technology Law. His research interests include the role of law in promoting and regulating science, medicine and technology. He was the Chair of the permanent Ethics and Governance Council of UK Biobank from 2006-2010 and currently the Chair of the Privacy Advisory Committee in Scotland. His presentation title is: "Good governance in data sharing and data linkage for research and evaluation purposes"

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IRISS Podcast: Assessing the feasibility of linking datasets

The evaluation of everyday multi-professional intervention to safeguard and promote the well-being of vulnerable children is limited and restricts both operational planning and professional intervention. The core aim of this programme are to contribute to the development of a platform that will support better understanding of the routes from intervention to outcomes for vulnerable children through utilising administrative datasets and longitudinal research. Phil Anderson is the head of the Data Linkage Unit facilitates the development and analysis of data in order to support whole-of-government and whole-of-life approaches to policy. The Unit achieves this by investigating data linkage and analytical methods, by undertaking data linkage and analyses of linked data sets, and by providing leadership and assistance to analyses undertaken elsewhere within the AIHW in close collaboration with subject matter staff. His presentation title is: "Assessing the feasibility of linking datasets".

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IRISS Podcast: National statistical data returns: linking individual data for looked after children

The evaluation of everyday multi-professional intervention to safeguard and promote the well-being of vulnerable children is limited and restricts both operational planning and professional intervention. The core aim of this programme are to contribute to the development of a platform that will support better understanding of the routes from intervention to outcomes for vulnerable children through utilising administrative datasets and longitudinal research. Gary Sutton's presentation title was "National statistical data returns: linking individual data for looked after children".

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IRISS Podcast: Marriage, divorce or civil partnership: the evidence for integration

Alison Petch's (Director, IRISS) presentation to the annual ADSW Conference at Crieff Hydro on 20th May, 2011. Marriage, divorce or civil partnership: the evidence for integration Note: This recording is of lower than normal sound quality. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

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IRISS Podcast: Vicarious traumatisation or vicarious transformation?

Dr Arash Toosheh PhD Researcher in Psychotraumatology at Glasgow School of Social Work. Arash obtained his qualification in 2010. He was supervised by Dr Pam Green Lister and professor Andy Kendrick. Arash is originally from Iran and brings a unique multi-cultural perspective to social work.

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IRISS Podcast: Young runaways

Fiona Mitchell is the co-ordinator for the Scottish Child Care and Protection Network (http://www.sccpn.stir.ac.uk/). In this clip she talks about an evaluation to explore the most effective ways of delivering Return Home Welfare Interviews (RHWI) for young runaways, which Fiona was involve in along with Margaret Malloch and Cheryl Burgess (University of Stirling) and Vanessa Chan, Jane Eunson, Lorraine Murray (IPSOS Mori Scotland). The evaluation focused solely on the role of the police in delivering RHWIs so is unable to draw comparisons with delivery by other agencies. The evaluation looked at the operation of a pilot as implemented by Grampian police force in Aberdeen City and Elgin, and one area in Aberdeenshire (Fraserburgh) formed the control area for comparison with original practice in Grampian and current practice outwith the pilot areas.The principal conclusion of the evaluation is that RHWIs are an appropriate intervention; helping identify young people who require further support and referring them to an appropriate agency. Even without an onward referral, they can improve outcomes by helping young people appreciate the value of talking about their problems rather than running away. RHWIs may be of most benefit to young people not already involved with services (just under a third of those who received a RHWI during the pilot period were not already involved with social work services). When young people were already accessing other services, other professionals were less convinced of the benefits of the RHWI. However, as the evaluation highlights, even where other services were in place, the RHWIs could provide benefits by obtaining information from young people which was not already known to services; and by providing the young person with an additional opportunity to engage and to access support by doing so. RWHIs, alongside appropriate responses by other agencies, have the potential to ensure that services meet the needs of some young runaways. The full report of the evaluation discussed in this clip is available to download here - http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/pubs/Evaluation-of-the-Grampian-Police-Return-Home-Welfare-Interview-Pilot-for-Young-Runaways/275

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IRISS Podcast: what the punished think of their punishment

Beth Weaver is lecturer at the Glasgow School of Social Work, University of Strathclyde. Here she talks about research she has been working on with Sarah Armstrong (University of Glasgow) entitled 'What the punished think of their punishment'. The research involved speaking with 35 men and women ranging in age from 19 to 55 about their experiences of punishment. The aim was to accurately describe the experience for offenders of doing a short sentence, in prison or the community. Here Beth talks about the key findings from the research and the implications for policy and practice. The research being discussed is available to download here: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/pubs/What-Do-the-Punished-Think-of-Punishment-The-comparative-experience-of-short-term-prison-sentences-and-communitybased-punishments/284, and has been awarded a prize from the Howard League for Penal Reform.

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IRISS Podcast: What lessons can be learned by the police and partner agencies? A presentation on the recommendations of child abuse inquiries in respect of the police force

What lessons can be learned by the police and partner agencies? A presentation on the recommendations of child abuse inquiries in respect of the police force. Dr. Pam Green Lister, senior lecturer, University of Strathclyde.

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IRISS Podcast: Inspiring Desistance? Arts projects in Scottish prisons

Professor Fergus McNeill, Glasgow School of Social Work. Explores the implications for criminal justice social work of the recent report of the Independent Prisons Commission, 'Scotland's Choice'. Examines whether the idea of offenders paying back in the community represents a necessary and sufficient underpinning rationale for the use of community penalties and, more generally, for the future development of criminal justice social work. Glasgow School of Social Work Research Seminar Series: 22nd March 2011.

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IRISS Podcast: Anxiety and child protection - implications for practice

Anxiety and child protection - implications for practice. Janice McGhee, Senior Lecture and Lorraine Waterhouse, Professor, University of Edinburgh.

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IRISS Podcast: Child protection and disabled children: lessons from a scoping study

Child protection and disabled children: lessons from a scoping study. Kirsten Stalker, Professor, University of Strathclyde. Scottish Child Care and Protection Network

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IRISS Podcast: Welcome and introduction from the chair, Brigid Daniel

Longitudinal research seminar took place The Scottish Universities Insight Institute, Glasgow, on the 20th and 21st of April 2011. The intention was to identify the core constituents of a robust longitudinal design that would be fit for the evaluation of the efficacy of everyday professional intervention aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children. The intention was also to explore the type and range of data that is required to capture fundamental aspects of everyday multi-professional intervention and child well-being. On the basis of this we identify the most appropriate measures to capture intervention and child well-being and develop a robust analytical package for capturing outcomes over the short, medium and longer term. Welcome and introduction from the chair. Brigid Daniel, University of Stirling

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IRISS Podcast: Key issues for longitudinal research design: lessons from Growing Up in Scotland (GUS)

Longitudinal research seminar took place The Scottish Universities Insight Institute, Glasgow, on the 20th and 21st of April 2011. The intention was to identify the core constituents of a robust longitudinal design that would be fit for the evaluation of the efficacy of everyday professional intervention aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children. The intention was also to explore the type and range of data that is required to capture fundamental aspects of everyday multi-professional intervention and child well-being. On the basis of this we identify the most appropriate measures to capture intervention and child well-being and develop a robust analytical package for capturing outcomes over the short, medium and longer term. Key issues for longitudinal research design: lessons from Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) . Paul Bradshaw, Scottish Centre for Social Research

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IRISS Podcast: Using routine healthcare data for longitudinal analyses

Longitudinal research seminar took place The Scottish Universities Insight Institute, Glasgow, on the 20th and 21st of April 2011. The intention was to identify the core constituents of a robust longitudinal design that would be fit for the evaluation of the efficacy of everyday professional intervention aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children. The intention was also to explore the type and range of data that is required to capture fundamental aspects of everyday multi-professional intervention and child well-being. On the basis of this we identify the most appropriate measures to capture intervention and child well-being and develop a robust analytical package for capturing outcomes over the short, medium and longer term. Using routine healthcare data for longitudinal analyses. Ruth Gilbert, Director, Centre for Evidence-based Child Health, Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics and MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health, University College London - Institute of Child Health

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IRISS Podcast: Key issues for longitudinal research: a view from overseas, the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (CNLSCY)

Longitudinal research seminar took place The Scottish Universities Insight Institute, Glasgow, on the 20th and 21st of April 2011. The intention was to identify the core constituents of a robust longitudinal design that would be fit for the evaluation of the efficacy of everyday professional intervention aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children. The intention was also to explore the type and range of data that is required to capture fundamental aspects of everyday multi-professional intervention and child well-being. On the basis of this we identify the most appropriate measures to capture intervention and child well-being and develop a robust analytical package for capturing outcomes over the short, medium and longer term. Key issues for longitudinal research: a view from overseas, the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (CNLSCY). Stephanie Lalonde, Chief, CNLSCY

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IRISS Podcast: Glasgow Parenting Support Framework Evaluation: school readiness and longitudinal trajectories using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and linked health data

Longitudinal research seminar took place The Scottish Universities Insight Institute, Glasgow, on the 20th and 21st of April 2011. The intention was to identify the core constituents of a robust longitudinal design that would be fit for the evaluation of the efficacy of everyday professional intervention aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children. The intention was also to explore the type and range of data that is required to capture fundamental aspects of everyday multi-professional intervention and child well-being. On the basis of this we identify the most appropriate measures to capture intervention and child well-being and develop a robust analytical package for capturing outcomes over the short, medium and longer term. Glasgow Parenting Support Framework Evaluation: school readiness and longitudinal trajectories using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and linked health data. Lucy Thompson, Public Health Resource Unit, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

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IRISS Podcast: Exploring outcomes: the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS)

Longitudinal research seminar took place The Scottish Universities Insight Institute, Glasgow, on the 20th and 21st of April 2011. The intention was to identify the core constituents of a robust longitudinal design that would be fit for the evaluation of the efficacy of everyday professional intervention aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children. The intention was also to explore the type and range of data that is required to capture fundamental aspects of everyday multi-professional intervention and child well-being. On the basis of this we identify the most appropriate measures to capture intervention and child well-being and develop a robust analytical package for capturing outcomes over the short, medium and longer term. Exploring outcomes: the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS). Lisa Calderwood, Senior Survey Manager, MCS

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IRISS Podcast: An Inspector’s view: quantifying intervention and outcomes

Longitudinal research seminar took place The Scottish Universities Insight Institute, Glasgow, on the 20th and 21st of April 2011. The intention was to identify the core constituents of a robust longitudinal design that would be fit for the evaluation of the efficacy of everyday professional intervention aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children. The intention was also to explore the type and range of data that is required to capture fundamental aspects of everyday multi-professional intervention and child well-being. On the basis of this we identify the most appropriate measures to capture intervention and child well-being and develop a robust analytical package for capturing outcomes over the short, medium and longer term. An Inspector’s view: quantifying intervention and outcomes. Emma McWilliam, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education

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IRISS Podcast: Social work perspective: a longitudinal study of children at risk of significant harm

Longitudinal research seminar took place The Scottish Universities Insight Institute, Glasgow, on the 20th and 21st of April 2011. The intention was to identify the core constituents of a robust longitudinal design that would be fit for the evaluation of the efficacy of everyday professional intervention aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children. The intention was also to explore the type and range of data that is required to capture fundamental aspects of everyday multi-professional intervention and child well-being. On the basis of this we identify the most appropriate measures to capture intervention and child well-being and develop a robust analytical package for capturing outcomes over the short, medium and longer term. Social work perspective: a longitudinal study of children at risk of significant harm. Marian Brandon, University of East Anglia

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IRISS Podcast: Young People's Views of The Child Protection System

Young People's Views of The Child Protection System. Richard Wolfson at Perth Concert Hall. Contemporary issues in child protection seminar series - Scottish Child Care and Protection Network

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IRISS Podcast: Making Sense Of Child & Family Assessment

Making Sense Of Child & Family Assessment. Contemporary issues in child protection seminar series, Duncan Helm at Perth Concert Hall

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IRISS Podcast: Working With Men Who Are Violent In Relationships

Working With Men Who Are Violent In Relationships Contemporary issues in child protection seminar series, Dave Morran at University of Stirling

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Students as mentors: changing the next generation

This is a Powerpoint presentation from our part of a workshop session at JSWEC 2011. The session gave an overview of the research project with a focus on how we had drawn on Web2 technology in data collection and SWAPBox as a mode of dissemination.

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IRISS Podcast: Working With Parental Mental Health Problems.

Working With Parental Mental Health Problems. Contemporary issues in child protection seminar series, Bryony Beresford at University of Stirling

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IRISS Podcast: Welcome and introduction by Alison Petch

Welcome and introduction by Alison Petch, Director IRISS Scottish Conference on Inclusive Learning Disability Research

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IRISS Podcast: The same as you? Evaluation

The same as you? Evaluation - Steve Robertson, Sandy Galbraith, Chloe Trew, Marion Thompson and Dr Lisa Curtice, director of SCLD Scottish Conference on Inclusive Learning Disability Research

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IRISS Podcast: Keys to our research: unlocking the doors to a better future

Keys to Our Research: Unlocking the Doors to a Better Future - Ian Brookes, Sylvia Archibald and Kerry McInnes Scottish Conference on Inclusive Learning Disability Research

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IRISS Podcast: Health inequalities

Health Inequalities - Kathryn MacIver Scottish Conference on Inclusive Learning Disability Research

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IRISS Podcast: Being included

Being included - 21 years of Central Englad People First by Ian Davies, Craig Hart and Catherine O'Byrne Scottish Conference on Inclusive Learning Disability Research

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IRISS Podcast: Ireland's Inclusive Research Network...where we've come from... where we want to go

Ireland's Inclusive Research Network.... Where we've come from... Where we want to go.. - Marie Wolfe, Ger Minogue and Rob Hopkins

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IRISS Podcast: Public criminology: academics engaging with public life

This discussion explores the role and value of criminology, and academia more broadly, in a democratic society. The recent publication by Ian Loader and Richard Sparks, Public Criminology?, is taken as the starting point for discussion, and after outlining some of the key points of the book, participants respond with their own experiences and perspectives. Participating in this recording are: Richard Sparks, Professor of Criminology (University of Edinburgh, Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research) Sarah Armstrong, Research Fellow (University of Glasgow, Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research) Ian Loader, Professor of Criminology (University of Oxford, Director of the Centre of Criminology) Fergus McNeill, Professor of Criminology and Social Work (University of Glasgow, Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research) Jonathan Simon, Professor of Law (University of California Berkley) For further details of the book under discussion - Public Criminology? – see http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415445504/. Jonathan Simon's blog 'Governing Through Crime', discussed in the recording, is available at governingthroughcrime.blogspot.com. Note: This recording is part of a discussion series which aims to encourage and capture discussion and debate, and to share academic thinking and research findings as widely as possible. The project is supported by the Higher Education Academy: C-SAP Network, Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (SCCJR) and the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS).

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Students as mentors: Changing the next generation

This document provides some exemplar case studies that have been extracted from data collected for a research project. The project explored undergraduate students’ experiences of volunteer mentoring as an extra-curricula activity and the influence this had on their studies. The students were participants in a scheme that provides mentoring for young people looked after by local authorities.

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IRISS Forum 2010 - IRISS taster presentations

A trio of short presentations highlighting IRISS's current work.

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IRISS Forum 2010 - Andy Gibson

Digital disruption: Is the era of mass-produced services over?

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External Examiners Handbook: Guidance for the Degree in Social Work

This handbook is a website resource about the role of external examiners on the social work degree programmes across the UK. It was produced in 2009 by the four UK Care Councils together with the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Social Policy and Social Work (SWAP), and the Joint Universities Council Social Work Education Committee (JUC/SWEC)

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IRISS Forum 2010 - Janice Galloway

Janice Galloway reading, and in conversation with Professor Sandy Cameron, Chair of IRISS Strategic Board and of the Parole Board.

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IRISS Forum 2010 - Caroline Tomlinson

Caroline Tomlinson tells the story of her son Joe, the first person in the UK to receive an individual budget which fundamentally improved the quality of his life.

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IRISS Forum 2010 - Introduction from Alison Petch and keynote from Adam Ingram MSP

Introduction and welcome from Alison Petch, Director of IRISS, followed by keynote speech by Adam Ingram MSP.

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An ageing population: a success or a burden?

This short presentation is a discussion of the implications of population ageing for social policy. It is aimed at an inter-disciplinary audience of students and tutors interested in the consequences of population ageing.

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An ageing population: why and how is it happening?

This short presentation is an introduction to the causes behind population ageing, and it is aimed at a broad, inter-disciplinary audience of students and tutors interested in ageing over the lifecourse.

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PITSTOP - LILAC 2011 Conference Presentation - Notes

Notes accompanying presentation to the LILAC 2011 information literacy conference held at the British Library, 19 April 2011. See also the PowerPoint slideshow.

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PITSTOP - LILAC 2011 Conference presentation - Slideshow

Slideshow that accompanied presentation of preliminary findings of the PITSTOP project to the LILAC 2011 information literacy conference held at the British Library on 19 April 2011. Note that these are mostly images - please refer to the accompanying notes for further information.

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Dilemmas in Introducing Social Media

As part of a SWAP-funded project, Jason Eyre and Julie Kent introduced a discussion board for second year students on practice placements, their practice educators, on site supervisors and tutors. This short easy-to-read paper summarises what we have learn and / or wish we had known twelve months ago specifically in relation to practical issues.

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PITSTOP - Supporting Students on Social Work Placements Using Social Media

Information about a SWAP funded project at De Montfort University to explore the use of social media to support students on social work practice placements.

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History of Social Work, details, 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous

Page from the history of social work initiative, about Alcoholics Anonymous

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History of Social Work, details, 1984, Charles Murray

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Charles Murray

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History of Social Work, details, 1978, Ann Hartman

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Ann Hartman

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History of Social Work, details, 1975, Fundamental Principles of Disability

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the Fundamental Principles of Disability

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History of Social Work, details, 1973, Joel Fischer

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Joel Fischer

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History of Social Work, details, 1970, Paulo Freire

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Paulo Freire

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History of Social Work, details, 1969, Sherry Arnstein

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Sherry Arnstein

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History of Social Work, details, 1969, Michael Lipsky

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Michael Lipsky

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History of Social Work, details, 1961, Jane Jacobs

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Jane Jacobs

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History of Social Work, details, 1961, Erving Goffman

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Erving Goffman

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History of Social Work, details, 1951, Carl Rogers

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Carl Rogers

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History of Social Work, details, 1942, William Henry Beveridge

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of William Henry Beveridge

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History of Social Work, details, 1933, Orwell, Griffin and others

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Orwell, Griffin and others.

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History of Social Work, details, 1929, Alice Salomon

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Alice Salomon

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History of Social Work, details, 1917, Mary Ellen Richmond

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Mary Ellen Richmond

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History of Social Work, details, 1864, Octavia Hill

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Octavia Hill

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History of Social Work, details, 1819, Thomas Chalmers

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Thomas Chalmers

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History of Social Work, details, 1817, Elizabeth Fry

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Elizabeth Fry

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History of Social Work, details, 1889, Jane Addams

Page from the history of social work initiative, about the work of Jane Addams

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Selected web resources for teaching quantitative methods

In 2010 SWAP undertook a survey of postgraduates who teach social policy and a key outcome of the resulting report highlighted the requirement for resources to aid in the teaching of qualitative and quantitative methods. In response SWAP has now published two information sheets which list a selection of web resources from the field, which you may find useful in your teaching.

> Read more...

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Selected web resources for teaching qualitative methods

In 2010 SWAP undertook a survey of postgraduates who teach social policy and a key outcome of the resulting report highlighted the requirement for resources to aid in the teaching of qualitative and quantitative methods. In response SWAP has now published two information sheets which list a selection of web resources from the field, which you may find useful in your teaching.

> Read more...

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Service user involvement in training: A catalyst for collaboration

'Psychosis Revisited' is a two day workshop, based upon the British Psychological Society (BPS) report (2000): 'Recent advances in understanding mental illness and psychotic experiences'. It encourages mental health workers to take a fresh look at psychosis and psychotic experiences. Mark Hayward (academic tutor at the University of Surrey/ Clinical Psychologist) describes how he and an Occupational therapist, in conjunction with user trainers from the CAPITAL project, delivered this workshop to a Community Mental Health/Assertive Outreach team. This case study focuses in particular on one session entitled "service user perspectives". It outlines in detail how the session was planned and delivered, offering useful insights into how a safe learning environment was created, and reflects on learning gained. Discussions are ongoing that may lead to the embedding of 'Psychosis Revisited' within prequalifying training within a range of disciplines.

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Students and service users learning together: Co-operative inquiry and its implications for curriculum development

Tina Coldham and Steve Tee describe a piece of action research, involving pre-registration nursing students and service users in a process known as "co-operative inquiry". This model is introduced, together with some reflection on how it was used on a pre-registration nursing programme at the University of Southampton. Includes reflection on the efficacy of this approach in facilitating the meaningful involvement of service users in learning and teaching about mental health.

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Mental Health Curriculum Resources

These resources are linked to the Curriculum guide for qualifying social work education - mental health.

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Raising awareness about homelessness: hosting an event

This helpsheet offers some pointers for social work academics wishing to increase student awareness of homelessness by holding an event.

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Resources for teaching internationalisation and globalisation to social work students

This short guide is a summary of resources selected by Sue Lawrence, Karen Lyons, Graeme Simpson and Nathalie Huegler (eds) (2009)Introducing International Social Work. Learning Matters: Exeter.

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SWAPBox Template Letter - Please share your resources

This template letter has been developed for use by SWAPBox members who shared the resources of others by web-linking them to their profile but would like to encourage the original author to also upload the resource file. It is envisaged that this will be particularly applicable to special interest groups within SWAPBox, who are collecting resources and materials around a particular topic. The template can be easily customised, pasted into an email or sent out in letter format.

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The impact of medication - battle of the bulge

These digital stories were created by service user members of the Inpatient Care Forum at the CEIMH at the University of Birmingham as part of a project to create resources for teaching about the impact of medication to undergraduate nurses. They are scripted from the persons lived experience and were made by them with support from myself and colleagues, Liz Chilton and Dee Partridge.

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The impact of medication - making decisions about medication

These digital stories were created by service user members of the Inpatient Care Forum at the CEIMH at the University of Birmingham as part of a project to create resources for teaching about the impact of medication to undergraduate nurses. They are scripted from the persons lived experience and were made by them with support from myself and colleagues, Liz Chilton and Dee Partridge.

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The impact of medication - what a good night's sleep can do

These digital stories were created by service user members of the Inpatient Care Forum at the CEIMH at the University of Birmingham as part of a project to create resources for teaching about the impact of medication to undergraduate nurses. They are scripted from the persons lived experience and were made by them with support from myself and colleagues, Liz Chilton and Dee Partridge.

> Read more...

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Experiences of inpatient care - women's safety

These digital stories were created by service user members of the Inpatient Care Forum at the CEIMH at the University of Birmingham as part of a project to create resources for teaching about inpatient care for health care workers. They are scripted from the persons lived experience and were made by them with support from myself and colleagues, Liz Chilton and Dee Partridge.

> Read more...

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Experiences of inpatient care - the therapeutic relationship

These digital stories were created by service user members of the Inpatient Care Forum at the CEIMH at the University of Birmingham as part of a project to create resources for teaching about inpatient care for health care workers. They are scripted from the persons lived experience and were made by them with support from myself and colleagues, Liz Chilton and Dee Partridge.

> Read more...

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Experiences of inpatient care - sexuality

These digital stories were created by service user members of the Inpatient Care Forum at the CEIMH at the University of Birmingham as part of a project to create resources for teaching about inpatient care for health care workers. They are scripted from the persons lived experience and were made by them with support from myself and colleagues, Liz Chilton and Dee Partridge.

> Read more...

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Experiences of inpatient care - reliability

These digital stories were created by service user members of the Inpatient Care Forum at the CEIMH at the University of Birmingham as part of a project to create resources for teaching about inpatient care for health care workers. They are scripted from teh persons lived experience and were made by them with support from myself and colleagues, Liz Chilton and Dee Partridge.

> Read more...

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Experiences of inpatient care - records and reality

These digital stories were created by service user members of the Inpatient Care Forum at the CEIMH at the University of Birmingham as part of a project to create resources for teaching about inpatient care for health care workers. They are scripted from the persons lived experience and were made by them with support from myself and colleagues, Liz Chilton and Dee Partridge.

> Read more...

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Experiences of inpatient care - the police assist

These digital stories were created by service user members of the Inpatient Care Forum at the CEIMH at the University of Birmingham as part of a project to create resources for teaching about inpatient care for health care workers. They are scripted from teh persons lived experience and were made by them with support from myself and colleagues, Liz Chilton and Dee Partridge.

> Read more...

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Experiences of inpatient care - is this a hospital or a prison?

These digital stories were created by service user members of the Inpatient Care Forum at the CEIMH at the University of Birmingham as part of a project to create resources for teaching about inpatient care for health care workers. They are scripted from teh persons lived experience and were made by them with support from myself and colleagues, Liz Chilton and Dee Partridge.

> Read more...

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Experiences of inpatient care - compulsion

These digital stories were created by service user members of the Inpatient Care Forum at the CEIMH at the University of Birmingham as part of a project to create resources for teaching about inpatient care for health care workers. They are scripted from teh persons lived experience and were made by them with support from myself and colleagues, Liz Chilton and Dee Partridge.

> Read more...

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Experiences of inpatient care - a marriage of hell and science

These digital stories were created by service user members of the Inpatient Care Forum at the CEIMH at the University of Birmingham as part of a project to create resources for teaching about inpatient care for health care workers. They are scripted from teh persons lived experience and were made by them with support from myself and colleagues, Liz Chilton and Dee Partridge.

> Read more...

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Helpsheet: using substance use research tools to promote learning and teaching

Donald Forrester, University of Bedfordshire provides a short introduction to some of the tools he has used to research substance use and how those tools translate into teaching social work students

> Read more...

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Helpsheet: involving alcohol and other drug specialists in social work education

A helpsheet created in partnership with service users about ways to embed service user experience in teaching and learning about alcohol and drugs

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Digest 7: integrating substance use teaching into the social work curriculum

A short four page summary created by Sarah Galvani suggesting different levels of engagement with substance use across the social work curriculum

> Read more...

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Information sheet: key resources for teaching social policy, drugs and society

A short information sheet prodcued by Rachel Lart, University of Bristol summarising useful resources for the teaching of drugs and society to social policy students

> Read more...

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information sheet on domestic violence and substance use in the social work curriculum

A short information sheet prodcued by Sarah Galvani, University of Bedforshire offering ideas for teaching domestic violence and substance use in the social work curriculum

> Read more...

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Information sheet: blood borne viruses and substance use in the social work curriculum

A short information sheet prepared by Ian Paylor at Lancaster University. The sheet includes suggestions for ways to discuss blood bourne viruses in social work teaching

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SWAPBox How to Guide - Groups

This SWAPBox how to guide explains the 'Groups' function and how to make the most of it, including creating a group page, joining an existing group and contributing resources to group pages.

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Collaborative working for safeguarding children -- workshop activities

Frances Gordon and Hilary Pengelly presented the activities detailed here at a jointly funded SWAP and HSP event. Delegates enjoyed the event and comments incldued: 'I will certainly use de Bonos six thinking hats with my students. I have found the whole session very motivational and have serveral atrategies to take back and use with my students'. Delegates also found the pointers on how to use mateiral from serious case reviews very useful.

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Children HIV in South Afirca

The goal of this session was to get students was to get students to think about the impact that a lack of policy and action can have. It also helps them to think about the impact of for example the migration of medical staff from the developing to the developed world and ends with a challenge

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Globalisation and social work

Links to resources and ideas for teaching globalisation and social work

> Read more...

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Demography and ageing populations exercise

A short summary of the role of demography in social work with an exercise for students using WHO data on ageing

> Read more...

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Experience of older migrants

This is a poower point created by Greame Simpson and Sue Lawrence that illustrates a typology of older migrants.

> Read more...

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Transcultural social work culturally sensitive practice

This powerpoint produced by Hellmut Weich includes photographs and exercises designed to familiarise students with the African experience of social work

> Read more...

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Journeys - who makes them and why

These powerpoint slides produced by Janet Williams support an undergraduate lecture on migration

> Read more...

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Internationalisation in social policy and social work

The publication includes interviews and case studies with social policy and social work academics across the UK who have successfully embedded internationalisation in the curriculum

> Read more...

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Educators learning together: linking communities of practice

This chapter analyses the current challenging context for educators in the area of mental health and, drawing on the work of the Mental Health in Higher Education project (mhhe), explores how learning and teaching about mental health can be enhanced through increased networking and the sharing of perspectives and ideas. Reference: Anderson, J. & Burgess, H. (2007) Educators Learning Together: linking communities of practice, ch 10 in Stickley, T. & Basset, T. (eds) Teaching and Learning about Mental Health, Chichester: Wiley

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Framework Films

Three films produced by Framework - a housing charity based in Nottingham: 1) A Day in the Mind... a short film that depicts what a typical day is like for someone with mental health difficulties. 2) What a Difference a Day Makes... Recovery doesn't happen in a day, but a day can make a difference. This the second film made by Framework about the realities of experiencing mental health difficulties. 3) A Human Experience Made by Rethink, the film interviews three people who have used mental health services. They discuss the impact that their own personal experiences of stigma have had on their family, their friends and themselves. Other areas touched upon include changing attitudes towards mental health and the role of the media in generating and re-enforcing the public perception of mental health. Useful as triggers for discussion about stigma and mental health. Accompanied by the Changing Your Mind training pack: http://www.frameworkha.org/pages/changing_your_mind.html

> Read more...

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Talking Our Language

Talking our language tells the story of two conversations about mental health. It explains how a mental health organisation - Touchstone - started these conversations with two linguistically distinct communities in Leeds: Urdu speakers and Cantonese speakers. Both communities came with rich cultural understandings of mental health, but many of the concepts and ideas which dominate both ‘medical’ and ‘social’ models of mental health had no clear analogue in either of these languages. This is the story of the conversations which took place and includes training materials.

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Measuring the unmeasurable

This learning module - created by the Science Museum - aims to take the user through various aspects of psychiatry and the study of 'mental illness'. It looks at the treatment, diagnosis and methods used in psychiatry as well as the investigation of mental illness from a historical and socio-cultural perspective. This is done by relating the subject matter to examples found in people's day-to-day lives. Important concepts of psychology are investigated and the user is given the opportunity to test their knowledge through various activities. Some of the concepts investigated include definitions of what is normal and abnormal, concepts of the mind, the concept of mental illness in other cultures, Chemotherapy, electro-convulsive therapy and Psychosurgery. May be of use in supplementing classroom based learning.

> Read more...

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Learning to be professional through a higher education

This wiki facilitates exploration of the idea of learning to be professional in the context of undergraduate higher education designs that set out to develop professional as well as academic capability. It is one of a series of wikis established by Surrey Centre for Excellence in Professional Training and Education (SCEPTrE) to explore the theme of learning for a complex world. Although the SCEPTrE project finished in March 2011 this wiki will continue to be developed as part of the portfolio of not for profit work undertaken by Chalk Mountain.

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mhhe: annual report 09-10

Report on the activity of the Mental Health in Higher Education project for the year 09-10

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Disabling Imagery - a teaching guide to disability and moving image media

This website provides information on how disability has been represented in moving image from the earliest days. The approach is from a disability equality and human rights perspective, which draws on the collective thinking of the Disabled People's Movement. Includes sections on: Ways of thinking about disability; Teaching with moving image media; Treatment of disabled people in moving image media; Activities and lesson plans, as well as links to further resources. Will be of use to those wishing to explore the use of the moving image in relation to disability or more generally - also to those with an interest in approaches to teaching about disability.

> Read more...

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Cinema and teaching mental health

This resource provides links to some databases of films for use in teaching and a brief bibliography on the use of cinema in teaching mental health. May be of use to those wishing to locate films for use in teaching or consider some of the challenges of using this medium well.

> Read more...

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Madness and Literature Network - Submitted Literature

This site provides titles and summaries of literature on the topic of mental health. Entries are submitted by members of the network. May be of use in preparing reading lists and encouraging learners to access first person accounts and other reading which falls outside academic literature on the subject.

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Bibliography of First Person Narratives of Madness in English

This bibliography has been prepared by Gail Hornstein - a professor of psychology at Mount Holyoke College in the USA. She describes it as being in four sections: '(1) personal accounts of madness written by survivors themselves; (2) narratives written by family members; (3) anthologies and critical analyses of the madness narrative genre; and (4) websites featuring oral histories and other first-person madness accounts'. It may be of value in encouraging learners to access first person accounts of mental ill health - alongside other resources such as the madness and literature network (which also provides summaries).

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Mental Health Practice: Bonnyrigg

This module is offered as part of the Open University's OpenLearn initiative. 'Although society's attitude toward mental illness has improved, discrimination and misconceptions surrounding those affected are still prevalent. This unit explores a number of issues relating to mental health practice, including the difference between mental health and mental illness, and the discrimination that can arise when people experience some form of mental distress'. It may be of use in informing module planning, or alternatively can be directly accessed by students as a supplementary online learning opportunity.

> Read more...

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Young People's wellbeing

This module is offered as part of the Open University's OpenLearn initiative. 'What do we mean by ‘wellbeing’ for young people? How is it shaped by social differences and inequalities, and how can we improve young people's mental and physical health? This unit will examine the range of factors affecting young people’s wellbeing, such as obesity, binge drinking, depression and behavioural problems'. It may be of use in informing module planning, or alternatively can be directly accessed by students as a supplementary online learning opportunity.

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Challenging Ideas in Mental Health

This module is offered as part of the Open University's OpenLearn initiative. 'Take a new and different look at mental health. This unit invites you to think differently about life's dilemmas by taking account of the views of all concerned, especially people experiencing mental distress. It explores ideas and practice in mental health, and will appeal to a wide range of people'. It may be of use in informing module planning, or alternatively can be directly accessed by students as a supplementary online learning opportunity.

> Read more...

Mental Health in Higher Education

Mental Health in Higher Education aims to increase networking and the sharing of approaches to learning and teaching about mental health, across the disciplines in UK higher education. It produces a bimonthly ebulletin, organises workshops and events, maintains a national database of mental health educators and provides an information and enquiry service.

> Read more...

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Higher Education Academy (subject centres) mental health special interest group

This group is open to everyone with an interest in sharing approaches to learning and teaching about mental health, across all disciplines in higher education. It complements the work of the Mental Health in Higher Education project www.mhhe.heacademy.ac.uk

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Putting the health into teaching about mental health: a checklist

Links between physical and mental health are often underplayed in teaching (as in service delivery). This checklist is aimed at educators who wish to think about how physical mental health might feature in learning and teaching about mental health. It arose from a conference held in 2008. See here for further details: www.mhhe.heacademy.ac.uk/letsgetphysical

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mhhe archive

This is an archive of papers relating to the Mental Health in Higher Education project - a collaboration between the Higher Education Academy subject centres for Social Policy and Social Work; Psychology; Health Sciences and Practice; Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine and Education (ESCalate). mhhe aims to increase networking and the sharing of approaches to learning and teaching about mental health - across the disciplines in UK higher education.

> Read more...

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Inter-Subject Centre Seminar on Learning and Teaching in Mental Health in Higher Education

The purpose of the seminar, held in York on 8/9 April 2002, was to initiate a debate about how learning and teaching in mental health in higher education might be enhanced. The objectives were: to develop a shared understanding of different approaches to learning and teaching, to identify strengths, development needs and other drivers for change, to explore ways of improving teaching and learning within and across different disciplines, to test assumptions and explore perhaps unforeseen problems and consequences, and to consider how to take the work forward and the role the LTSN might play in this. Five or six participants were invited by each of the four LTSNs (Health Sciences and Practice; Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine; Psychology; and Social Policy and Social Work -SWAP), all of whom had a special interest in mental health issues in learning and teaching.

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Involving service users and carers in education - the development worker role

An increasing number of Higher Education Institutions now employ people whose remit is to recruit, train and support service users and carers to contribute to professional programmes. In turn, service user and carer involvement development worker posts need to be well constructed and supported. That is the focus of these guidelines, which it is hoped will be of use both to universities considering or planning such posts and to those with a worker already in post.

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Learning from Experience: Involving service users and carers in mental health education

The Guide contains a general introduction to the topic and, drawing on a range of current initiatives, pointers towards good practice in relation to each of the components of effective involvement. A range of evaluation tools are offered which may be useful in charting progress and identifying the next steps to be taken.

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Student mental health section of the mhhe website

University life can be exciting for students, but can also engender frustration and isolation. Students with mental health problems may find it difficult to ask for help - appropriate services may be lacking and/or they may fear the stigma that can result from disclosure. For students on professional programmes, the need to prove oneself as ‘fit for practice' can be the source of additional stress. The development of appropriate values and attitudes requires a focus on the self. This can be an emotional journey, especially for students who are also users of services. This section of the mhhe site provides links to guidelines and publications; some examples of institutional policies; guidance on developing an inclusive curriculum, and on fitness to practice issues; event reports and links. It also contains a link to an annotated reading list.

> Read more...

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Infant and perinatal wellbeing

This page was created to support the integration into curricula of knowledge and skills relating to infant and perinatal mental wellbeing and ill-health. It was created following an mhhe workshop on learning and teaching about perinatal mental health at Staffordshire University in January 2009 - Learning and teaching about perinatal mental health: Don't let women fall through the net. You will find here: General Resources, Publications and Reports, Curriculum Frameworks and Training Materials and Details of Modules and Programmes.

> Read more...

Social Work in Mental Health

This section of the Mental Health in Higher Education project website draws together publications and resources related to the role of social work in the area of mental health. This page was initially developed to support a learning and development event for mental health social workers in Lancashire in the spring of 2009. It may be of use in informing module planning, or act as a resource that students can access directly.

> Read more...

Does mental illness have a place alongside social and recovery models of mental health, in service users' lived experiences?

This is a paper included in the proceedings of the Living and Learning, Learning and Teaching: mental health in higher education conference held at Lancaster University in 2010. Influential social and recovery models form key mandates for mental health education today. These models advocate a shift from traditional notions and approaches linked to mental illness, to service users’ active empowerment and control over their lives and symptoms. This short paper questions, however, how far the emphasis of these models on autonomy takes account of service user experiences. May be of use in informing thinking when planning the content and emphasis of teaching about mental health.

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Experiences of Psychosis

This module is part of the Health Talk Online collection of resources. It focuses on people’s experiences of psychosis. Many of the people interviewed had, at some point in their lives, received a diagnosis of schizophrenia. However there were a number of people who had never received this diagnosis but who had experienced psychosis i.e. hearing or seeing things or holding unusual beliefs which other people don’t see or share. This is a collection of online interviews which is searchable in a whole range of ways (ie by age group and by theme).

> Read more...

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Realising Recovery

The Realising Recovery learning materials were developed jointly by the Scottish Recovery Network and NHS Education for Scotland. They are designed to support all mental health workers to develop their recovery focused practice. The following modules are included: • Module 1, Understanding Recovery • Module 2, Using Self to Develop Recovery Focused Practice • Module 3, Enabling Self-direction • Module 4, Providing Person-centred Support • Module 5, Sharing Responsibility for Risk and Risk-taking • Module 6, Connecting with Communities The materials have been designed so they can be studied in a way that involves elements of self directed study and reflection. However, it is recomended that opportunities for group discussions should be made available to help learners put individual experiences into a broader context and enhance learning.

> Read more...

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Tackling stigma - a practical toolkit

Published by the National CAHMS Support Service, this document brings together guidance, best practice examples, case studies, resources and literature to help tackle the stigma associated with children's and young people's mental health.

> Read more...

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Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people and mental health problems

In this film, Sarah Carr, mental health and social care researcher discusses the experiences and challenges faced by lesbian, gay and bisexual people when accessing mental health services. This links to the podcast, but also a full transcript of Sarah's presentation.

> Read more...

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Keeping Families and Children in Mind

The COPMI national initiative in Australia has developed an on-line workforce education resource in association with parents with mental health problems and their carers (including young people), called ‘Keeping Families and Children In Mind'. The involvement of consumers of mental health services and their carers was pivotal to the success and ‘user friendliness' of the resource and it contains a large number of video and audio clips of parents and carers. Although not a UK resource, may be of use in teaching.

> Read more...

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Self-harm in children and young people: handbook

This Handbook is designed to provide basic knowledge and awareness of the facts and issues behind self-harm in children and young people, with advice about ways staff in children's services can respond. May be used by learners on their own, and hence supplement classroom based activity.

> Read more...

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The transition from primary to secondary school: training resource The transition from primary to secondary school: training resource

The purpose of this training resource, produced by Young Minds, is to help schools think about why some children may be more vulnerable than others in facing transition, and to support schools in developing ways of working that will allow all children to find a sense of belonging and engagement in school. The Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS) project and others locally are already supporting schools and this resource is intended to add to and complement that work. Will also be of use in raising awareness of transition issues amongst other practitioners.

> Read more...

Mad Students Society

Based in Toronto, the Mad Students Society (MSS) is a group organised for and run by students who have experienced the psychiatric system (known as psychiatric survivors and/or consumers). MSS was created to provide peer support, advocacy and self-empowerment for students experiencing mental health issues in post-secondary institutions and other centres of education such as adult education, and privately funded education institutions. Mad Students Society works to create a community to empower, support and mobilize students who are currently or may in the future experience the psychiatric system. As a group members support each other, share similar experiences, learn about their history as a community, build from each other's strengths, identify barriers in the education system and address systemic discrimination. This is an interesting model which, to my knowledge, has no precise counterpart within a UK context. It provides a model for thinking about how peer support for students experiencing mental distress might be facilitated. The link provided here is to the website for the group, which provides some information and contact details.

> Read more...

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Anatomy of a global epidemic: history, science and the long term effects of psychiatric medication.

Robert Whitaker is an American journalist and author of Mad in America and Anatomy of an Epidemic. He gave this lecture in Cork on 14 March 2011, invited by the schools of nursing & midwifery and aplied social sciences, in association with the Irish Network of Critical Voices in Mental Health and sponsored by the Irish Institute of Mental Health. In it he provides a critique of medical model approaches to the treatment of mental ill health and in particular of psychiatric medication.

> Read more...

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Working in mental health

This website features a series of interviews with members of the different professions working in mental health care. Psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and occupational therapists talk about their roles within the multidisciplinary team, and their perspectives on team working and on their client group. I have found the interviews with Bailey particularly helpful in providing an insight in to the social work role in mental health - his perception of the role is contestable and has acted as a useful trigger for discussion.

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Everybody's Business

Everybody's Business is a set of free e-learning materials about the mental health of children and young people. It is aimed at people who work with children, young people and their families who are not mental health professionals. We recommend that you start with Understanding Mental Health, as this contains the underlying knowledge needed for the modules on Mental Health Promotion and the Peri-Natal & Infant Mental Health. The materials are not formally accredited but participants are able to print a certificate, similar to a 'Certificate of Attendance' on completion of each module. This resource could be extremely useful in supplementing classroom based learning - providing an up to date introduction to CAMHS issues.

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Mental Health in Higher Education

This is a collection of resources uploaded by the Mental Health in Higher Education project, and intended to be of use in developing learners' understanding about mental wellbeing and ill health.

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Testimony - Inside Voices of Mental Health Care.

At the end of the 1990s a group of interviewers from a range of backgrounds went across England and Wales to record first hand accounts from individuals who had experienced life in old mental health asylums. Their aim was to create a historical resource coming from an often ignored perspective - instead of relying on opinions of those distanced from the situation, it would give those with direct experience the power to speak for themselves. This link provides access to the video interviews that the Testimony Project carried out between 1999 and 2001. Full transcripts and extracts from the interviews are available. This resource provides a helpful insight for students in to how mental health services were provided in the past, and can be used as a trigger for discussion about what has (and has not!) changed.

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Animated Minds

Animated Minds is a series of short animated documentaries which use real testimony from people who have experienced different forms of mental distress. A single aim underpins all the films: to help dispel myths and misconceptions about ‘mental illness’ by giving a voice to those who experience these various difficulties first hand. I have found these extremely useful in teaching - they provide a short, highly engaging insight into the experience of mental distress and have proved helpful as triggers for discussion.

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Experiences of inpatient care - losing your dignity

These digital stories were created by service user members of the Inpatient Care Forum at the CEIMH at the University of Birmingham as part of a project to create resources for teaching about inpatient care for health care workers. They are scripted from the persons lived experience and were made by them with support from myself and colleagues, Liz Chilton and Dee Partridge.

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Money

None

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Housing

None

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The Social Care Institute for Excellence's (SCIE) support for students

Our resources support the core curriculum for social work education and training and can be accessed free of charge. We encourage students and educators to use our resources for personal learning, formal training or presentations. SCIE’s work covers adults’, children’s and families’ and workforce services. SCIE’s student page helpfully highlights a selection of resources which directly reflect the Social Work degree core curriculum. It also allows you to link straight through to some of our innovative multi-media resources

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The student learning experience - what exactly do they learn and what exactly do they experience?

This is a presentation I gave at the Joint Social Work Education Conference 2010. It outlines my theoretical proposition for 'creative pedagogy' and invites evaluation, contributions and comments from participants. The presntation includes the notes to myself, so they're not complte and comprehensive, but i hope they illuminate the slides to some extent. Please do let me know what you think about the proposition. I'd love to hear from you

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IRISS image bank collection: Children & Young People

A collection of images suitable for use in social work training. These images have Creative Commons licences and may be freely used for non-commercial purposes.

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IRISS image bank collection: Adults & Older People

A collection of images suitable for use in social work training. These images have Creative Commons licences and may be freely used for non-commercial purposes.

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IRISS image bank collection: Emotions

A collection of images suitable for use in social work training. These images have Creative Commons licences and may be freely used for non-commercial purposes.

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IRISS image bank collection: Prison

A collection of images suitable for use in social work training. These images have Creative Commons licences and may be freely used for non-commercial purposes.

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IRISS image bank collection: social services workers and service users

A collection of images suitable for use in social work training. These images have Creative Commons licences and may be freely used for non-commercial purposes.

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IRISS Video - Moveable Feast Theatre

Moveable Feast ( mixitmusic.co.uk/​mfa.php) are an internationally renowned inclusive theatre company. The are unique as they harness the experiences and strengths of family members and people with learning disabilities to present on cutting edge issues.

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IRISS Video - Andy Gibson: Mind Apples

Andy Gibson is an award-winning social entrepreneur, campaigner and consultant specialising in the social applications of new technologies. He is founder and director of the innovation consultancy Sociability, co-founder of “education 2.0″ start-up, School of Everything, which won both a New Statesman New Media Award and a Prime Minister’s Catalyst Award in 2008, and founder of the “5-a-day for your mind” campaign, Mindapples.

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IRISS Video - Caroline Tomlinson: In Control

Caroline Tomlinson is the parent of three children: Joe, Rosie and Jacob. Joe is 19 years old and has high support needs. He took part in the national in Control pilot in Wigan. Joe was the first person in the UK to receive an individual budget and it has made a phenomenal difference to his life.

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IRISS Video - Personalisation & Community Capacity - Alan Urquhart

Alan Urquhart, Community Capacity Building Manager for Perth & Kinross Council, focuses on community capacity building and speaks of the need to build the confidence of local people to work together to get the services they need. He provides an interesting example of partnership working between the local community in Aberfeldy and the council regarding use of the town hall.

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IRISS Video - Personalisation & Community Capacity - Suzie Burt

Suzie Burt from Perth and Kinross Council speaks about the improvements to their services and the challenges that the council will face in the future. She highlights the need to improve outcomes for service users, as well as the need for the council to measure performance in order to produce evidence that quality services are being provided.

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IRISS Video - Personalisation & Community Capacity - Brigid Daniel

Brigid Daniel speaks of the need for more strategic partnerships with councils, focusing on the areas of developing research for practice, practice exchange and CPD.

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IRISS Video - Personalisation & Community Capacity - Jean Bush

Jean Bush gives an insight into what personalisation is in practice, and provides an example of practice from her own experience.

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IRISS Video - Personalisation & Community Capacity - Iain Ferguson

Dr Iain Ferguson, Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Stirling, talks about how various user groups have different expectations of services, and as the number of service users grow, whether support can be sustained.

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IRISS Video - Personalisation & Community Capacity - Kirstein Rummery

Professor Kirstein Rummery, Chair of Social Policy at the University of Stirling, compares the differences between regulated, state-supported personalisation schemes, such as those offered in France, the Netherlands and the UK, with much more unregulated and unstructured schemes available in countries such as Austria and Italy. Rummery also speaks about outcomes, and how more formal, state-supported schemes usually mean better services and outcomes for both workers and users.

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IRISS Video - Personalisation & Community Capacity - Karl Stern

A seminar and workshop organised by the Perth and Kinross Partnership / University of Stirling Partnership to examine policy and practice in personalisation and community capacity. Interview with Karl Stern, Learning and Organisational Development Manager at Perth and Kinross Council, on the development of partnerships to improve the link between social work practice and research/academia. Focusing specifically on the partnership between Perth and Kinross Council and Stirling University, Stern speaks about three key areas of development: research, CPD and practice exchange.

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IRISS Video - Phil Wilson on the impact of early neglect on child development

Dr Wilson was talking at the Scottish Attachment in Action conference held in Falkirk, September, 2010

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IRISS Video - Edwina Grant on why SAIA set up and when

Edwina Grant, member of the SAIA Executive Committee, reflects on the first SAIA conference, held in Falkirk, September 2010

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IRISS Video - Edwina Grant reflects on the first SAIA conference

Edwina Grant, member of the SAIA Executive Committee, reflects on the first SAIA conference, held in Falkirk, September 2010

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IRISS Video - Dr Dan Hughes on developing the quality for foster carers

Dr Hughes was talking at the Scottish Attachment in Action conference held in Falkirk, September, 2010

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IRISS Video - Alan Sinclair on the UK's attitude towards children

Alan Sinclair was talking at the Scottish Attachment in Action conference held in Falkirk, September, 2010

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IRISS Video - Alan Sinclair on 'doing the right thing'

Alan Sinclair was talking at the Scottish Attachment in Action conference held in Falkirk, September, 2010

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IRISS Video - Dr. Phil Wilson on the 'strengths and difficulties' questionnaire

Dr Wilson was talking at the Scottish Attachment in Action conference held in Falkirk, September, 2010

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IRISS Video - Peter Beresford on the evolution of user involvement

IRISS hosted a series of workshops around the theme of What Works in delivering positive outcomes in the social services. The workshops were intended to be practice oriented, with the aim that attendees took home at least one strategy on how to apply research and evidence effectively in their practice.

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IRISS Video - Peter Beresford on self empowerment

IRISS hosted a series of workshops around the theme of What Works in delivering positive outcomes in the social services. The workshops were intended to be practice oriented, with the aim that attendees took home at least one strategy on how to apply research and evidence effectively in their practice. Part of the IRISS What Works: Putting Research Into Practice series, Peter Beresford - bit.ly/​awQjhi - talks about effective user involvement. Edinburgh, 20 January, 2010

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IRISS Video - Peter Beresford on facilitating user involvement

IRISS hosted a series of workshops around the theme of What Works in delivering positive outcomes in the social services. The workshops were intended to be practice oriented, with the aim that attendees took home at least one strategy on how to apply research and evidence effectively in their practice. Part of the IRISS What Works: Putting Research Into Practice series, Peter Beresford - bit.ly/​awQjhi - talks about effective user involvement.

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IRISS Video - Peter Beresford on barriers to user involvement in the social services sector

IRISS hosted a series of workshops around the theme of What Works in delivering positive outcomes in the social services. The workshops were intended to be practice oriented, with the aim that attendees took home at least one strategy on how to apply research and evidence effectively in their practice. Part of the IRISS What Works: Putting Research Into Practice series, Peter Beresford - bit.ly/​awQjhi - talks about effective user involvement.

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IRISS Video - Fergus McNeill on the evolution of youth justice in Scotland

IRISS hosted a series of workshops around the theme of What Works in delivering positive outcomes in the social services. The workshops were intended to be practice oriented, with the aim that attendees took home at least one strategy on how to apply research and evidence effectively in their practice. Professor Fergus McNeill discusses the evolution of youth justice in Scotland. The audio recording of the talk is available from iriss.org.uk/​resources/​youth-justice-professor-fergus-mcneill

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IRISS Video - Fergus McNeill on how IRISS can promote what works in youth justice

IRISS hosted a series of workshops around the theme of What Works in delivering positive outcomes in the social services. The workshops were intended to be practice oriented, with the aim that attendees took home at least one strategy on how to apply research and evidence effectively in their practice. Professor Fergus McNeill discusses how IRISS can promote what works in youth justice. The audio recording of the talk is available from iriss.org.uk/​resources/​youth-justice-professor-fergus-mcneill

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IRISS Video - Fergus McNeill on the role practitioner wisdom plays in youth justice intervention

IRISS hosted a series of workshops around the theme of What Works in delivering positive outcomes in the social services. The workshops were intended to be practice oriented, with the aim that attendees took home at least one strategy on how to apply research and evidence effectively in their practice. Professor Fergus McNeill discusses the role practitioner wisdom plays in youth justice intervention. The audio recording of the talk is available from iriss.org.uk/​resources/​youth-justice-professor-fergus-mcneill

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IRISS video - Fergus McNeill on compassion & social skills, can they be learned?

IRISS hosted a series of workshops around the theme of What Works in delivering positive outcomes in the social services. The workshops were intended to be practice oriented, with the aim that attendees took home at least one strategy on how to apply research and evidence effectively in their practice. Professor Fergus McNeill discusses compassion & social skills, can they be learned? The audio recording of the talk is available from iriss.org.uk/​resources/​youth-justice-professor-fergus-mcneill

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IRISS Video - Widening Participation in Social Work Education - Part 2

Delegates comment on the questions of diversity and widening access to social work education. From an Open University seminar held at the University of Paisley, Hamilton Campus, 30 September 2009.

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IRISS Video -Widening Participation in Social Work Education - Part 1

Delegates comment on what we mean by a workforce that reflects the diversity of the population. From an Open University seminar held at the Univesrity of Paisley, Hamilton Campus, 30 September 2009.

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IRISS image bank collection: Criminal Justice

A collection of images suitable for use in social work training. These images have Creative Commons licences and may be freely used for non-commercial purposes.

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IRISS image bank collection: Adults & Children / Young People

A collection of images suitable for use in social work training. These images have Creative Commons licences and may be freely used for non-commercial purposes.

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DVD

This is a test repiing of the "Group" DVD.

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Learning by teaching: the multilayered learning and teaching experience within the social work practicum

Westmead Hospital is a major teaching hospital in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. A student unit exists within the large social work department. As part of the social work practicum, students on placement design and implement a program known as Careers Day. Senior secondary school students attend an interactive day in order to explore the option of social work as a career. This paper will discuss my role as student educator in guiding the social work students to develop and facilitate this unique and evolving program. A multi-layered learning process takes place involving the educator, the social work students and the participants. Social work skills are facilitated and enhanced through the use of role play, groupwork, teamwork and organisational activities. A variety of creative techniques are used to demonstrate and discuss the nature of social work. Students on practicum learn while they teach. Data will be provided about the success, challenges, methods, effectiveness and outcomes of this program for all involved.

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Can online discussions be used as a tool to shape the learning experience of student social workers?

"One of the great untested assumptions of current educational practice is that students learn through discussion." (Laurillard 2003:158) This paper explores student social workers’ perceptions of learning from participation in online discussions and analyses how these can be used most effectively to develop understanding about interpersonal communication. The research context was a communication unit on a social work degree course in which teacher-designed discussion questions followed each teaching session. Student questionnaires were analysed and the results compared with a grounded theory analysis of online postings (Strauss and Corbin 1998). Research shows that despite the potential for online discussions to stimulate deep learning, this remains elusive (Wallace 2003). This paper reviews the literature examining why evidence of complex engagement with ideas is difficult to locate in online discussions, and how meaningful discussion can be encouraged. Findings from this study suggest that participating in online discussions is an emotive experience for students. A model using online discussion to teach communication skills is proposed, building on the work of Gunawardena et al (1998). In the proposed model the links between ‘process knowledge’ (how students communicate with each other online and how they experience this) and ‘content knowledge’ (the curriculum) are used as learning material. It is argued that deeper learning may result from examination of this dynamic. The paper concludes that it may not be useful to search for evidence of deep learning in online discussions alone. Learning about communication should be considered as a cumulative process involving group interaction through online discussions, followed by individual reflection and application in social work practice. Further research to investigate applications of this model in social work education is needed. References Gunawardena, C N, Lowe, C A, Anderson, T. (1998)Transcript analysis of computer mediated conferences as a tool for testing constructivist and social constructivist learning theories, Paper presented at the Annual Conference on Distance Learning and Teaching Madison WI Aug 5-7 Laurillard, D. (2003) Rethinking University Teaching, 2nd Edition London and New York: RoutledgeFalmer Strauss,A and Corbin, J.M (1998) Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory, Thousand Oaks Calif:Sage Wallace, R M. (2003) Online learning in Higher Education: A review of research on interactions among teachers and students, Education, Communication and Information, 3:2

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Making connections: using an on-line interactive website to enhance service user involvement

Paper presented at 2009 JSWEC Conference. It’s more like learning together, being on an equal footing, using our collective mind (Comment by service user, 2009) The (abridged) story of service user and carer involvement in professional programmes at a distance learning university is presented here to illustrate the complexity of issues of identity and the context of the power relationships in which they are enacted. This paper will explore issues of identity in service user and carer involvement through reflection on roles, relationships and communication between service users, carers, tutors and academic managers as they have evolved during a five year period of joint work. Early work focused on initial engagement and setting the framework and tone of involvement. The second phase involved a task-centred approach, concentrating on specific tasks in the development and implementation of the honours social work degree, an on-going project. Service user and carer roles across the social work programme are identified and explored. Relationships are described as ‘co-learners’ in a process of development and discovery. A third stage sees the extension of the group to include colleagues from the wider Health and Social Care Faculty and the development of an on-line interactive website - a wiki- in combination with local face to face networks of service users and carers. This is an attempt to reach out to geographically dispersed populations and to make connections with under-represented groups. There will be an analysis of roles, relationships and communication strategies to extend the reach of service user and carer involvement. By illustration there will be a demonstration of the wiki and presentation of ‘job’ descriptions contained therein to identify opportunities for involvement and two-way influence, followed by discussion of issues of identity, inter-professional involvement and the benefits and limitations of on-line communication.

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Juxtaposing disciplines and conquering interdisciplinary research challenges: the researcher’s perspective

Conference paper - JSWEC Social Work Research Conference University of Hertfordshire - 9th July 2009

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Why are they staying? Retaining social workers in child protection and welfare in the Republic of Ireland

Paper presented at 2010 JSWEC Conference. There is a perception, both domestically (Ombudsman for Children, 2006; Andrews, 2008) and internationally (Tham, 2006, Stalker et al., 2007), that retaining child protection and welfare social workers is problematic. This paper presents the findings of a recently completed qualitative study that examined this issue in one Health Service Executive (HSE) area in the Republic of Ireland. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with child protection and welfare social workers to explore their understandings of the factors that influence their decisions to want to stay in or leave their current employment. Contrary to expectations, the study found that the turnover rate for these social workers was quite low and that two thirds expressed their intention to stay in this work. This paper examines the professional, organisational and individual factors which contribute to these social workers’ retention. Particular emphasis will be placed on one aspect of this study that examined social workers’ understanding of career pathways in social work and explores how these understandings influenced their employment decisions and retention. This analysis looked at social workers use of metaphors to describe their motivations for ‘doing’ this work. This led to the development of a typology of social workers’ entry motivations which contributes to our understanding of how social workers make decisions to stay or leave decisions which are often made before they even start working in child protection and welfare. The research found that the situation might not be as pessimistic as an initial reading of the literature might suggest. The presentation will conclude with an examination of the implications of these findings for the users of child protection and welfare services, social work education and child protection and welfare service managers.

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Self-directed support and personal budgets - panacea or problem?

Paper presented at 2010 JSWEC Conference. The present government aims to ensure that people who use social services are given personal/individual budgets with which they can directly purchase the care and support they need. Personal budgets are seen as the means by which services will be ‘personalised’ and designed to fit around the person who uses them, rather than the other way around. Increasingly, this is becoming the ‘default’ model as local authority Performance Indicators encourage councils with social services responsibilities to offer personal budgets to service users, and ‘traditional’ forms of service provision are discouraged. However, the evidence base to support the introduction of personal/individual budgets currently remains weak, with only a handful of published studies, which are of variable quality. Our paper reports on a large, quantitative study, using a quasi-experimental design, of the impact of self-directed support and personal budgets on people who use social services. It was carried out in an English shire county in 2008-09. Amongst other findings, the study found evidence of positive outcomes for people from most care groups, on a range of measures. However, like the Individual Budgets Support Evaluation Network (IBSEN) report (Glendinning et al 2008) the study found no evidence of benefit for older people who were offered budgets. Evidence from both studies raises questions about the appropriateness of personal budgets for some people as a means of achieving personalisation. We then focus attention on the socio-political ‘lineage’ of personal/individual budgets, considering more fully what the drive to personalisation tells us about the nature of citizenship and governance contemporaneously. We argue that personal budgets may offer a false prospectus to many people, not least firstly, by promoting market rights but actually diminishing social rights and, secondly, by proffering participatory forms of governance as a replacement for traditional representative democratic structures.

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‘Feeling safe in an insecure world: Social work education after Baby Peter’

Paper presented at 2010 JSWEC Conference. Four decades of public inquiries into child deaths and mental health tragedies have had a significant impact on public perceptions of social work. More recently, the death of Baby Peter led to intense media criticism of social workers, leading to the Sun newspaper petition to sack all of the social workers involved, which was signed by 1.2 million people. The Social Work Task Force, formed in response to the negative media coverage, has recommended reforms in social work education and the formation of a Royal College of Social Work that will act as the public face of the profession. This paper will present the findings of a mixed methods research study that investigated the impact of negative media coverage on student social workers. 68 students participated in three focus groups that used interactive software to collect survey-style quantitative data combined with focus group discussions. Over half (54%) of students reported that negative media coverage had a strong or mild negative effect and almost half (47%) had questioned their future career as a result of the media criticism. 86% believed that media criticism increased the likelihood of defensive practice and 83% felt the possibility of negative media coverage would influence their approach to a child protection referral. All of the effects identified increased as students progressed through their studies, with significantly higher rates for final year students. However, many articulated belief systems that provided a defensive function and acted as ‘discourses of resistance’. There was clearly an important topic of students, with 77% supporting this to be included in the social work curriculum. The implications for empowering student social workers will be discussed and the challenges currently facing the social work profession will be explored.

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Promoting a global knowledge sharing environment: development of an on-line community of practice between social work lecturers in the UK and India.

Paper presented at 2008 JSWEC Conference. An analysis of social work curriculum delivery in the UK appears to focus predominantly on UK society and practice. Social work has tended to be a locally specific discipline that has focussed on geographically bounded legislation, political configurations, economic frameworks, culture and norms (Dominelli, 2000). This may seem necessary as the majority of social work students will practice within their country of educational origin. However, it is also increasingly important that social work students gain knowledge of an international perspective due to the increasing globalised nature of social work together with an increasing transient social work population. Indeed, Dominelli and Bernard (2203, p.26) argue that: the theorisation of international social work and its impact on international exchanges in linking the global and the local has not been given high priority...This limited approach to internationalising social work has short-changed the profession... For a few social work students it is possible to gain first hand accounts of social work theory and practice from an international perspective through student exchange systems (Tesoriero and Rajaratnam, 2001). However, the majority of teaching and learning relies heavily on knowledge that is transferred from lecturer to student and, therefore, it is vital that lecturers gain an understanding of social work from a global view. This research adopts an action research perspective by facilitating first hand exchanges in dialogue between social work lecturers at Anglia Ruskin University, UK, and social work lecturers from the University of Mumbai, India. A on-line web based Community of Practice has been designed and has facilitated a collaborative inquiry over a one year period. The presentation will consider the setting up of the study: finding a collaborator; designing a web based Community of Practice; dominant themes arising from the collaboration. It will finally consider the impact on social work lecturer participants in relation to their continual professional development and how this gained knowledge is shared with their respective student population. References: Dominelle, L. (2000) 'International Comparisons in Social Work' in Pierce, R. and Weinstein, J. (eds) Innovative Education and Training for Care Professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishing Dominelli, L. and Bernard, T.W. (2003) Broadening Horizons: International Exchanges in Social Work. London: Ashgate Tosoriero, F. and Rajaratnam, A. (2001) Partnership in education: An Australian school of social work and a South Indian primary health care project. International Social Work 44(1) pp.31-41

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Complexity: a model for inter-professional education in medicine and social work

Paper presented at 2009 JSWEC Conference. Klein (2004) has summarised accurately the realities of professional practice by suggesting that the problems practitioners face are marked by unpredictability, ambiguity, turbulence and uncertainty. The tragic case of Baby P, like that of Victoria Climbie, has underlined these demands yet again. Both these cases evidence the need for social work and medical practitioners to work together collaboratively, communicating clearly and understanding each other’s language, perspectives and assessments. In qualifying training the need to prepare social work and medical students for practice in these difficult environments and to enable them to develop collaborative attributes is essential. Moving beyond policy requirements in relation to inter-professional practice and learning, this paper proposes that complexity theory should play a central role in the theorisation of inter-professional learning and practice. Informed, inter alia, by the notions of attractors, simple-rules, self-organisation and emergence, it is argued that more emphasis should be placed upon creating receptive conditions and contexts which will support and facilitate good collaborative working. The paper also reports case studies of learning and teaching where medical and social work students work together early in their training, and together consider the difficult realities of service user/ patient need, whilst exploring key skills for joint working. The importance of incorporating openness to collaborative practice as students develop and negotiate their professional identify is highlighted, as is the part played by teaching staff in modelling collaboration. Reference Klein JT (2004) 'Interdisciplinarity and Complexity: an evolving relationship'. Emergence: Complexity & Organization 6:1-2 pp2-10

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A blended learning approach to human development learning and teaching.

This workshop will explore the student experience of a blended learning approach (Macdonald 2006) to the teaching of human development across the lifespan. By showcasing the core components of the module, participants will be encouraged to explore how they could utilise similar techniques within their own learning and teaching strategies. The structure will be a short presentation followed by hands on experience and wider discussion. Human development is taught at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) to undergraduate students in the 2nd year of the course. This is a large student group involving full-time students and part-time students who are employed within social care posts in our partner local authorities. Employing an essentially constructivist approach (Koohang et al 2009), students are introduced to several ‘families’ within the virtual town ‘Clydetown’ where their classroom learning of the theories of human development are tested against the experiences of the people within the case studies. This facilitates the scaffolding of the learning process (Hung 2005) as students can test out through discussion their understanding of the taught materials. This is further augmented by the use of audio materials from the BBC archive which allows this understanding to be tested against the lived reality of individual testimony. This module evaluated consistently well with students who found the blended approach responsive to their varied learning styles, age differences and practice experiences. It also begins the process of understanding how to function within the group learning environments and of reflective understanding (Fook and Gardner 2007) that will be required for their practice placement in the subsequent semester. References. Fook J and Gardner F, (2007) Practising Critical Reflection : A Handbook, Maidenhead, Open University Press Hung D, Chee T.S., Hedberg J.G. and Seng K.T. (2005) ‘A framework for fostering a community of practice: scaffolding learners through an evolving continuum’ , British Journal of Educational Technology, 36 (2) pp.159-176. Koohang A, Riley L and Smith T (2009) ‘E-learning and Constructivism: From Theory to Application, Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects, Volume 5 . Macdonald, J. (2006), Blended Learning and Online Tutoring - A good practice Guide. Gower Publishing

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Creative resistance : utilising critical theory and service user participation to enhance social work students' ability to deconstruct visual representations of 'otherness'

Paper presented at 2010 JSWEC Conference. In the last decade marginalised groups have directly or indirectly utilised a range of creative and visual media to challenge dominant stereotypical and pathologised imagery and representations. Such 'outsider' perspectives have provided an alternative voice in a range of cultural contexts, from art in the street and installation to post modern 'sit down' comedy and contemporary music. In the author's role as a lecturer in undergraduate and postgraduate social work education a range of contemporary creative media have been used in and outside of the university environment to raise students' awareness of the ideological battle that is currently taking place in the 24/7 media that surround them.This has aimed to provide students with greater understanding of issues of power and partnership alongside a critical awareness of how authentic experiences of exclusion are being articulated. In the teaching of a 'Creativity and empowerment' unit,the author and students have worked alongside artists, poets and film makers who are engaged in changing perceptions and 'mainstreaming' perspectives that have previously occupied the position of being 'outside' most institutions. The paper will outline and critically evaluate how such a curriculum has been developed with the involvement of service users and been delivered to student groups over the last two years. A consideration will also be given to the use of creative artefacts to assess students knowledge and their ability to embrace the principles of participation in their consultative work with service users.

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Raising our Research Game - the Researcher Development Initiative Phase 2

Paper presented at 2008 JSWEC Conference. In this paper I shall provide an update on the recently funded ESRC RDI 2 project entitled 'Increasing the Competence and Confidence of Social Work Researchers II: An Action-learning Programme to Develop Research Capacity'. This project builds on the successful ESRC Researcher Development Initiative Phase I Project in 2006 aimed at increasing the research capacity of social work researchers. It was made on behalf of JUCSWEC in collaboration with SCIE,the Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education (SIESWE), and the Social Work and Policy (SWAP) HEA subject centre. The pioneering work on the application of scoping studies and systematic reviews to social work and social care by SCIE is being used as one of three platforms to launch this intensive development programme over two years. The second platform explores the value of mixing methods specifically to build the evidence base for the discipline. The third platform focuses on quasi-experimentation and instrument design, specifically aimed at social work research. SCIE and other research organisations are providing a number of 'placements', offering participants the experience of learning first-hand about systematic reviews. An innovation is the use of action-learning sets to support participants transform fledgling ideas into fully designed and costed proposals, ready for submission to funding bodies (especially the ESRC). Participants have already been invited to apply to join one of a number of action learning sets over the two years. They will also be offered regular support through the use of a buddy system, and a list of mentors to include experienced social work researchers with a record of securing and managing high-quality, externally-funded research. Lectures, seminars and workshops will be video- and audio-recorded using technology capable of producing downloadable files for subsequent transmission to laptops, Mac/PCs, iPods and MP3 formats.

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Religious nurture in Muslim families: implications for social work

Paper presented at 2010 JSWEC Conference. The significance of religion and spirituality for social work practice is now quite often acknowledged in academic writing, although arguably it is not yet so well recognised in routine social work practice. Western academic writing in social work books and journals tend to emphasise an individualised version of spirituality which is reasonably comfortable for secular liberals. This presentation will argue, on the basis of research with Muslim families about the religious nurture of children, that when social work practitioners are interacting with Muslim service users, they need to be aware of the importance of formal religion, rather than spirituality in any individualised Western sense. Although Muslim families are diverse in their belief and practice, the dominant world view tends to be an unwavering monotheism and conformity to religious texts. The presentation will draw on a research project from the AHRC/ESRC Religion and Society programme. This involved secondary analysis of the Home Office Citizenship Survey and multi-method qualitative research with 60 Muslim families across a wide spectrum of ethnicity and social class. The presentation will focus on the implications of the research findings for child and family social work.

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Workshop: Interprofessional and interagency collaboration; experiences of developing an elearning resource

Paper Presented at JSWEC 2009 Conference. This workshop will provide the opportunity for participants to learn about the challenges experienced in developing materials for e-learning. Participants will be able to have hands on experience of a new e-learning resource on ‘interprofessional and inter-agency collaboration’ (IPIAC) and to consider its usefulness for effective teaching and learning. The authors of the resource will share their experiences of the process of developing the e-learning materials. They will reflect on the different domains, discourses and identities the project brought together, including those involving: the commissioners, the developers, subject material authors and peer reviewers. The presenters will explore how the process of continued negotiation and learning required, was managed to create the resource. Several factors produced tensions and opportunities during the content writing and technical development of the resource, relating to the expectations of the people and organisations involved in producing the resource. These factors included: prioritising the needs of potential learners, the variable development of the current knowledge and research base, the creative possibilities and limitations of e-learning, the different perspectives of the authors, the timescale of the project and the technical demands of translating IPIAC ideas into an e-learning resource. Discussion will explore parallels between the subject content of interprofessional and interagency collaboration, and the process of producing the e-learning resource with people from different professional backgrounds and organisations; both involving learning to work together effectively. Following a presentation by the authors and discussion about the process of producing e-learning materials, participants will be able to use the resource, comment on the experience and offer feedback on the potential application of the resource in their curricula.

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Research Ethics Review and the Mental Capacity Act 2005: Safeguarding people or stifling research?

Paper presented at 2009 JSWEC Conference. The implementation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 has implications for social researchers as well as health and medical research. The Act, however, is focused on the latter and Ethics Review for social research, where people may lack decision-making capacity to take part, presents complexities that have not yet been fully addressed. This paper reports a study of social work researchers’ involvement in university research ethics committees where the capacity of participants may be an issue. The findings suggest that perceived implications of the Act may inadvertently stifle important research and, if not carefully negotiated, the use of Research Ethics Review may prevent rather than enable people to become involved in research as participants. This may infringe the rights of people to participate in research and, therefore, may detract from the principles of the Act in presuming and enabling capacity where possible. The research was undertaken in two stages. A web-based search and documentary analysis of a sample of university research ethics committees’ policies and procedures determined current practice. The second stage involved semi-structured interviews with social work/social care researchers likely to be involved in areas covered by the Act. These interviews were thematically analysed to explore how ethical issues were considered, whether explicit account was taken of the Mental Capacity Act and in what ways the Act was believed potentially to impact on future research proposals. The study suggests there has been little attention to the implications of the Act so far by social work researchers, but where it has been considered problems have been identified. This paper makes some suggestions for negotiating university research ethics committees and making positive use of the Mental Capacity Act in developing research proposals where capacity may be an issue.

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Tracking the needs of newly-qualified social workers (NQSWs), in children and families settings, to identify the elements of induction that best support initial professional development in the workplace

Paper presented at 2008 JSWEC conference. The stimulus for this small, empirical study involving three statutory agencies in the south-west of England was provided by the convergence of important changes in 2006/07 to qualifying and post-qualifying education and training in social work, with the first graduates emerging from new degrees, and the implementation of the revised PQ framework, which stipulates a first 'consolidation module' in a specific area of specialist practice. Transferring these ideas into the workplace as part of the 'seamless continuum' envisaged for professional development presented a number of questions about the induction of newly-qualified social workers(NQSWs). A mix of methods was used to obtain quantitative and qualitative data from NQSWs, first line managers and staff development officers. Key themes emerging from initial postal questionnaires were used to inform the delivery of two sets of face-to-face semi-structured interviews with line managers and NQSWs, at six and twelve months into first employment. The study revealed a journey of transition and change, across three inter-related dimensions - personal, organisational and professional - each of which provided rewards as well as producing tensions. The personal dimension was one in which students emerging from their final placements found that the learning was not over and transition into the workplace, carrying full responsibility for a social work caseload, as well as an organisational identity, was stressful and demanding of personal resources. These experiences are explored in relation to new entrants to other professions, notably diplomate and graduate nurses and newly-qualified teachers. The organisational dimension was one in which change, both structural and procedural, appeared endemic. NQSWs faced high levels of organisational turbulence as social services departments metamorphose into services for children and young people. Management theory underpinning the development of learning organisations is used to inform understanding of the study findings and formulate suggestions for action. The professional dimension was no less beset with change with national induction standards, the review of roles and tasks, career grades and progression all coming to the fore. Discussion of the professional aspirations of NQSWs and first line managers is linked to these national debates, touching on definitions of social work and professional identity and status. Latterly, proposals by CWDC to develop a 'probationary year' for NQSWs resonatae with the issues which stimulated the study and with a number of its findings.

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Shaping partnerships within a 'growing space'.

Using the idea of space to understand how the partnership between De Montfort University, local authorities, and service users and carers has been shaped in working together on Post Qualifying Awards. We will examine how the space is identified as a 'growing space' where people have been valued and enabled to grow. Within this space ideas are shared freely by all and crutially everyone has a voice. We intend to examine processes and practices to ascertain how the space became a 'growing space' rather than a restrictive space. We will also examine how this partnership approach has had an impact upon candidates undertaking the programme. Through the use of evaluative processes, lessons learned are to be considered and implications identified in relation to the Social Work Task Force recommendations. The application of lessons learnt are to be considered by participants in relation to their current partnership arrangements and consideration given to how to make these 'growing spaces' for all involved. Our approach to delivering this presentation will be seen to mirror the partnership working that has been established on the PQ Programme. A service user representative, local agency partner and PQ Programme leader at De Montfort University have designed and will deliver this presentation together.

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New Horizons? Shaping learning and teaching about mental health: from specialist module to mainstream learning

This presentation puts the case for embedding learning about mental health and well-being throughout the social work curriculum. Presented by Jill Anderson and Hilary Burgess to the Joint Social Work Education Conference in 2010

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The new radical social work for new times

The current period is dominated by two significant realities which have enormous implications for social work: first, the increasing evidence of the damaging and dysfunctional nature of our economically divided society; second, the banking collapse and bailout. The former poses serious questions about the efficacy of individualised interventions which predominate through much of contemporary statutory social work, while the latter flatly contradicts every argument ever made about the cost of welfare being "too great". In this context, there is an opportunity for re-articulating radical traditions within social work that focus on structural, collective and non-pathological models. We begin by offering a critique of ‘old’ Radical Social Work (RSW) noting it’s emergence from the so-called ‘crisis of Labourism’ of the late 1970s, and the leftward shift within key sections of society in the context of working class radicalisation and the emergence of the New Social Movements (NSM), chief amongst these being feminism, anti-racism and service user activism. Paradoxically while the language of opposition to ‘oppression’, which RSW took from the involvement in NSM’s into social work, has become mainstream, the project of wider social transformation and equality of outcome, which it also saw itself as part of, has been completely marginalised within social work. Crucial to the political marginalisation of radical currents resides in the question of the relation of social work to the neoliberal capitalist state. The idea of being ""in and against the state" was cleverly appropriated by the New Right, who had their own agenda to dismantle the welfare state. It is this that explains RSW’s current difficulty at an analytical level - its language of "liberation", "empowerment" and "anti-oppression" are no longer ‘radical’ in the sense that they now sit comfortably within a neoliberal managerial discourse. In order for a dissenting radical current to re-emerge within social work it is essential that an agenda is set out which genuinely challenges the managerialism which has impoverished and demoralised front-line practice, as well as defending and reconstructing the best traditions within social work’s rich history.

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Achieving collaborative competence through inter-professional education. Lessons learned from joint training in learning disability nursing and social work

The ability to work interprofessionally is integral to professional education and training in social work. Emphasis is placed on students undertaking specific learning and assessment in partnership working and information sharing across professional disciplines (DH, 2002). This implies that aspects of inter-professional education (IPE) should be included within social work training in order that students acquire skills in effective collaborative practice (QAA, 2008). But how can social work education best address this when much of it is singular in nature and most social work students spend the majority of their undergraduate experience mainly in the company of other social work students? This paper begins by exploring the theoretical principles underpinning inter-professional education. A number of themes will be discussed which are highlighted in the literature relating to the aims and outcomes of IPE. Drawing on doctoral research which evaluated the perspectives of graduates who had undertaken joint training in learning disability nursing and social work, the paper will move on to evaluate the skills and knowledge they acquired through this particular model of IPE. It will consider what can be learned from their experience which may be applied to the development of social work students more generally. The paper will argue that there is much to be learned from this alternative model of professional training, in particular about how interprofessional experiences and reflection on them can support the development of critical perspectives in social work graduates. References Department of Health. 2002. Requirements for Social Work Training. London, DH. Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. 2008. Social Work Subject Benchmark Statement. Gloucester, QAA.

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Developing an e-portfolio for the Consolidation Module (PQ)

Paper presented at 2009 JSWEC Conference. The School of Social Work at Kingston University/ St George's University of London and North West and South West London Skills for Care sub regions were awarded a Skills for Care Post Qualifying (PQ) Innovation Fund project in January 2008 for the development of a pilot system for an electronic portfolio for the PQ Module ‘Consolidation'. The aim of this piece of work was to develop and pilot a web-based e-portfolio, which, if successful, could be shared with other universities across London providing 'consolidation'. It was also aimed to promote line managers’ engagement in PQ studies, by enabling them to access and track their staff member’s progress on the portfolio and requiring them to contribute to the assessment of their work. The e-portfolio was designed by a steering group of the partners, including representatives of Kingston University’s Service Users and Carers Advisory group. A company, VIS, which had previously worked on Skills for Care projects in the Midlands, was commissioned by the group to develop the electronic portfolio as a web-based system. The pilot has now been completed and evaluated (February 2009). This presentation will report on the outcomes of this pilot, its evaluation, some of the challenges experienced, lessons learnt and consider the potential of e-portfolios for PQ levels - a suitable medium or not?

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The impact of medication - Mirtazapine and unexpected naps

A service users account of how medication can adversely impact on day to day functioning. They outline their experiences of life within a hospital environment and the financial impact and isolation caused by being away from close family.

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The impact of medication - psychiatry, then and now

This is a story of a mental health service users experiences of psychiatry in 1997 and forced treatment. It explores the journey that includes a loss of faith in services. It then explores how in 2003 a more negotiable culture including a treatment plan led to a much better outcome for the service user. It explores the importance of respect and empathy in delivering a life changing service.

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The impact of medication - Chlorpromazine

A mental health service user tells their story about the effect that Chlorpromazine has had on them and their struggle to get this message across to different professionals. Especially when professionals do not read medical notes.

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The impact of medication - anti-depressant medication

This is an account of a mental health service user and their use of anti-depressants as a means of aiding their ability to lead their life.

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The impact of medication - a violinist's nightmare

A mental health service users account of the impact that medication can have on their lives. It explores the story of a service user and their desire to play the violin even though the medication caused tremor in the arms and hands of the service user.

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The impact of medication - the service users' curse

Looks at a mental health service users experiences of constipation brought on by using medication and the impact it can have on day to day functioning.

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The impact of medication - experience of night medication

Mental health service users account of using medication and the impact it can have on all aspects of life and conducting your day to day activities.

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The impact of medication - battle of the bulge

Explores a service users account of how mental health medication can have an impact on body weight.

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The impact of medication - making decisions about medication

Service users account related to making decisions about using medication.

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The impact of medication - what a good night's sleep can do

Service users experiences of mental health and medication.

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A forgotten partnership? The carer-service user partnership and personalisation

The issue of partnerships is a core requirement in social work training (Department of Health, 2002). However, mainly as result of a lack of substantive research, a partnership that is central to the delivery, quality and experience of care - the partnership between service users and their carers - receives little attention. This paper will focus on the impact of personalisation on this partnership, and argue that it should not be forgotten within social work education and practice in the move to mainstream operation of personalisation (Department of Health, 2007). It will start with an outline of the nature of the carer-service user relationship, focusing on those qualities that contribute to its partnership status. Specific reference will be made to the mutual interdependence that has been found to characterise caring relationships. An exploration of the ways in which personalisation has the potential to shape aspects of this partnership will follow. For instance, initiatives introduced within this agenda mean that carers can be faced with the situation where their dependants make more of the decisions about their own care, they have to make different contributions to the provision of care which may involve them in new tasks and in some cases, a contractual relationship with the service user. The effects of these sorts of changes could also be compounded by any misalignments with their own needs. Hence personalisation can affect the dynamics of the caring relationship. Given the importance of this interdependent relationship to the successful implementation of initiatives within personalisation, it is crucial that changes in this relationship are recognized and addressed in social work practice as this agenda gathers momentum. Therefore, the final part of this paper will include some ideas about resolving this dilemma and ensuring the implications of personalisation for carer-service user partnerships are both incorporated into social work education and translated into effective practice. References Department of Health (2002). Requirements for Social Work Training. London: HMSO Department of Health (2007). Putting people first: a shared vision and commitment to the transformation of adult social care. London: HMSO

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Is it the individual student who fails to progress or the individual programme that fails to respond?

Paper presented at 2009 JSWEC Conference. Social work courses recruit a higher proportion of students from different black and minority groups than many other courses. However, national statistics continue to demonstrate that some groups of students do not progress through social work training at the same rate as other students. Students from black and ethnic minority groups and disabled students have a significantly higher rate of referral and deferral than other groups of students and the recruitment, progression and achievement of men is worsening. Representatives from the GSCC multi-agency project group Diversity, Progression and Achievement which includes students, people who use services, carers, programme providers and other stakeholders will share their understanding of the recent findings from the research carried out by the Social Care Workforce Research Unit (Hussein et al 2009) with whom they have been collaborating. Further evidence will be presented from the latest social work degree annual monitoring exercise carried out by the GSCC. This examines what HEIs report they are doing to support vulnerable groups. Initial analysis suggests that problems in progression are more likely to be identified and responded to as individual issues. The paper explores what the implications are for universities, students, stakeholders and the regulatory body and poses How effectively are universities responding to the needs of those groups who are not progressing as they should? How can the GSCC become more effective in regulating and promoting equality requirements? How can HEIs continue to measure, monitor and improve their own progress in this area? Reference: Shereen Hussein, Jo Moriarty, Jill Manthorpe (2009) Variations in the Progression of Social Work Students in England, Social Care Workforce Research Unit, Kings College London/ General Social Care Council Full report - www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/B5A5B087-E7B9-471C-BAAF-207DA1FBE1DA/0/Progression_analysis_FT_UG.pdf Executive Summary - www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/E4482365-4F9F-46F0-9238-A030302E0ED7/0/Progression_analysis_FT_UG_0305__Executive_Summary.pdf

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Questioning methodology in social work education research

Paper presented at 2010 JSWEC Conference. This paper contrasts the virtues and vices of the positivist and constructivist paradigms in social work education research and highlights the dearth of studies rooted in a critical paradigm. Questions will be raised in respect of the compatibility of different paradigms with social work values and the possibility of combining approaches in future research into social work education. The main example of research rooted in a positivist paradigm is the study published by the evaluation of the social work degree in England team in 2008. This generated standardised data from students' responses to survey questionnaires and hypothetical vignettes along with statistical profiles of students and their progression rates and statistical correlations between the variables deemed to be influential in teaching and learning. Such robust objective data may nevertheless have a limited use-value for educators and students at the grassroots. The presenter has recently completed a study of social work education which is due to be published as a textbook for students. It was an ethnographic study drawing upon a participatory approach to encourage students to share their experiences in interviews or focus groups and to submit their practice portfolios for a research reading, and it was rooted in a constructivist paradigm. This generated a wealth of real-life case studies of students' experiences of teaching and learning in university and community settings including their use of critical reflection, theory and research and the dilemmas thrown up by working with service users and other professionals. Nevertheless, I was confronted with a number of ethical and political predicaments during the conduct of the research, and the use of real-life case studies may itself prove to be controversial in due course. Evaluation of the Social Work Degree in England Team (2008) Evaluation of the New Social Work Degree Qualification in England Volume 1 Findings and Volume 2 Technical Appenix, available at the SCIE website www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk Humphrey, C. Becoming a Social Worker. A Guide for Students. London: Sage (forthcoming, October 2010

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"I second that emotion" - emotions and emotional intelligence in social work

Paper presented at 2010 JSWEC Conference. The concept of emotional intelligence places emphasis on the ability of an individual to identify, understand and manage the emotional content of their interactions and experiences (Salovey and Mayer 1990). This paper will establish links between the concept of emotional intelligence and a potential role within social work practice. It will be argued that awareness of the emotional content of social work practice is congruent with 21st century social work principles such as the promotion of service user involvement in the services they receive. The potentially uneasy relationship between emotions and effective decision making will be explored. The familiar paradigm that emotions cloud judgements will be challenged and a case will be made to suggest that emotions are inextricably linked to thought processes and in turn we can begin to develop a view that the construct of emotional intelligence has a resonance in practice. There are many interesting parallels between emotional intelligence and the concept of the reflective practitioner. These will be explored and supervision will be highlighted as a key forum to develop the expression of emotions in practice. Reference Salovey, P. & Mayer, J.D. (1990). 'Emotional intelligence. Imagination', Cognition, and Personality (9) 185-211

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Levels in Practice: Benchmarking the Standards in Social Work Education against the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

Paper Presented at 2010 JSWEC Conference. One of the specific work areas for the SSSC is to drive and support the implementation of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) as a key element of the skills strategy and to increase potential benefits to the learning and development of the social services workforce. At degree level in terms of shaping the learning and teaching experience the drivers have been: - The report prepared for the SSSC by Bellevue Consultancy and Critical thinking which suggested that each course should be able to show, and should take steps to explain as appropriate, its levels of practice within the SCQF - The IRISS report, 'New Degree New Standards' which explores methodologies to be more explicit about what and when students learn in their degree programmes. The SSSC has commissioned materials and pilot work to benchmark the Standards in Social Work Education against the SCQF level descriptors. Project Definition: - To write illustrations of practice for selected outcomes (Learning Foci) of the social work degree; to write these descriptors at SCQF Levels 9 and 10; to do this within the context of case studies - To consult with stakeholders about how this work can potentially be used - To undertake a pilot use of the illustrations - To review the practice illustrations in light of the pilot. Outcomes of the work will be - The development of a language through which to assess applied knowledge in practice at different SCQF levels - Materials to make this possible - The testing of language and materials in practice - Feedback from stakeholders about the usefulness of the approach. The workshop will outline the process,content and outcome of this work and offer considerations about how to take it forward with stakeholders. It will include small group consideration of the materials, particularly the case studies and feedback about their usefulness. References SSSC/Bellevue Consultancy and Critical thinking www.sssc.uk.com/nr/rdonlyres/245afd96-2bbd-437c-af02-dac55423ab44/0/qacommissionfinalreport.pdf IRISS 'New Degree New Standards' www.iriss.org.uk/publications

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Accessing and Making the Transition from Further Education to Higher Education: important socio-economic and life course considerations

The study upon which this paper is based aimed to explore the experiences of students enrolled on „Access to Social Work‟ courses striving to navigate their way from further education (FE) to higher education (HE) social work programmes. The study was set within the context of widening participation policy and more stringent Department of Health (DH) entry requirements for social work education introduced in 2003. These requirements stipulate that all applicants to social work education must demonstrate key skills in literacy and numeracy equivalent to grade C GCSE, and personal suitability for social work (DH, 2002).

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Reflections on Identity: the Prerequisites for Professional Strength and Creativity

Paper presented at 2010 JSWEC Conference Writing in 1942, as America faced the crisis of joining World War II, Bertha Reynolds argued "The best preparation for adapting to the social work of the future, or to its absence if the good life of that time has no need for it, is to see it now, without illusions, as a part of our own time, and to face what we have with an active determination to be flexible enough ourselves so that we do not hold back its growth into something else". Sixty years later, these words resonate, at a time of what might be describes as ‘perpetual crisis’, within the profession and in the broader society within which social work is defined and practiced. This presentation offers social work practitioners and educators the opportunity to reflect on the context, social, economic, political and spiritual, local and global, that shapes social work practice. It asks: 1. What measures, personal, professional and organisational, must be implemented for practitioners to ‘hold the faith’ as brokers of hope for the poor and marginalised in this fluid, contested and arguably risk saturated practice environment; 2. What new (and perhaps old but neglected) capacities and/or philosophies can assist and nourish them; and 3. What educational strategies, pre- and post-qualifying, are necessary to develop the intellectual rigour, emotional strength and integrity necessary for empowered and creative practice. Bertha Capon Reynolds (1942) Learning and Teaching in the Practice of Social Work National Association of Social Workers, Silver Spring; Russell & Russell, New York

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Stories and lessons from a study of the enhancement of learning process on a social work degree programme

Paper presented at 2009 JSWEC Conference. There are increasing signs of a deepened and broadened interest in how the integration of learning can be enhanced. Our exploration of the integration of learning began five years ago and has previously published on how academic contact with social work students during placements can bridge the gap between theory and practice. We have continued our work on the place and role of academics in the enhancement of student learning (e.g. the tutor - student relationship) and have now gone on to seek the views of finishing students as to the most helpful people, moments and processes in the enhancement of their learning. We will present preliminary results and observations from a two-year study during which the views of two similar cohorts of students were sought. The first results provide something of a wake-up call for academics with the message being that: If social work ‘can’t go on doing more of the same’ (Changing Lives, 21st Century Review of Social Work 2006) then social work educationalists also can’t continue to act as though it were the 19th century. The belief that transmission of information equals student learning needs to go the same way as Gowns and Latin. The findings from our research will be interesting for training officers, trainers and practice teachers and constitute something of urgency for lecturers and tutors.

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Engaging PQ students with different prior academic experiences in successful learning.

Paper presented at JSWEC 2009 Conference. It seems that students' capacity to benefit from the learning experience is influenced by their previous level of study, previous successes, the length of time since they last studied, their perception of the relevance of the study to their professional development and by the support they receive from their employer. This paper will describe our preliminary findings from a project looking at the satisfaction of students undertaking Post-Qualifying (PQ) Awards in Social Work with Children, Young People their Families and Carers. These students are qualified social workers who are currently in practice. Their qualification may be either a Diploma in Social Work (BA Levels 1 and 2) or a Bachelors Degree in Social Work (BA Levels 1,2 and 3). We have observed dissatisfaction with the entry modules to the programme from some students who feel that they are not receiving enough ‘teaching’. These students appear to be those with Diploma qualifications who have not previously studied at BA, level 3 and specifically have not undertaken an undergraduate dissertation which can be argued develops autonomous learners. Students undertaking any continuous professional development are under the scrutiny of their employers and if they are finding these studies difficult are likely to blame this on the course provider rather than expose their own capacity. This is therefore an important area to investigate as these students need the PQ qualifications and this may be best achieved by pre-course preparation programmes, to develop capacity, for some candidates. If our hypothesis is correct this will also lead to improvement in student satisfaction and completion rates.

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PIVOT - Enhanced Reflection

The Professional Identity and Values Organisation Tool (PIVOT) is designed to facilitate and enhance processes of critical reflection and self-directed learning. Our intention is to help students in professional practice become more aware of a developing sense of identity through exploration of their values and creation of their own learning aims. This project piloted the use of PIVOT with social work students, for evaluation and development. What is PIVOT all about? The tools have been developed from Personal Construct Psychology and wider constructivist perspectives of teaching and learning. Through a series of activities within structured interviews, learners are enabled to: - draw out their own personal observations and interpretations within their practice - progressively refine and develop these constructs to reflect and highlight their own core values - systematically score these values as learning aims - use these learning aims as a basis for an action plan to develop their own professional practice.

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PIVOT - explanatory poster

The tool has been developed from Personal Construct Psychology and wider constructivist perspectives of teaching and learning. Through a series of activities within structured interviews, learners are enabled to: - draw out their own personal observations and interpretations within their practice - progressively refine and develop these constructs to reflect and highlight their own core values - systematically score these values as learning aims use these learning aims as a basis for an action plan to develop their own professional practice.

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PIVOT Enhanced reflection - explanatory leaflet

Capturing and organising self-generated personal constructs Charting awareness of professional values and identity Encouraging learner centred enquiry into practice and learning aims

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PIVOT Learning Aims Scale - completed sample

An example of how the learning aims scale can be completed - for use in PIVOT Stage 3 activity

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PIVOT Stage 3: Generating Learning Aims for Practice

This activity enables you to generate your own learning aims to work with in your practice setting. These aims will be based on the constructs that you previously identified in the earlier stages of PIVOT. Therefore they will be unique and (most) meaningful only to you. The intention of this activity is to make the constructs more concrete in terms of your own development. You will be prioritising and scaling up to three constructs to develop personal goals and learning objectives and you will be identifying significant steps in reaching these.

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PIVOT Stage 2: Professional and Personal Values in Practice

This activity encourages deeper reflection upon your professional and personal values in your practice. It encourages you to capture what is really important to you now, and to think about aspects of practice to which you aspire. It may bring out ideas and values that you weren’t aware of holding dear to you – a sort of ‘I didn’t know I knew it’ experience.

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PIVOT Enhanced Reflection - an introduction

Welcome to PIVOT. Within SwapBox you will find a suite of activities that have been designed specifically to help professional learners with the most important aspect of their studies – themselves and the people they work with. These reflexive techniques are derived from the pioneering work in Personal Construct Psychology (Kelly 1991; Fransella 2005). Finding the time to use them will help students to critically reflect upon, identify and explore their developing sense of professional identity through their individual values and personal learning aims. The self-contained activities have full explanatory instructions and there are also accompanying video clips of two people demonstrating their use. The exploratory dialogue between a student and their facilitator (tutor, mentor or assessor) is a key part of the enhanced reflection experience. The tools are designed to build upon each other and so will work best if used in order for the first time.

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PIVOT Stage 1: Personal Constructs of Practice

This activity helps you to examine the ways in which you see yourself and others with whom you have worked, particularly in relation to being a social worker. It is the first stage of thinking about professional identity and values (and the first stage of PIVOT).

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The Commemorative Trophy for Good Works

This activity aims to encourage reflection on professional values and on skills development through exploring some of your own views about yourself as a social worker.

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Personalisation - workshop powerpoint

Personalisation: Interpersonal Skills for Practitioners As the ‘personalisation agenda’ in social work gathers pace at the level of policy and service provision, there is an increasing need for individual practitioners to re-acquaint themselves with the skills and values of working with diversity and understanding the perspectives of other people and other lives across all service user groups. This workshop will introduce participants to a range of reflexive enquiry methods that draw upon the seminal ideas from Personal Construct Psychology (PCP). The main aim of PCP methodologies is to enable the practitioner to ‘stand in the shoes’ of their client - to see the world in the same way their client does, using the client’s language and the client’s ‘personal constructs’. Everyone has their own system of personal constructs and these are the ‘goggles’ through which they construe the world in which they live and which govern their behaviour. The value of a PCP perspective for social work is that it helps the practitioner to focus upon ways in which, in order to help people to change their behaviour, we have to help them to become aware of how they see themselves and key aspects of their social worlds. This workshop will offer opportunities for participants to examine their own personal constructs and try out 3 basic techniques that will demonstrate: • how personal constructs are used to differentiate between people, situations and things • how someone’s personal constructs can be explored to understand their personal and professional core values • how personal constructs inform behavioural choices - why, at some level of awareness, a person chooses to behave in the ways that they do, rather than in ways that we might consider to be better for them The workshop will be of practical use to students, practitioners and anyone interested in practice learning. Presenters: Dr Barry Cooper, The Open University, UK Nick Reed, University of Hertfordshire, UK

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Introduction to SWAPBox Presentation

This PowerPoint presentation was used at a recent SWAP workshop to introduce new users to the SWAPBox repository. It could be used by anyone looking to give a quick overview of the repository. Also included are three sets of exercises for novice users of SWAPBox to start trying different functionalities of the repository - these should be done in conjunction with the relevant 'How to Guides' in the Getting Started Section of SWAPBox. The exercises also include a brief feedback form for users to reflect on the ease of completing the different tasks.

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Human Growth and Mental Health

Samples of material used in a ten-week module on human growth and mental health on the qualifying social work programme

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mental health acronym checker

A list of about twenty acronyms that emerged during the course of teaching a module on mental health on a social work qualifying programme (answers in the notes!). Some of the acronyms link directly to websites that give further information, though these links will only be live as long as the websites themselves exist. Some of the sites are local to Hampshire as this was the location of the course. I would love you to add a few more examples. i used this as a quick quiz at teh end of the module and, although great fun, it also served as a reminder to students of some of the content of previous sessions

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Symptoms of dementia

In this short film two family carers describe symtoms of dementia they have observed.

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The need for Theory to underpin Social Work Practice.

This powerpoint presentation is used on the consolidation module of the post qualifying social work programme.

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Substance Misuse and Young People

A powerpoint presentation which details the incidence of drug and alcohol use by young people in the UK. The presentation looks at issues of consent for treatment and the harm minimisation model.

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Opening the Pandora's Box: The Child Abuse Discourse: A Study of the Emergent Bulgarian Child Maltreatment Stories

The current study explores the development of the Bulgarian child maltreatment discourses that emerged in the public domain after the fall of Communism in 1989. An argument is made that by examining the way in which child abuse stories are structured and operate in the media and public domain is essential for proper understanding of how social policy and child protection are structured. The author carries out a discourse analysis of the Bulgarian child maltreatment discourses, looks at their historical and cultural roots and draws comparison with the corresponding discourses and child protection policy in the UK. The study suggests a particular model of inquiry that can be replicated in other cultural or practice contexts.

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Twitter for Students

PDF file containing text, screenshots & video. Designed as a standalone introduction to Twitter and how it might be used by students to aid their studies.

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The beginnings of human development - a teacher's OER journey

a resource for use in teaching the beginnings of human development, together with an accompanying narrative of the journey into making the resource an OER

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Web 2.0 Lecture PowerPoint

Lecture ppt designed to introduce students to some key Web 2.0 services. Includes some information, links & useful questions. Really a test upload as this resource needs setting in context to be useful.

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Google Overview

This is a Wikipedia "book" created using the Wikipedia PDF generator, which is licensed under a Creative Commons licence.

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Fostering resilience

The aim of this learning object is to introduce learners to a structured approach to the assessment and promotion of resilience in vulnerable children.

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Putting personalisation into practice

This resource will help you: 1.Consider the possible benefits and drawbacks of personalisation 2.Review practitioner’s perceptions of personalisation 3.Reflect on service user experience 4.Develop your skills in supporting an individual through the process 5.Identify future learning/training requirements 6.Reflect on your learning in relation to personalisation

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What is personalisation and where did it come from?

This resource will help you: •Find out how much you already know about personalisation • Understand what personalisation means and where it comes from • Familiarise yourself with legislation, policy and theory influencing the personalisation agenda

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Personalisation

These e-Learning resources explore the nature of personalisation. The e-learning resource is specifically targeted at trainee social workers. It can however, be used to support both education and training for any individual studying and practicing in social care. The e-learning resource can be integrated into higher education social work curriculum either as directed or self directed study

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Fair Access to Care Services (FACS)

This training module aims to support re-orientation and re-skilling of staff directly involved in decision-making using FACS and eligibility criteria, their supervisors and line managers, and those monitoring and reporting on the operations of the system. It sets out to: •be accessible and useful to front-line social workers, care managers and support brokers, as they make key decisions about people’s eligibility for support •assist first-line managers to oversee the decision being made in their organisations •be accessible to the users of services, and their carers and families, as well as advocacy groups and user-led organisations (ULOs), so that the basis on which funding decisions are made is clear to those most affected by them. By the end of this module you should have a better understanding of: •What FACS is •What's new, what's changed and what's remained the same •How FACS will apply to your practice.

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Creating a positive culture

This resource explores: •Creating a positive culture of care to lessen the likelihood of care staff needing to use restraint. •Using good communication to help negotiate the many different and often emotive views of everyone involved in a decision to use restraint. •Providing learning and development opportunities that help promote a learning culture and support better decision-making about restraint. •Developing a positive physical care environment to help reduce the need for restraint

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Decision-making processes

This resource explores: •How staff, residents and relatives view of risk and risk-taking will influence decisions about restraint. •How making good decisions about restraint is more likely if care staff are positive, show teamwork, keep good records, are aware of the alternatives to restraint and have some basic knowledge of the law on restraint. •How a careful five-step process can help when making difficult decisions about restraint: observe, do some detective work, come to a collective decision, implement and review the plan

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Exploring restraint

This resource explores the ideas that: •Restraint can be a difficult issue in care homes, and the word means different things to different people. •There are many different types of restraint, ranging from active physical interventions to failing to assist a person. •Minimising the use of restraint is important, but sometimes it will be the right thing to do. •Knowing the individual, valuing the views of relatives and working as a team will help reduce the need for restraint.

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Managing risk, minimising restraint: Challenges, dilemmas and positive approaches for working with older people in care homes

These e-Learning resources explore the nature of managing risk and minimising restraint when working with older people in care homes.

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Key policy and legislation with implications for interprofessional and inter-agency collaboration (IPIAC): a timeline of examples 1968-2008

This resource offers you an interactive timeline, helping you to find collaboration-related examples of policy, commissioned reports and legislation in England and Wales. The resource will provide you with: •a chronology of collaboration-related policy and legislation from 1968 to 2008 •a variety of examples covering developments in collaboration policy, organisation and practice •selected examples of policy and legislation relating to people who use care services and to carers. •overall, illustration of the expanding range of policy and legislation in which attention to collaboration is a feature

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The practitioner, the agency and inter-agency collaboration

This resource will assist you to: •think of the organisation/agency in which you work as part of a network of organisations/agencies, professions and services •appreciate that each organisation, including your own, shapes the roles of its staff, supplies resources and sets the boundaries of services •understand the interdependence of agencies and their practitioners in achieving the range of support that people who use care services may require •recognise that inter-agency collaboration ranges along a continuum, from cooperation based on mutual objectives to collaboration structured by regulated procedures •appreciate that procedures provide a framework for practice but they rely on people to make them work by applying expertise and values and negotiating outcomes.

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Working collaboratively in different types of teams

This resource will enable you to: •Identify different types of teams •Consider how different types of teams impact on interprofessional working •Identify the different roles necessary for successful teamworking •Identify your own role within the interprofessional team •Think about how you can develop your team working skills.

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A model of practice and collaboration

This resource will assist you to: •reflect on the nature and complexity of social work and social care practice by considering the different people who may be involved •think of ‘direct work’ with people who use care services and their supporters and carers as being at the centre of your practice •recognise that ‘direct work’ does not take place in isolation but is affected by a range of other important relationships and interactions •manage the complexity of these multiple relationships by using a ‘model’ that groups them into ‘spheres’ of practice and interaction •view these spheres as the context or medium in which collaboration is achieved by you and others •think about how the model applies to practice

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Working together to assess needs, strengths and risks

This resource will: •introduce you to the process of interprofessional assessment of needs, strengths and risks •provide the opportunity to consider the contribution that different professionals can make to the process of assessment •enable you to develop your understanding of assessment using a family case study which draws on the views of a range of professionals and those of family members.

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Building relationships, establishing trust and negotiating with other workers

This resource will help you to: •consider the importance of constructive relationships in the context of collaborative working •identify and discuss the interpersonal skills and attributes that contribute to collaborative working •consider the factors that impinge on collaborative working relationships •evaluate and develop your own interpersonal skills in collaborative working

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Professional identity and collaboration

This resource will help you to: •understand the concept of professional identity and its importance in the relationship between professionals •consider similarity and difference between professionals •explore ‘models of practice’ as particular illustrations of similarity and difference •think about the benefits and challenges for interprofessional and inter-agency collaboration (IPIAC), that can result from professional difference •reflect on how some of the challenges to models of practice and professional identity, may be met constructively.

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An introduction to interprofessional and inter-agency collaboration

This resource will help you to develop and review your understanding of: •what is meant by ‘interprofessional and inter-agency collaboration’ (IPIAC) •why collaboration has grown in importance •the kinds of evidence that informs collaboration •key policy and legislation and their timeline

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Interprofessional and inter-agency collaboration (IPIAC)

These e-Learning resources explore the nature of interprofessional and inter-agency collaboration and in improving collaborative practice.

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All in a day’s work

All in a day's work will: •help you to reflect on what approach, or combination of strategies, you adopt to being a social work law practitioner •enable you to undertake an assessment of your social work law knowledge

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Experts by experience

Experts by experience will: •Introduce you to how service users and carers have experienced legal interventions by social workers •Identify how experts by experience identify good and poor practice by social workers •Present what experts by experience suggest are the essential knowledge, skills and values that social workers should have and how they should use them •Present key messages for social workers on what is really important for service users and carers when legal interventions are being used

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Social work intervention

Social Work intervention will raise awareness of: •the legal rules that create the framework for social work intervention •the different points of intervention - initial referral and screening, assessment and care planning and review and assessment

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Win a million!

Win a million! will help you: •acquire and consolidate knowledge of specific legal rules •develop a critical perspective on those rules •describe the location of specific legal rules

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Courtroom scenario

Courtroom scenario will enable you to: •perform confidently in relation to court processes and systems •appreciate good practice when giving evidence in chief •develop your understanding of, and skills in responding to cross-examination •identify your involvement in the court room as a positive element of practice

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Courtroom skills

Court room skills aims to: •identify messages for effective courtroom practice •develop your understanding of the different roles in courtroom settings •help you manage your authority and role more effectively •develop your skills in negotiating out of court and in giving evidence •develop your knowledge, skills and confidence about cross examination

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Accountability and intervention

Accountability and intervention sets out to explore the impact of law on how social workers work, in particular: •how legal rules influence the process of decision-making (rather than content) •how social work values influence our approach

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The law practice relationship

The law practice relationship sets out to make you aware of: •the complexity of the relationship between law and social work in practice •the breadth of legal knowledge necessary for effective practice •the fact that law cannot be seen in isolation from values, and must be subject to critical analysis •how different options for practice balance legal rules, moral rules and individual and collective rights.

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The body of law

The body of law will make you aware of: •How law is made •How social issues may be reflected in the legal rules •How the legal rules reflect the society of which they are a part •The relationship between national and international jurisdictions •The role of the judiciary and of case law •The separation of powers

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Introduction to law

Introduction to Law sets out to make users aware of: •the importance and relevance of Law •how interesting Law can be •the many ways that Law impacts upon our lives and work •the importance of Law to social work practice •the connections between Law and social work values

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Law and social work

These e-Learning resources bring alive key aspects of the law applied to social work practice. Please note that these resources were updated in April 2009 to bring it in line with the most recent policy and legislation

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Communication across cultural and social differences

Culture, identity and personal beliefs have a profound impact on the content and process of communication. When people from different cultures, backgrounds or belief systems communicate, it is easy for misunderstandings to arise. This resource uses five case scenarios to provide examples of the kinds of challenges and dilemmas social workers experience as they communicate across social and cultural divides. This resource will further your understanding of: •the impact of identity, beliefs and culture on the process of communication •the importance of sensitivity to issues of culture, identity and belief in communication •the kinds of dilemmas that arise in communication across cultural and social divides.

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Communicating through action and other means of communication

The well-known phrase ‘actions speak louder than words’ reminds us of the importance of practical forms of help. However, for this help to be effective, it has to be informed by a sound knowledge and skills base and the ability to articulate why practical forms of support are essential in order to move events forward. This learning object will help you to understand what is communicated through action and other forms of communication, such as: •offering practical support (advocacy, mediation, networking) •communicating at a distance (letter writing, emails, telephone, mobile phones and text messaging) •professional record keeping systems (case notes, report writing, form filling, taking minutes of meetings) •presentation skills (giving a talk, chairing a meeting, coordinating case conferences/ reviews and presenting evidence in court)

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Using play and the creative arts to communicate with children and young people

Children and young people communicate in ways which are different from or additional to those used by adults This resource begins by exploring some of the reasons why children and young people communicate in these additional and alternative ways. It then goes on to describe ways of using stories, art work, creative writing and music as forms of communication. This resource will further you understanding of •why play-based, creative and activity-based methods can help children and young people to communicate, including: 1.the limitations of direct methods of communication 2.the importance of symbolism and metaphor 3.the dangers of interpretation. •what kind of underpinning knowledge and theoretical frameworks are helpful when using play and creative activities •how to select the best mode and method of communication for particular contexts, purposes and children (e.g. artwork, stories, puppets)

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Communicating in challenging situations

This resource looks at what we mean by the term ‘challenging situations’ and explores in particular the communication difficulties that can be encountered when people feel guarded and defensive, perhaps because they feel threatened in some way. Using a case study you will work through some of the more advanced communication skills needed in these situations. This resource will further your understanding the communication skills needed where people are: •silent •mistrustful and difficult to engage •unable and/or unwilling to accept responsibility for their actions •hostile •aggressive and threatening •violent

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Particular communication needs

This resource starts with a quiz and a short case study to help you understand the complexities of defining and identifying impairment as well as the difficulties faced by people who have these impairments. You will then be able to explore four different scenarios which present tips on working with particular communication needs of service users. This resource will further your understanding of: •people with particular communication needs are a large, diverse and ill-defined group •how the social model of disability highlights the barriers faced by people with particular communication needs and ways in which these might be addressed •different ways to enhance communication with various groups.

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The Golden Bridge. A virtual exhiibtion on child migration from Scotland to Canada

Between 1869 and 1939 over 100,000 children were migrated from the United Kingdom to Canada by British philanthropic organisations. Although they were described — in the parlance of the Victorian era — as ‘orphans, waifs and strays’, in fact around two-thirds had at least one surviving parent and most were from families experiencing extreme poverty. Once they arrived in Canada, the younger children were adopted, the older children committed as indentured labourers. The Scottish philanthropist William Quarrier (1829-1903) through his Orphan Homes of Scotland was involved in the migration of 7,000 of these ‘Home Children’. This is their story.

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Barriers to communication

Through a scenario this resource enables you to explore the potential barriers to communication that can exist in your everyday work. This resource will further your understanding of how the following factors can inhibit, interrupt or confuse the communication between social workers and service users, carers and others: •time available •territory (environment and context) •role and task •professional identity and use of self •emotional, psychological and interpersonal dynamics •power and difference (real or assumed) •special communication needs

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Gathering information

This e-learning resource uses a video scenario to help you develop your observation, listening and interviewing skills and to become more aware of your own subjectivity. Different ways of asking questions will be considered in more depth and you will have the opportunity to try out some creative approaches to gathering information using diagrams or art-based tools. This resource will enhance your understanding of: •observation skills •listening skills •the ability to identify underlying messages and interpret non-verbal communication •asking questions (interviewing skills) •more creative ways of gathering information

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Providing information and explaining

This resource uses a case study to help you explore the challenges that social workers experience during interviews and what decisions can be made to overcome some of these. It highlights that discovering the other person’s perspective and establishing a shared agenda for the interview are priority tasks, as well as the need to explain bureaucratic procedures and to provide as well as gather information. This resource will help you understand that effective and empowering communication in social work requires: •planning and preparation so that you are clear about what you are doing, why and how. •sensitivity towards the other person’s expectations and concerns so that you can negotiate a shared agenda for the task in hand. •accurate identification of the other person’s information needs •a way of explaining that helps the person to understand the information they need.

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Forming and maintaining relationships with service users, carers, professionals and others

This resource looks at the benefits that are gained from the relationships that are built within social work. Using the voices of service users, carers and workers you will hear accounts of how the relationships that were created helped them to deal with the difficulties they faced. This resource will further your understanding of: •the importance of relationships in social work and what we communicate through relationships we work to build •the personal attributes needed to form and maintain positive working relationships •the professional attributes that are required and boundaries within which positive working relationships operate •how integrating of personal qualities and professional attributes link to the concept of the ‘professional use of self’

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Overview of communication skills in social work

This e-learning resource introduces the breadth and complexity of communication skills in social work. This resource will further your understanding of: •the principles of effective communication as a two or more way process (underpinned by values such as participation and inclusion) •how context shapes communication and can facilitate or impede effective communication •communication within the social work role and task

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Communication skills

These e-Learning resources examine the principles of good communication, useful techniques and how to apply these to social work/care practice.

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Getting it right. Assessments for black and minority ethnic carers and service users

The aim of this multimedia learning resource is to provide a broad introduction to the issues affecting minority ethnic carers and service users with an emphasis on achieving cultural competence within individual practice.

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SWAPBox Overview

This PowerPoint presentation giving an overview to the SWAPBox repository was delivered at the SWAPBox launch event in November 2010. It includes information on the project partners and project timescale, available features in SWAPBox and an outlook to future developments.

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Referencing

The ability to relate one's own work to existing knowledge is an essential skill for students and practitioners alike. This learning resource aims to make it easier to get referencing right.

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Reflective practice

The aim of this learning object is to introduce learners to some of the principles and processes involved in becoming a reflective practitioner.

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Understanding resilience

The objective of this learning object is to understand the concept of ‘resilience’ and the value of ‘protective factors’ in planning to support vulnerable children. This resource contains information on risk, research evidence, protective factors and the ecological model as well as resilient children and protective environments

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Task centred casework

This multimedia learning object provides an introduction to the "task-centered" model of social work intervention. This model was based on the work of Sigmund Freud and the psychoanalysts. Psychoanalytic social work emphasised relationship-focused intervention with the professional adopting the role of the 'expert'.

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Case study: community care and older people

Scan of DVD coverThis case has been designed to familiarise students with the framework, key principles and statutes surrounding social work intervention with vulnerable adults. It consists of a three stage scenario describing the difficulties in the lives of an older couple, and their family, as they become increasingly dependent on community, residential and hospital-based services to protect them from danger and to promote their welfare

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Understanding attachment theory

The objective of this learning object is to enable students to understand the basic principles of attachment theory and its importance for practice. This resource defines attachment, examines the components of attachment theory, patterns of attachment behaviour as well as attachment, abuse and neglect.

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Managing knowledge to improve social care

These e-learning resources set out to help front line social workers gain a basic understanding of the principles and practice of knowledge management, as well as organise and manage their knowledge and information as effectively as possible.

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Social care 2.0 – Innovation through technology

This resource explores: •the term web 2.0 and its associated technologies •the evidence that web 2.0 tools can support user centred care •how web 2.0 tools can be used to support your practice •how web 2.0 tools can be used to improve the health and experience of the care of people who use services.

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Knowledge is our business

This resource explores: •why sharing knowledge and experience makes the whole organisation more effective •recognising the risks organisations take if they ignore the need to share knowledge •identifying the conditions that enable sharing in organisations, especially culture •assessing your organisation and its culture from a knowledge sharing perspective •applying some practical techniques for sharing knowledge at work.

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Knowledge beyond the team

This resource explores: •the diversity of external knowledge channels and sources and start identifying some that will be of practical value as you work •approaches to defining the knowledge you need to deal with specific situations and how to find it •listing useful sources that will help you when you need information and knowledge beyond your colleagues.

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Using technology to improve knowledge sharing

This resource explores: •a range of technologies that can support improved knowledge-sharing across your team •appropriate technology to support everyday tasks and activities •making the technology work for you and not the other way around

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Sharing knowledge in teams

This resource explores: •the characteristics of effective teams and the risks faced by ineffective teams •the different knowledge, skills and experience within your team •common knowledge sharing processes in teams •strategies that may make team meetings more effective and maximise the transfer of knowledge, skills and experience across your team.

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When knowledge gaps occur

This resource explores: •the impact of knowledge gaps in social care •how some of the more common gaps are caused by deficiencies in organising, managing and sharing knowledge •the value of the knowledge audit as a process for exploring team and organisation level knowledge needs, deficiencies and perceived knowledge challenges •simple strategies by which knowledge gaps might be addressed

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How do I organise my knowledge?

This resource explores: •the different stages of the knowledge cycle •ways in which knowledge may be organised and accessed •the strengths and weaknesses of different ways in which you might classify and access knowledge •the practical consequences of poor organisation of knowledge •optimal methods for organising common resources used by yourself and your colleagues •the advantages and disadvantages of current approaches to knowledge organisation in your organisation

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Types of knowledge

This resource explores: •the cycle that knowledge typically goes through •considering the factors that you need to bear in mind when considering what knowledge sources to use and when •using the SCIE Five types of knowledge framework in your work •making a meaningful link between different sources of knowledge and the types of knowledge that they contain •evaluating each of the types of knowledge for problems you are likely to face.

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A day in the life

This resource explores: •day-to-day contexts in which you encounter a need to use various sources of knowledge •different sources and features of knowledge that contribute to professional practice •some of the constraints and uncertainties with regard to information and knowledge that you use on a daily basis •making an initial decision about how useful and how reliable different sources of knowledge are •recognising that the usefulness of sources is determined by the context in which you plan to use them.

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About knowledge management

A short introduction to knowledge management (slide show).

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Managing challenging behaviour

In this resource you will have the opportunity to explore how children communicate through their behaviour and learn some techniques for managing challenging behaviour. You will also explore the importance of reflecting and learning from interventions. This resource aims to increase your understanding of: •the notion of behaviour as communication. •how you can manage challenging behaviour in a planned way. •key issues with regards conflict resolution, diverting and de-escalating challenging situations and restraint. •tools and techniques for conflict resolution, diverting and de-escalating challenging situations and restraint. •the key stage of debriefing

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Meeting the needs of children in residential child care

This resource invites you to explore the needs children in residential child care may have and then offers you a range of practical activities you can use with a child you know well. This resource aims to increase your understanding of: 1. the concerns that young people often have when entering residential child care 2. how you can help young people achieve positive outcomes 3. how you can ensure young people: 1.stay safe and secure 2.stay healthy 3.are able to stay in touch with those who are important to them 4.enjoy and achieve 5.have a say, get involved and make a positive contribution

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An introduction to residential child care

This resource provides an interactive pathway through key introductory aspects of residential child care. By the end of this resource you should have a better understanding of: •the number of children in residential child care in the UK •different types of care environments in the UK and the broad needs they may address •positive and negative views of residential child care •children’s legislation and rights •attitudes and beliefs towards children’s rights

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An introduction to residential childcare

An introduction to different residential care settings, the needs that children may have in care, young people's own concerns, interpreting and acting on children's behaviour, helping children meet the outcomes of 'Every child matters', key legislation and managing challenging behaviour.

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Approaches to practice with children of prisoners

This resource presents you with six scenarios that you can use to explore different approaches to practice with children of prisoners. For each you can choose the course of action which you feel is most appropriate and receive feedback on your choices. This resource will further your understanding of: 1.different approaches to working with children of prisoners 2.key resources available to professionals working in this area 3.how you might develop your own practice, as well as that of others with whom you work

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The pathway from arrest to release

This resource introduces you to an interactive pathway through the criminal justice system and along the way you will learn about key professionals, their roles and responsibilities and key resources and services available. This resource will further your understanding of: 1.the pathway through the Criminal Justice System encompassing the stages of arrest, court, prison sentence and release 2.the voluntary sector services and resources that are available at each stage of the pathway 3.the roles and responsibilities at each stage of the pathway for: 4.police officers 5.social workers – children’s service 6.behavioural support workers 7.Sure Start children’s centre staff 8.probation officers

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Children of prisoners: an introduction

This resource provides an introduction to the experience of having a parent in prison through the use of video footage. There is then a quiz to test your knowledge of key facts and figures relating to this area. By the end of this resource you should have a better understanding of: • Who children of prisoners are and what they may have to go through • Why it is important to know about these children • How many children are affected • The social and emotional impact of parental imprisonment on a child • Key facts and figures • Legislation and how it relates to this group

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Children of prisoners

These e-Learning resources provide the user with an engaging introduction to the significant, but unknown, number of children who are affected by the loss of a parent or carer to prison

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Interview with Mo Roberts

We talked to Moraene (Mo) Roberts, who has worked with the charity ATD Fourth World for many years and who has worked with many families in poverty. Her interview provides a very useful overview of the issues facing families living in poverty and some key lessons for practitioners who are in contact with these families. Follow the link below to watch Mo share her experiences of living in poverty and working with families who find themselves in poverty. The interview is unedited and lasts approximately 20 minutes, covering many areas, some of which are highlighted below: •What is Poverty? •The impact of poverty on individuals. •Negative attitudes received from social care workers as a result of living in poverty? •How do you improve practice when dealing with parents living in poverty? •What positive attitudes can social care workers bring to working with families in poverty? •What difference can changing ones approach towards families living in poverty have?

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Poverty quiz

We have put together a collection of facts and figures relating to poverty, parenting and social exclusion, which we have turned into a fun and easy to use quiz. We hope you will use these to support your learning and to increase your background understanding of the topic.

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How can your agency support you in accessing and using knowledge to be poverty aware?

It is now increasingly understood that there are different types of knowledge, all of which contribute to the ability of people working in children’s services to do their jobs well. Understanding the types of knowledge that are available, and having access to this knowledge is an important aspect for anybody who is working with families that are living in poverty. The first part of this e-learning resource explores the different types of knowledge that exists to aid you in your day to day work. Having been introduced to the different types of knowledge, a series of questions will enable you to rate how your agency performs in allowing and encouraging you to access and disseminate the different types of knowledge. Once you have reflected on this you will be able to see our suggestions on how you can enhance the performance of your agency in the areas that you felt could be improved.

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How sensitive to poverty and social exclusion are you in your daily practice?

Despite poverty and social exclusion being common characteristics of families involved in the child protection system, there is evidence to suggest that professionals struggle to truly incorporate an understanding of the impact of poverty in their assessments and interventions. In practice, social workers and other professionals continue to have difficulty in making sense of the complex interplay between poverty, social deprivation, parental capacity and children's development. This e-learning resource will let you explore your own sensitivity to poverty with the help of six separate scenarios, each highlighting a different issue faced by families living in poverty. After you have worked through the six scenarios, you will be able to see your level of sensitivity to poverty and social exclusion. You will then be able to match your responses to our examples of how to deal with the situations in a sensitive manner, reading our ideas behind each approach. The e-learning resource concludes with a short video clip of a family member relating the importance of a sensitive attitude towards poverty.

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What resources can you access to help you support families?

Research on families involved with child protection services in the UK reveals that many share the common experiences of living on a low income, suffering housing difficulties, and social isolation. The children and families experiencing these factors may often feel that they have few choices available to help them. This e-learning resource explores the complex issues that often surround these children and families. Through a case study, you will have the chance to reflect on an assessment of possible neglect and support services that could be of assistance to them. You can then compare your reflections with the findings of the social workers who undertook the assessment and find out more about the possible services available to the family.

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Incorporating an understanding of poverty into assessments of children and their families

Practitioners often have to undertake assessments of children and their families who are living in poverty. To help improve the consistency and quality of these assessments the Government introduced the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. This e-learning resource lets you explore the framework and its many dimensions. With the help of Barbara, a social worker, you will use the framework to assess a family, to help you to understand the needs of children and families in your daily role.

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Values, parenting and professional roles

All of us who work with families carry into our work a whole set of beliefs and values about family life and how children should be cared for. This learning object is designed to make you aware of these personal values and how they might impact on your practice. This learning object explores the way that personal values can effect the way you deal with families and seeks to help make practitioners aware of the impact and implications that this can have. You will be asked to capture your initial thoughts relating to 3 case study images depicting different aspects of family life. Afterwards you will hear three child care professionals discussing their thoughts on each case study and the care that they would provide. After listening to these extracts you will be asked to reflect upon whether these individuals allowed their personal values and beliefs to affect the way that they responded to each case study. This is followed by a conclusion highlighting the codes of practice for child care professionals.

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Service user perspectives on good practice

When using services, parents have reported that they encounter discriminatory attitudes from some professionals on the basis that they are poor. This e-learning resource seeks to help you understand the positive steps that can be taken to building good relationships with parents in poverty. Having first thought about what families value in professional relationships, you will then watch different family members, who have experienced or are experiencing poverty, discuss issues which they value as good practice from the point of view of people who use services. You will then be asked to look at some of the steps that families feel practitioners can take to make a positive difference in their work with a family that is living in poverty. This is followed by a conclusion and a final video message.

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What is 'povertyism'?

Poverty affects children from very different backgrounds. Discrimination on the bases of disability, race or immigration status mean that some sections of the population are significantly over represented among poor families. However, many families living in poverty also report facing discrimination on the basis of being poor. This is compounded when involved with child welfare services. This e-learning resource explores the way this discrimination works and seeks to help make practitioners aware of some of the implications. You will examine ways socially excluded individuals may be discriminated against for being poor (or ‘povertyism’). You will then watch some family members present some ways in which they feel povertyism is being perpetuated by professionals and agencies. This is followed by a conclusion and a final video message.

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Choices....what choices?

Parents living in poverty face a complex set of issues at individual, family and community levels that make parenting more difficult. In this e-learning resource you will explore a case study of a family, to try to gain an understanding of some of the difficult choices faced by parents in poverty, as well as support services that could help parents cope.

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Poverty, parenting and social exclusion

A series of 9 modules on key aspects of poverty, parenting and social exclusion with particular reference to children and families.

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Poverty is......

Understanding the various definitions of poverty is a very complicated task, but this e-learning resource is designed to help you see beyond technical definitions and to understand how poverty changes people’s lives. After looking at formal definitions in the introduction, you will then be asked to complete the phrase - 'Poverty is...' in a number of ways. You will then watch a group of family members who have experienced or are experiencing poverty complete the phrase. You will be asked to compare your answers and reflect upon: a) the different aspects and implications of poverty and social exclusion on the day-to-day lives of families and b) how social workers may make judgements about people’s circumstances and behaviour. Note: This resource contains audio.

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The life course approach

In this learning object you are introduced to the importance of seeing later life as one phase of an entire course of life from birth to death shaped by earlier life stages and experiences. Meaning and identity are important to mental health in later life and require that we can connect past, present and future in our lives. A highly influential theory of the life course which embodies these themes is the psychosocial theory of Erik Erikson, which you will consider in Section 2. A life course approach suggests that in order to understand and work effectively with older people we need to see them in the context of their past lives, taking a life story or biographical approach, or through reminiscence. You will consider these approaches in Section 4. Please note that this object also contains a self-assessment section where you can test how far you have assimilated the key messages from this learning object.

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Services for older people with mental health problems

In this learning object you will have an opportunity to learn about the principal services available for older people at the primary, mainstream, secondary/specialist and tertiary levels by travelling down a virtual ‘care pathway’. Along the way you will have the chance to test you knowledge of relevant statistics and will examine cross cutting issues and assessment. Please note that this object also contains a self-assessment section where you can test how far you have assimilated the key messages from this learning object.

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Ageism, age discrimination and social exclusion

In this learning object you are asked to consider issues which are central to understanding the experience of ageing and older age in contemporary society. Ageism, age discrimination and social exclusion diminish the quality of life which older people may enjoy. They also threaten their mental health. In spite of their negative effect on the daily lives of older people, however, ageism and age discrimination are often unrecognised, ignored, or even compounded in health and social care settings. And social exclusion has only recently been officially acknowledged as affecting older people as well as children and families. As you work through this learning object you will be able to read the views of older people talking about their experience of age discrimination. We hope that by the time you complete this learning object you will be sensitised to ageism and its impact on those older people you encounter in your life. Please note that this object also contains a self-assessment section where you can test how far you have assimilated the key messages from this learning object.

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Understanding depression in later life

The main focus of this learning object is depression amongst older people. The learning object begins by highlighting some of the problems with defining and diagnosing 'depression' and then goes on to discuss the estimated numbers of older people that are thought to suffer from the condition. Next you will consider what makes people more or less vulnerable to developing depression in later life. Finally you will look at effective treatments for depression and explanations for why it so often remains unrecognised in older people. Please note that this object also contains a self-assessment section where you can test how far you have assimilated the key messages from this learning object.

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Understanding later stage dementia

This learning object focuses primarily on the later stages of dementia and on managing the more significant or prominent challenges - and symptoms - associated with this level of dementia. The material aims to reflect, where possible, the experiences of people with dementia and their family carers. Many of the examples given are located in a care home setting although the issues are also very relevant to supporting a person with dementia in the community. This resource contains both audio and video. The learning object makes use of a video produced by the Alzheimer’s Society entitled Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Providing Quality Dementia Care in order to illustrate some of the issues we raise. Please note that this object also contains a self-assessment section where you can test how far you have assimilated the key messages from this learning object.

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Understanding the early stages of dementia

The main focus of this learning object is the early stages of dementia, including the emotional impact of the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis of dementia on the person concerned and those around them. The learning object also considers the importance of community-based support for people with dementia and how social networks can operate in this context. Towards the end of the learning object, you will look at the values and attitudes associated with person-centred care, particularly in relation to caring for and working with people with dementia as their condition progresses. Wherever possible, we focus on dementia from the perspective of people with dementia and their families and we aim to reflect the diversity of experiences among them. This resource contains both audio and video. The learning object makes use of a video produced by the Alzheimer’s Society entitled Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Providing Quality Dementia Care in order to illustrate some of the issues we raise. Please note that this object also contains a self-assessment section where you can test how far you have assimilated the key messages from this learning object.

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Common mental health problems amongst older people

This learning object introduces you to some of the key facts and statistics about depression, dementia and long standing mental ill health. It explains who might be at risk of developing a mental illness as they grow older and why. It also includes information about people who have experienced serious mental illness such as schizophrenia throughout their lives and the main issues facing them as they age. Please note that this object also contains a self-assessment section where you can test how far you have assimilated the key messages from this learning object.

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Risks and protective factors: older people’s mental health

This learning object explores mental health in later life. It reviews the meaning of mental health, why it is an important part of overall well being and how it relates to successful ageing. It also offers an overview of the different aspects of an older person's life and situation that impact on their mental health and the role that an individual and their family, the community they live in and wider society can play in promoting, or undermining, mental health. Please note that this object also contains a self-assessment section where you can test how far you have assimilated the key messages from this learning object.

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Attitudes and images of ageing

This learning object is about ways in which people's experience of ageing and mental health are shaped by society's attitudes to older people and later life. You will consider the way age-related images and ideas, displayed in the media and in everyday language, shape our perceptions; but also what we know about older people's own attitudes and aspirations. Please note that this object also contains a self-assessment section where you can test how far you have assimilated the key messages from this learning object.

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An Introduction to the Mental Health of Older People

These e-learning resources are freely available to all users and, through audio, video and interactive uses of technology, aim to raise awareness of key issues, research, messages, policies and approaches relating to the mental health of older people and, in so doing, positively impact on practice.

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An introduction to mental health and older people

In this learning object you will have the chance to explore the nature and characteristics of the ageing population in the UK, what being 'old' means, and some of the complexity surrounding the concept of 'mental health'. As this learning object presents basic facts and concepts surrounding mental health and older people, we recommend that you use this object to introduce yourself to this area. Please note that this object also contains a self-assessment section where you can test how far you have assimilated the key messages from this learning object.

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Positive communication

This module covers: a) Helping a person with dementia understand our message. b) Helping a person with dementia make themselves understood. c) Communicating with people experiencing a different reality. d) The importance of non-verbal communication.

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The emotional impact of dementia

This module covers: a) The emotional dimension of dementia. b) The importance of effective strategies to help people experiencing difficult emotions. c) Explore a range of situations where we can have a major impact on a person with dementia through our actions.

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Common difficulties and how to help

This module covers: a) How dementia affects each individual differently. b) Four common areas of difficulty faced by people with dementia. c) Practical strategies to assist with difficulties. d) Difficulties faced by people with dementia not caused by damage to the brain, but by other factors.

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Diagnosis and who can help

This module covers: a) The process of diagnosis and its impact. b) Help and support available, key professional roles and skills and multidisciplinary support services. c) Anti-dementia drugs and non-pharmacological treatments.

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What causes dementia

This module covers: a) The different types of dementia and the key characteristics of each. b) The different areas of the brain and how dementia affects these areas. c) Factors that are known to increase or lessen the risk of dementia

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Living with dementia

This module covers: a) The person with dementia as a unique individual. b) The importance of knowing their background and life history. c) Abilities people with a dementia retain in spite of the difficulties they face. d) How dementia impacts on families, friends and community and the support that is needed

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Dementia e-learning

SCIE's e-learning resources on dementia.

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What dementia is and what it isn't

This module covers the following areas: a) Views of dementia in the media. b) Facts and common misconceptions about dementia. c) Common symptoms, clinical terminology and causes of symptoms

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SWAP digest 3 - The social work degree: preparing to succeed

The social work degree: preparing to succeed is for prospective and current social work students to help them to be successful on their degree. The advice has been written by students on social work courses, so it offers insider tips! Published June 2007

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SWAP digest 1 - Supporting inclusive learning and teaching

Supporting inclusive learning and teaching helps you make your learning and teaching inclusive for all. It was produced as a result of the introduction of the Disability Equality Duty on 4 December 2006 and requires all public authorities to look actively at ways of ensuring that disabled people are treated equally.

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Creative pointers for teaching practice informed interprofessional working

Effective social work curriculum design needs to open up dialogue between professionals at the earliest stage of their professional development and employ creative and innovative approaches to facilitate this. The ten creative pointers presented here emerged from research into social work practitioners’ views of the implementation of Children’s Integrated Services (within the context of the Every Child Matters agenda and passage of the 2004 Children’s Act).

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Enhancing social work students’ learning experience and readiness to undertake practice learning (2010)

Ensuring students are adequately prepared to undertake practice is a topic of national and international interest in social work education. This project seeks to further develop knowledge in this area by undertaking empirical research into student perceptions of the effectiveness of teaching and assessment approaches to preparation for practice. The study develops previous research already undertaken with students during their first practice learning opportunity by tracking the same cohort into their final practice experience before they qualify as social workers (Wilson & Kelly, 2008). The main aim of the research is to identify ways in which teaching, learning and support might be improved in order to enhance the student learning experience throughout the social work education programme. Key messages from the research will be disseminated through a learning and teaching guide and workshops with social work educators and other stakeholders across the UK.

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Approaches to assessment - in focus issue 01 (Winter 2008)

Approaches to assessment - Inside this issue: 'Changing an assessment method', 'In conversation with Nick Ellison' (Social Policy Association, Learning and Teaching sub-committee) and 'Introducing a formative assessment tool'. Published November 2008

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Education for sustainable development - in focus issue 06

Inside this issue: 'What has sustainability got to do with social work?', 'In conversation with Amanda Torr (Director of Strategy and Planning, Wellington Institute of Technology, New Zealand)', and 'Environmental justice as a social work issue'. Published September 2010

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Creative analysis of NSS data and collaborative research to inform good practice in assessment feedback

This is the project report of a collaborative project that conducted comparative analysis of current practices in assessment feedback within the SWAP constituency, and explored related NSS data from a range of HEIs. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, it built upon existing research on this topic carried out at the University of Lincoln and across the sector. The project had an extensive dissemination strategy, including the production of staff and student guides to effective practice and a national conference. In this way the project increased and disseminated knowledge about effective feedback practice.

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Compromise and Creativity

Paper about Employers, Service Users, Carers and a University Developing the PQ Higher Specialist Level Mental Health Programme. Presented at the 2008 JSWEC Conference

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Beyond happy faces - evaluating the impact of training on practice

Paper presented at JSWEC Conference 2008. Social workers are required to undertake continuing professional development to maintain their registration (GSCC 2006). Employers are also expected to provide opportunities for continuing professional development to their staff (GSCC 2002, no 3.3) and many spend considerable resources providing in-service training courses as one way of fulfilling this. Questions remain whether what courses teach is actually used in practice (i.e. what impact does training have on practice). Increasingly inspectors are making recommendations that organisations develop systems to measure the impact of training and ensure that learning about research and evidence-based outcomes is embedded in practice (e.g. Ofsted 2008, p. 13, 29). This interactive workshop will start with a brief presentation discussing the methodology and preliminary findings from an ongoing research project evaluating the impact of a mandatory internal training programme on practice within a social work service provider. This is an attempt to move beyond ‘on-the-day’ participant feedback forms to research (using both quantitative and qualitative data drawn from approximately 1500 employees) that measures the changes in practice as a result of using skills developed through training. The presentation will be followed by a facilitated discussion about the following key issues: What are the inevitable ‘trade-offs’ of doing this kind of ‘real world’ research? How can cost effective research about internal courses become part of systematic processes in social work so that it is embedded in the organisation? How can internal training become more research minded? How can the transfer of knowledge to practice best be measured?

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Self efficacy in research skills; becoming research minded

Presentation to 2008 JSWEC Conference. Informed by the work of Holden et al (1999, 2002) and Unrau and Grinnel (2005) research has been undertaken as part of the Evaluating the Outcomes of Social Work Education project funded by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and the Higher Education Academy Social Policy and Social Work subject Centre (SWAP) to look at how undergraduates develop self efficacy in research skills. This 3 year project using undergraduate participants following a second year Using Research for Practice unit of study on a qualifying social work programme in England has explored the development of confidence in research skills. Data was collected from 3 consecutive cohorts of students, at the beginning (T1) and end (T2) of the unit of study and a comparison group was recruited from another university. The data was analysed using SPSS software. The project also provides a case study of research capacity building in academic staff with the project researchers being mentored by an experienced researcher experienced in this research methodology. This paper will explore the methodology and findings of the research project and will consider some implications and challenges for the teaching of research skills to qualifying students in order to develop research minded practitioners. References Holden G. Barker K. Meenaghan T. and Rosenberg G. 1999. Research self efficacy: a new possibility for educational outcome assessment. Journal of Social Work Education. Vol 35. Holden G,, Meenaghan T, Anastas J and Mtry G. 2002. Outcomes of social work education: the case for social work self efficacy. Journal of Social Work Education. Vol 38. Unrau Y.A. and Grinnell R.M. 2005. The impact of social work research courses on research self-efficacy for social work students. Social Work Education. Vol 24, no.6.

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The case for open access to social work research

Presentation to 10th JSWEC conference, Cambridge, 9th July 2008.

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A Shared Culture

An explanation of Creative Commons using work licensed under Creative Commons licenses. Creative Commons provides free tools that let authors, scientists, artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms from "All Rights Reserved" to "Some Rights Reserved."

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How to Comment on OERs on SWAPBox

This user guide looks at the SWAPBox commenting function and explains the reasons for using this feature. It also includes step-by-step guidance on how to add, edit and remove a comment for an OER.

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How to Find Users with Similar Interests on SWAPBox

This guide explains how you can identify SWAPBox members sharing your research/teaching interests and how to communicate with them in SWAPBox.

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Key resources for substance use teaching:information sheet

This information sheet lists key dvd, web sites and journals which social work academics might find useful when teaching substance use. They have been compiled by Sarah Galvani and Donald Forrester.

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Victoria Climbie Inquiry Data base online

This project makes the coded and categorised Climbie corpus available for search. The corpus includes all transcriptions from the 68 days of oral evidence. Suggestions for how to use the data as a learning and research resource are also included.

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International and Comparative Social Policy

Website produced by the ICSP sub group of the Social Policy Association. The website includes a range of resources for teaching International and Comparative Social Policy

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User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress – Part 3 - Promoting Recovery

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

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User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress - Part 2 – Finding Meaning in Distress Experiences

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

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User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress – Part 1 – Causes or Contributory Factors

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

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Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress – Part 3 - Promoting Recovery

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

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Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress - Part 2 – Finding Meaning in Distress Experiences

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

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Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress – Part 1 – Causes or Contributory Factors

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

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The Biomedical Model of Mental Distress – Part 3 - Promoting Recovery

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

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The Biomedical Model of Mental Distress - Part 2 – Finding Meaning in Distress Experiences

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

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The Biomedical Model of Mental Distress – Part 1 – Causes or Contributory Factors

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

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Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress - Part 3 – Promoting Recovery

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

> Read more...

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Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress - Part 2 – Finding Meaning in Distress Experiences

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

> Read more...

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Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress - Part 1 – Causes or Contributory Factors

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

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Social Perspectives on Mental Distress – Part 3 - Promoting Recovery

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

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Social Perspectives on Mental Distress – Part 2 - Finding Meaning in Distress Experiences

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

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Social Perspectives on Mental Distress – Part 1 – Causes or Contributory Factors

This video is one of a series that can be downloaded from this website. This series of videos explore different perspectives of mental distress. Mental health service users and carers posed questions to proponents of various approaches. The aim was to explore the views of the interviewees in relation to issues of promoting recovery, finding meaning in distress experiences and the causes and contributory factors related to mental distress. There are five perspectives explored in this series, they are Social Perspectives on Mental Distress, Cognitive Behavioural Perspectives on Mental Distress, Biomedical Model of Mental Distress, Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model of Mental Distress and User Carer Perspectives on Mental Distress. All 15 videos can be found in this resource.

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How to Upload an Existing OER to SWAPBox

This How to Guide explains how you can quickly and easily upload your existing learning materials to SWAPBox. It also includes information on licensing options.

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Introductory Presentation to Homeless Awareness Day 2010

This PowerPoint presentation was used to introduce Homeless Awareness Day in Belfast in 2010. These slides would be very useful for anyone thinking or setting up a similar type of day in the UK.

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The Practice Teaching Award and Community Practice Teacher Programme

This case study describes implementation of an interprofessional course for social work practice teachers and community nurse practice teachers to break down professional boundaries and share common good practice.The processes are described; the issues involved in gaining necessary resourcing is discussed, together with the need to develop a common language and concentration on the commonalities of the task of practice teaching. Differing levels of academic aspirations are also described.

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'Teaching Supervising and Learning In The Workplace' Course A short inter professional course for health and social care professionals leading to both professional and academic qualifications

This case study describes implementation of a short inter-professional course for health and social care professionals leading to both professional and academic qualifications. The students range from social work practice teachers, mentor training for nurses and midwives, community nurse practice teachers and occupational therapists and the aim is that they benefit learning alongside one another. This study looks at different ways in which learning takes place and appreciates the similarities in approach and setting across professional boundaries. Difficulties in admin support, obtaining the right professional mix and teaching staff are discussed, together with opportunities of extending the course overseas and to other professionals.

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Planning problem based learning opportunities for students in social work and nursing at Staffordshire: A case study in learning and teaching about assessment in social work education

This case study focuses on the initial planning of some joint teaching for social work and nursing students at the University of Staffordshire, using a Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach to teach the process of assessment. Five two-hour sessions are planned with each group having equal numbers of nursing and social work students. Not only will this provide opportunities for joint working at an early stage in their professional training, but it is envisaged that it will lead to improved skills in professional problem identification and seeking out relevant information to answer questions raised by the scenarios. Factors which have facilitated this development are noted along with issues which need to be addressed in the planning of teaching multidisciplinary groups of students.

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Partnership in Practice: A Joint Training Initiative Between Social Work and Health

A case study is discussed of ‘joined-up training’ based on an initiative developed between the Medical School, the School of Social Work at the University of Leicester and nursing students from De Montfort University. It brings together trainee health professionals (doctors and nurses) and social workers in a joint investigation based around one GP practice in the city. The aim is to encourage students to work collaboratively with patients/service users, in understanding their perspective on the services provided.The paper draws attention to the potential benefit of this kind of collaborative initiative to agencies, training bodies, students and policy-makers; it concludes by suggesting that the gains identified suggest that this kind of opportunity should be incorporated more centrally into social work and other professional training courses.

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MA/PGDip/PGCert Child Welfare and Protection

This case study discusses the planning, progress and implementation of the validation of the MA Child Protection Pathway at the School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, for post-qualifying social workers and post-graduate health professionals. The proposal took full advantage of developments in work-based learning, learning agreements and the use of mentors. Development issues are discussed, together with reflection on how the course has progressed.

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Learning to Learn: the Collaborative Challenge of Partnership in Practice

This case study describes stage 1 of a two-part research project which aims to explore the impact of an innovative learning and assessment process. The BA (Hons) Social Work / BSc (Hons) Nursing & Social Work Studies module focuses on partnerships and participation in social work. The study aims to evaluate the contribution to collaborative and individual learning and to explore skill and knowledge development across and within professional boundaries.

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Interprofessional Education. An exploration of student and staff perspectives in the School of Education, Social Work and Community Education at the University of Dundee

This case study explores both the student and staff experience of two core modules delivered as part of the interprofessional/interdisciplinary year one learning and teaching for students in community education, teacher education and social work. The case study, drawn from an action research project, demonstrates that students experienced an initial disorientation which was exacerbated by complex subject areas not seen as relevant by the students. By contrast, the focus on human development and psychology in practice was seen to be useful by the student cohort. Both staff and students felt that environmental factors influenced the quality of teaching on these modules. In general, both staff and students rated the quality of teaching, assessment and staff support as relatively high although there was a consensus that more interactive, task orientated approaches were most effective. Finally, there was both a staff and student view to suggest that interprofessional education is perceived as being more useful at a later stage of the students training beyond year one.

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Improving Interprofessional Communication and Working

This case study describes the use of a report into the death of a young child as a means of examining interprofessional communication and working with students.

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Embedding Practice Based, Interprofessional Education into the Curriculum

This case study discusses the early stages of implementing an interprofessional unit for level 2 nursing and level 3 social work students. The aim is to give them interprofessional practice experience of using a particular approach to improve client care. The support of line management is highlighted and emphasis is made of the time consuming process implementation will take. The need for practice based managers to understand the relevance is also discussed.

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"Other students are saying……………….": Harnessing peer feedback for a formative assessment task

This case study shows how informal peer consultation was turned into structured small peer group presentation and feedback in order to enable students to make an early start on part of their final assessment. The formative task required each student to present sources of evidence on five different perspectives on a social issue of their choice. Guided peer feedback, coupled with tutor feedback on referencing, was then used by students to develop their final written assignments. Outcomes and student feedback indicate that this is an approach worth further development.

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'When clinical is personal and learning is relational'

This case study is based on teaching practice which is being developed at The Family Institute (Cardiff). We are interested in the underlying principles and processes in the application of systemic ideas to wide areas of different forms of practice including social work, health services and education services across statutory, voluntary and private sectors and in particular in the training of family and systemic psychotherapists. This particular case study looks at how the 'practicum' can become a moment of transformation in education and development - a moment when light floods the arena. During one particular study day with a group of professionals reflecting on their experience of how language defines systems and how feedback influences change in relationships and depends on context, we were struck by the energy the conversation had generated and we became particularly interested in trying to find a vehicle where some of what was being described about practice 'out there' might be experienced 'live' in the here and now for students. This case study describes a role-play exercise as such as vehicle.

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‘We’re here tae make a difference’ – Involving a group of young people with experiences of care in the teaching of social work students

The group ‘A voice of reason’, which is comprised of young people with experiences of being in care, worked together with 60 first year social work students in a 3 hour session structured around two group exercises. The first exercise was about meeting and greeting, emphasising the importance of first impressions. The second exercise focussed on the qualities which make up the ideal social worker. This involved drawing around a person on a large sheet of paper and placing the ‘good’ qualities inside the body and the negative characteristics outside. The discussion generated during this process gives the student an insight into the lived experience of the young people.

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Using poetry to develop service user led learning materials for social work education

I have been leading a group of service users, tutors and social workers on the PQ in social work at London South Bank University in the use of poetry as a medium for expressing their creativity in learning. I wanted to invite tutors working with social workers following Leadership and Management and Practice Education Awards and practice assessors following the Enabling Others Unit to think about the relationships between service users, students and practice assessors.

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Using peer formative assessment with social work students

In this case study formative peer assessment was introduced on an essay that would eventually be submitted for summative assessment on a first year social work undergraduate social policy module. The aim was to promote students’ understanding of the assessment criteria and process in order to enhance their learning and achievement.

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Rude Old People: using drama to develop learning materials on sexuality and intimacy in later life

This project was an intergenerational initiative developed via a partnership between London South Bank University Faculty of Health and Social Care and ‘1st Framework, 3rd Thought’, an older people’s drama company. Through the use of drama and film making, a small group of social work students worked together with older actors and film makers over a period of two days. As a result they developed a digital resource of 16 short clips that can be used as stimulus material in teaching and learning in health and social care on the theme of intimacy and sexuality in later life.

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Post-qualifying specialist awards: approaches to enabling work-based learning in social work

A new programme unit was developed for inclusion in Post Qualifying Awards at the Specialist level to meet the revised GSCC requirements that all such awards should develop skills and knowledge that would prepare candidates to 'enable the learning of others'. The unit was designed to enable specialist social workers to provide basic support to a wide variety of learners in the workplace, equipping them to facilitate and assess the development of competency and develop an understanding of how they could also support 'learners' to develop the wider notion of professional capability.

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Poster presentations as an assessment method in Social Work education

This case study describes the experience of using posters for assessment and includes feedback from students.

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Plagiarism, 'controlled conditions' and the assessment of social work skills in 'real time'

The aim of this case study was to devise a classroom exercise under 'controlled conditions' in an attempt to ensure that we were assessing social work students' own work, rather than something that they had found - or bought - on the internet. The aim was to stimulate learning beyond "acquisition of knowledge and skills" towards "changes in behaviour" (Barr et al 2000 cited in Carpenter, 2005) and the development of skills required of emerging social work practitioners.

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Personal and professional audit of social work students' core assumptions and values

This case study describes an exercise asking social work students to identify their core assumptions, beliefs, values, principles and ethics and resulting attitudes and behaviours that flowed from these.

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Person centred planning and involving service users at the University of Glasgow: A case study in learning and teaching about assessment in social work education

This case study focuses on the involvement of service users in learning and teaching about assessment and the context in which this occurs at the University of Glasgow. One of a number of methods of assessment taught to social work students is person centred planning. Learning takes place through students participating in a series of exercises which can be used in person centred planning. In the final session, John, a service user, was introduced to the class and he explained how person centred planning had helped him take control of various aspects of his life. While this was a positive experience for both John and the students, the need for careful preparation prior to bringing service users into the classroom is essential.

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No more ‘NEEDS’: growing confidence and improving skills around sexuality in social work research, learning and practice

A national Special Interest Group called the Sexuality Symposium was established as a community of practice to enhance discourse and debate between practitioners, research, academics and students in social work. The Sexuality Symposium is a virtual and real support network aimed at providing mutual support, an increased knowledge base, growing confidence and enhancement of practice around sexuality.

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New admissions process for recruiting social work students

For the last year the school of health and social care has run a three stage assessment process for all social work candidates. These three stages are designed to measure a range of knowledge, skills and values relating to academic and work experience criteria.

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Mirror, mirror on the wall who enhances integration of learning most of all?

A pilot enquiry into the key moments, processes and people involved in the enhancement of student learning on a social work degree training programme.

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Maintaining standards for practice learning

This case study describes how we developed an interprofessional PGCert/PGDip/ MA: Education (Professional Practice Learning) as a pathway in the Integrated Masters Programme, Faculty of Education at University of Plymouth. The pathway has been accredited at GSCC PQ Higher Specialist Level and Advanced Level has been applied for. The pathway is open to anyone involved in supporting and/or assessing adults in their professional practice learning and would be of interest, for example, to social workers, clinical psychologists, health professionals and teachers.

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Learning to Learn: the Collaborative Challenge of Partnership in Practice

This case study describes stage 1 of a two-part research project which aims to explore the impact of an innovative learning and assessment process. The BA (Hons) Social Work / BSc (Hons) Nursing & Social Work Studies module focuses on partnerships and participation in social work. The study aims to evaluate the contribution to collaborative and individual learning and to explore skill and knowledge development across and within professional boundaries.

> Read more...

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Introducing students to a practice setting: university and field staff jointly evaluate students’ readiness for practice

This case study outlines an initiative between the University of Edinburgh and local social service agencies in which a pre-practice opportunity has been devised to develop students' awareness of service provision and to evaluate their readiness for practice.

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First year students learning community profiling skills

We met with students learning community profiling skills in focus groups during their first year in order to evaluate what they had learnt and the links they made between their learning and their understanding of the social work degree curriculum.

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Experiential Learning Online

A unit for Communication: Theory and Practice course for foundation year 'welfare practitioners' (undergraduate, post-graduate and employment-based trainee Social Workers and Youth and Community Workers) was developed in which online and experiential classroom based learning is integrated. The support from the institution is discussed, together with the need to conserve opportunities for small group work and experiential learning within the module. The author's reflections and key milestones are identified. Examples extracted from the course are given illustrating these milestones. Additional outcomes are also recognised and the question 'Can online learning contribute to a process that will enable the integration of theory and practice/ experience and further develop knowledge and professional competence? is also answered.

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Embedded teaching on assessment on the DipSW at the University of Southampton: A case study in learning and teaching about assessment in social work education

This case study demonstrates how the focus on learning and teaching about assessment is embedded into the DipSW curriculum at the University of Southampton. Beginning with the module Practice Methodologies prior to the first placement, learning about assessment continues until the end of the course. It is proposed that good practice requires assessment that is underpinned with theory and there is an expectation that will be able to articulate a general theory of assessment, not just a descriptive statement of how to do it.

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E-learning at Liverpool John Moores University: A case study in learning and teaching about assessment in social work education

Dr Derek Clifford produced a CD-rom Social Assessment: Applying Critical Auto/ Biographical Methods which he has used with both DipSW students and employees of a local authority social work department to facilitate learning about assessment. In this case study, Derek discusses the development and use of this CD-rom, and also other ways in which he has incorporated e-learning into his teaching about assessment, including email, Blackboard, Pro-Care and CCIS. Used together with other methods of teaching, it is proposed that e-learning can facilitate students developing an understanding of a holistic anti-oppressive analysis of social situations and to relate theoretical principles and basic skills to assessment of a complex case study.

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Creative collaboration - learning through art

This case study describes a day workshop for social work students attending Post Qualifying Child Care Award programmes, which was organised and run by the universities of Bristol and London (Royal Holloway) and The Hayward Gallery - a creative collaboration. The aim was to use an exhibition on prostitution and trafficking in women at The Hayward Gallery as the focus for an innovative workshop, using art to facilitate learning in an emotive and complex area of practice, and to provide the opportunity for social workers from London and the south west to study together, sharing feelings, practice experience, knowledge and ideas.

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Changing structure of whole course to allow part time study for own learning needs/carer needs/disabilities while still fitting in with rules for full time funding and graduation with cohort

We did not have approval for a part time course. When investigating this I came up with 2 startling ideas that might not be that startling to others. Firstly to do what is now a 3-year course part time would take 6 years. The second was that full time students only attend for about 27 weeks a year and are then off working for agencies. The challenge was to design something that allowed 3 days a week attendance over say 45 weeks per year. This would then fit in with our current approval and regulations, which states that a student completing a year's worth of modules within an academic year is classed as full time.

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Bilingual student opportunities for placements in Wales

A practice teacher working for Gwynedd County Council discusses the importance of language choice and the opportunities available in a mixed language community (Welsh and English) for social work students needing to develop their language sensitivity and anti-oppressive practice. Tensions regarding language can sometimes arise when working with service users and students are given an opportunity to employ their professional skills in challenging oppression and balancing differing rights, needs and opinions.

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Assessing practice learning in child and adolescent mental health

This case study describes how a practice assessment tool was developed and introduced for further and advanced pqsw courses in child and adolescent mental health at Anglia Ruskin University. The aim was to develop a useful tool that offers social workers a structured, evidence-based learning experience to improve practice with troubled young people.

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Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) for Employment Based Students

This case study describes the way in which students' prior experience is recognised on a social work degree. It explains the APEL process, the evidence students need to obtain and the modules gained through the process. It also describes initial outcomes for students.

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Work and professional development: embedding an international dimension to the social policy curriculum

This case study is one of four outputs created as the result of a funded project entitled ‘Thinking, learning and ‘doing’ international work experience’. this case study describes how a team of colleagues at Sheffield Hallam University added an international stream to a core level 2 degree module.

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Welfare systems - an introduction to comparative social policy: a problem based module

This first year module has changed its mode of delivery from the traditional lecture/seminar approach to a problem-based approach. This approach to learning is seen as equipping students with some models and regimes of comparative social policy early on in their university studies which encourages them to see different patterns of policy provision. By encouraging group work throughout the module, students are expected to work as a team, support and learn from one another.

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Using social policy research in teaching: students as researchers

This case study forms one of six submitted to SWAP to illustrate ways in which academics use social policy research in teaching. This initiative develops student appreciation of research/consultancy in the discipline and brings findings from staff research into teaching and learning into the curriculum.

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Using social policy research in teaching: age and gender discrimination

This case study forms one of six submitted to SWAP to illustrate ways in which academics use social policy research in teaching. This initiative develops learner appreciation of research/consultancy in the discipline by bringing data/findings from staff research/consultancy into a community training environment.

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Using social policy research in teaching: researching people with learning disabilities

This case study forms one of six submitted to SWAP to illustrate ways in which academics use social policy research in teaching. In this case study the lecturer uses teaching and learning processes which simulate research processes. She also uses assignments which involve elements of research processes and gives students first hand experience of research based consultancy.

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Using social policy research in teaching: sports policy and practice

This case study forms one of six submitted to SWAP to illustrate ways in which academics use social policy research in teaching. In this case study the lecturer is developing student appreciation of research/consultancy in the discipline by bringing data/findings from staff research/consultancy into the curriculum.

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Using reflective diaries within the context of a work and professional development module

This case study is one of four outputs created as the result of a funded project entitled ‘Thinking, learning and ‘doing’ international work experience’. This case study describes the process of students keeping a reflective diary for the duration of a level 5 ‘work and professional development’ module. They were expected to write up their reflections at the end of semester two via an electronic portfolio after they had carried out some form of work experience or work-related activity.

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Using peer formative assessment with social work students

In this case study formative peer assessment was introduced on an essay that would eventually be submitted for summative assessment on a first year social work undergraduate social policy module. The aim was to promote students’ understanding of the assessment criteria and process in order to enhance their learning and achievement.

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Using chat rooms within social policy education

The use of chatrooms on two level 3 modules, Children's Rights and Children's Rights Project are discussed. Student feedback is encouraging and the lecturer felt that the use of chatrooms and its informal approach aided in seeing what students were thinking and how they understood issues. An excerpt from student guidelines is also attached.

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Using social policy research in teaching: the politics of education policy in the UK

This case study forms one of six submitted to SWAP to illustrate ways in which academics use social policy research in teaching. In this case study the lecturer develops students' appreciation of research/consultancy in the discipline by using teaching and learning processes which simulate research processes. She also develops student research/consultancy skills by using assignments which involve elements of research processes.

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The Gameshow: Project and team work to develop interpersonal skills

For two modules on a social policy degree programme, a role-play approach has been adopted to break with formal tutorials. In the style of 'Shooting Stars' gameshow, students join teams divided into 'Kens' and 'Barbies' to debate a seminar topic. (Real dolls are used to indicate which team member is to talk and these must be passed around for one module). Points are awarded to teams throughout the debate. The seminar questions are non-assessed formative essay questions and students must prepare prior to the seminar. Feedback on this approach is shown from students and the lecturer. An excerpt from the student guidelines is also attached. It should be emphasised that there is increased student participation and the sessions tend to be quite manic and ad hoc.

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Target recruitment for under-represented groups in social policy and criminology

An account of a special project aimed at addressing recruitment and retention of 16-18 year old students onto both Social policy and Criminology courses at Hull University. It summarises the problems identified at Hull and specific activities piloted to deal with them, initiated by the university's Marketing and Communications department and developed with the Department of Comparative and Applied Social Sciences. It provides a framework with which departments running similar courses can assess their own situation.

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Stimulus response assessment in a health policy module in social policy

The revalidation of this institution's BA (Hons) Social Policy award was designed to expose students to a wider range of assessments. The 10-credit 2nd year module 'Health Policy' uses stimulus response. This comprises 4 weighted sections. Each contains a short extract or quote, which acts as a stimulus for students. Each of these in turn has a number of questions attached. Some of these relate directly to the extract, others require students to develop arguments, read more widely, find new material or relate the extract to wider issues. The implementation and feedback is discussed, and a copy of the assessment is included.

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Sentencing Policy

This case-study describes the use of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) known as LEARN to provide an information base for students studying a criminology module. The aim is to use the facilities offered by e-learning to provide students with a large amount of text-based information in an accessible form and to offer an interactive online exercise on sentencing policy for follow-up discussion in seminar groups.

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Presenting social policy material using mind maps

This is a very simplistic attempt to get students to think about some of the different areas they have studied within a unit and to encourage them to think about how these might link up. Students may also find these useful in making links between levels as well as between units and are a good way of helping some to put their degree in context. This can help encourage the application of theories and concepts learned in one unit to other units and can encourage more insightful work from those who are able to make these links. Students usually produce far more complex mind maps, but something fairly basic, such as this example, usually works as a starting point

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Multiple choice assessment on a 'Government and Institutions' module

First year social policy students were found to have gaps in their foundational factual knowledge of a module entitled 'government and institutions' which created barriers to more advanced work in subsequent modules. A one-hour multiple choice exam has been developed as part of the assessment. Student feedback is positive and the teaching benefits are that it builds student confidence early on whilst also allowing staff to identify any early problems. A few questions are attached to indicate the level of understanding required. Further developments have occurred.

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International work experience (abroad)

This case study is one of four outputs created as the result of a funded project entitled ‘Thinking, learning and ‘doing’ international work experience’. Fifteen students elected to join the international stream of a Work & Professional Development module. Of these, three students went overseas to New York for one week and were accompanied by SHU staff. This case study reviews this short international work experience abroad. SHU students took with them projects they needed to carry out in order to fulfil the module’s assessment requirements. These projects were concerned with work-related activity (i.e.the students themselves became researchers, or, the topic under scrutiny was either something they had prior work experience in or was an area that International work experience they were interested in developing as a possible career area).

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Integrating Personal Development Planning (PDP) into a module for first year Sociology students

This case study describes the process of introducing personal development planning into a first year module of a Sociology degree, the activities undertaken and the lessons learned from working with the first cohort who took the module.

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Assessment Feedback PowerPoint for Lecturers and Tutors

In response to the findings of a research project exploring student perceptions of assessment feedback we created a PowerPoint presentation which colleagues could easily embed in lectures and/or seminars. In addition, the Department of Policy Studies decided to add guidance about the purpose of assessment feedback to the coursework presentation and marking guide. Students were also provided with the opportunity to have a one-to-one feedback session with members of academic staff about their work and the assessment feedback provided.

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Improving student perceptions of assessment feedback

This case study reports on the use of a PowerPoint presentation on Assessment Feedback which lectures and tutors at the University of Lincoln could embed in lectures and/or seminars.

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Employing computer conferencing at undergraduate level

This paper discusses the implementation of FirstClass computer conferencing for a second-year undergraduate module over the last six years which has proved challenging for both tutor and student. Asynchronous interaction has aided group collaborative work and the process of the collaboration has been made visible to tutors. Although time-consuming, much has been learned about the process of introducing computer conferencing and what can be expected. Giving students a structure has aided their online discussion and also by dividing them into groups. Emphasis is now on group work rather than the technological aspects of using this type of technology.

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Developing learning and personal skills through the social policy curriculum

In response to institutional requirements regarding the additional curriculum and changing student needs, the social policy teaching team designed a level 1 module which integrated the development of transferable and employability skills with subject specific knowledge and study. While retaining a skills focus, it was tightly structured around conceptual, theoretical and practice-related issues: poverty and social exclusion. Students worked in small ALGs, received supporting lectures and a module handbook. Student feedback was positive even though the workload was relatively demanding. Staff saw cohesion within the student body and also an excellent relationship between staff and students.

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Desk based students and international issues

This case study is one of four outputs created as the result of a funded project entitled ‘thinking, learning and ‘doing’ international work experience’. This case study reviews the desk based international experience implemented by colleagues delivering the international stream. The main aim was to enable desk-based students an opportunity to develop their work and professional development skills and interests around an international perspective. In effect, we wanted to internationalise these students’ experiences without them having to travel.

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Using Social Policy Research in Teaching

A collection of six case studies on 'Using Social Policy Research in Teaching' conducted in 2007. It is hoped that the six case studies will stimulate thinking and ideas for integrating research into teaching and learning activities. The case studies represent a snapshot of the tools and techniques employed by lecturers in social policy to illuminate their own and others' research within their teaching in ways that enhance students' learning experiences and equip them to become research minded and research active. They also show how engagement with what might be seen as 'dry' or 'difficult' policy can be highly enjoyable as well as rewarding.

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Using social policy research in teaching: comparative social policy and social transfer

This case study forms one of six submitted to SWAP to illustrate ways in which academics use social policy research in teaching. In this case study the lecturer develops students' appreciation of research/consultancy in the discipline by using teaching and learning processes which simulate research processes. She also uses assignments which involve elements of research processes and gives students first hand experience of research based consultancy.

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Assessment of 'Theories of Welfare' using a VLE (Blackboard)

An automated assessment of a level 2 unit entitled 'Theories of welfare' was used for 20% of the unit's assessment. The institution was encouraging the use of Blackboard as a VLE. A set of 'gateway' multiple choice questions were offered and which had to be answered correctly to enter the next stage. Students had to attempt all five comprehension exercises on excerpts relating to each of the five theoretical topics. Although there were benefits to student learning in that the gateway questions developed foundation knowledge without penalising incorrect answers, the frustration encountered as technical problems occurred, together with the additional time needed meant that this form of assessment is no longer used.

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A worksheet exercise in comparative social policy

A staged problem-solving exercise was devised to enable students to make an assessment of whether Esping-Andersen categories or critiques of them aid understanding of differences in health care inputs/outputs in selected countries. The design is around a tutor-led workshop where students are provided with guidance through a set of notes and they work through exercises using statistical tables and referring to theoretical models. An excerpt from the worksheet is also given.

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Case-study: A Tutors’ Manual for Graduate Teaching Assistants teaching Social Policy

This Tutors' Manual was prepared in 2003 for The School of Social and Political Studies, University of Edinburgh. It covers a wide range of topics including preparing and spending time teaching, marking coursework, as well as administrative tasks and pastoral support.

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Younger students in social work education: our new 'non-traditional' students?

This report informs on the project 'Younger students in social work education: our new 'non-traditional' students?. The report includes the following sections: 'Introductory Comments', 'Project Aims','Project outcomes','Future plans' and 'Concluding comments'.

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Teaching, learning and assessing communication skills with children and young people: Developing the social work qualifying curriculum

This project report informs on a SWAP-funded project 'Teaching, learning and assessing communication skilss with children and young people: Developing the social work qualifying curriculum'. It includes the following sections: 'Background to the dissemination project', 'The aims of the dissemination project', 'The first workshop', 'Follow-up from the first workshop', 'The second workshop' and 'Evaluation and review of the project'.

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Social Work Law in Practice - a research project to explore social work students’ law learning on practice placement

In 2005 SWAP funded eight projects in social policy and social work education designed to promote the use of effective learning, teaching and assessment activities; to encourage the development and sharing of innovative approaches and to raise awareness of the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of educational methods. The following is the final report Social Work Law in Practice: a research project to explore social work students’ law learning on practice placement.

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Participating and Learning - Citizen Involvement in Social Work Education in the Northern Ireland Context - A Good Practice Guide

This guidance is designed to complement established good practice initiatives in the involvement of service users and carers in Social Work training on Degree programmes in Northern Ireland. Based on research conducted with service users, carers, students, agency and academic partners, the guide focuses on the key values which need to accompany such involvement as well as including case studies of good practice to show how service users and carers have been effectively involved to date at all levels of social work training in Northern Ireland.

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Integration of Practice Learning and Personal Development Planning in Social Work Education: Critical Reflection on Key Issues

In 2005 SWAP funded eight projects in social policy and social work education designed to promote the use of effective learning, teaching and assessment activities; to encourage the development and sharing of innovative approaches and to raise awareness of the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of educational methods.

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Interprofessional Education

In 2005 SWAP funded eight projects in social policy and social work education designed to promote the use of effective learning, teaching and assessment activities; to encourage the development and sharing of innovative approaches and to raise awareness of the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of educational methods. Interprofessional Education is a report from the Learning from Lives project.

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Integrated Children's Services in Higher Education (ICS-HE) - Evaluating practice to support learning for new roles

The aim of this funded project was to develop an understanding of the needs of both students and their work-based learning mentors in settings where the student is aiming to demonstrate the underpinning principles and theories of integrated practice. By gaining an insight into these needs the project sought to identify key issues that can contribute to appropriate work-based support for student learning in new roles. An additional specific outcome was to identify and develop appropriate resources that would support a critical understanding of the Integrated Children’s Services agenda in practice settings associated with a Foundation Degree (Working with children, young people and their families).

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The Impact of Work Based Learning on Students’ Understanding of Citizenship and their Role in the Community

In 2005 SWAP funded eight projects in social policy and social work education designed to promote the use of effective learning, teaching and assessment activities; to encourage the development and sharing of innovative approaches and to raise awareness of the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of educational methods. The following is the final report The Impact of Work Based Learning on Students’ Understanding of Citizenship and their Role in the Community.

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An investigation of group learning on practice placements

This project report discusses the results of a research study into group learning in social work student practice placements in Northern Ireland. The research was carried out during 2002, and made use of quantitative and qualitative methods to collect data. The report includes a literature review, methodology, findings, discussion and summary of conclusions.

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Diversity and Achievement: An Evaluation of Support for Learning

This project report informs on a research study into the experience of first year undergraduate students on an Applied Social Studies Programme. The objective of the project was to gain an understanding of factors that contribute to the support, development of learning, progression and retention of a diverse range of non-traditional entry first year students in order to be able to create appropriate and meaningful changes to learning and teaching support for learning strategies. The report includes background information, methodology, research findings and outlook.

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Exploring student perceptions of assessment feedback

This project report presents and discusses findings from research undertaken into the perceptions of level 2 and level 3 Department of Policy students on receiving feedback. The study furthermore looked at how the students were receiving and using feedback. The report includes literature review, methodology, results and recommendations.

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Examining the Impact of PBL on Surface and Deep Approaches to Learning: Final Report on SWAP Funded Project 2006

This is the final project report of a 2006 SWAP-funded project on 'Examining the Impact of PBL on Surface and Deep Approaches to Learning'.

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Information Literacy provision for Social Work

This is the project report of a project conducted in 2003/2004 on Information Literacy provision for Social Work.

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Skills Development and Theorising Practice in Social Work Education

In 2005 SWAP funded eight projects in social policy and social work education designed to promote the use of effective learning, teaching and assessment activities; to encourage the development and sharing of innovative approaches and to raise awareness of the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of educational methods. The following is the final report of the project Skills Development and Theorising Practice in Social Work Education.

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How to Modify your Profile on SWAPBox Guide

This step-by-step user guide explains how to modify your profile on SWAPBox and how completing certain fields contributes to building the SWAPBox online community. It also recommends other guides that may be of interest to SWAPBox users.

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How to Register on SWAPBox Guide

This step-by-step user guide explains how to register on SWAPBox and recommends which other guides might be of interest to SWAPBox users.

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Teaching Social Work Research Methods A Blended Learning Approach

This short A4 guide illustrates an enquiry-based blended learning design used to encourage learning and teaching around research skills for social work. Its aim is to describe the learning design and encourage discussion about this type of learning and teaching approach. This flexible enquiry-based blended learning design was created to improve student engagement in the development of research skills and knowledge. The primary aim was to develop a more responsive teaching and learning approach to promote deeper learning outcomes. Evaluation of previous teaching identified two primary issues that needed addressing in order to engage students more effectively in learning around research. Firstly, the postgraduate students came to the module with different levels of previous knowledge and understanding. Some had significant prior knowledge of research methods and experienced material as repetitive or simplistic whilst those whose knowledge of research was limited found some of the material hard to access and understand; this resulted in students becoming disengaged from the learning process. Secondly the research teaching occurred early in the programme, and some considerable time before the students became engaged in independent research for their dissertations. A flexible approach was required that could be used over a 12–18 month period.

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Diversity in Social Work Practice A Blended Learning Design

This short A4 guide illustrates an enquiry-based blended learning design used to encourage learning and teaching about issues of diversity, values and skills in social work. Its aim is to describe the learning design and encourage discussion about this type of learning and teaching approach. A mixture of face-to-face and online lectures (using the Echo360 lecture capture system), a Workbook, online video case studies and community-based EBL group work activities (27 groups of 3) were used in this blended learning design. The aim of the module was to provide students with opportunities to reframe and reinterpret existing knowledge, values and beliefs to assess the impact these may have on their professional practice when working with diverse communities.

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Mental Health Collaborative Learning Initiative A Blended Learning Design

This short A4 guide illustrates an enquiry-based blended learning design used to encourage learning and teaching between students from related social care and health disciplines. Its aim is to describe the learning design and encourage discussion about this type of learning and teaching approach. It is recognised that the delivery of interdisciplinary services provide the most effective outcomes for mental health service users and carers (MHSUC). However, a lack of teaching space, timetabling difficulties, differing curriculum requirements etc can prevent qualifying social and health care students from learning together with MHSUC to develop the skills and knowledge required for effective interdisciplinary post-qualification practice. The aim of this design was to creatively overcome issues of time and space and to embed active MHSUC engagement with students. The objective of the initiative was to promote effective interdisciplinary learning. Initially the Learning Initiative was with Nursing and Social Work students, however it is planned to incorporate Clinical Psychology students and Senior House Officer Medics in the near future.

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Child Protection Processes A Blended Learning Design

This short A4 guide illustrates an enquiry-based blended learning design used to teach Child Protection Processes. Its aim is to describe the learning design and encourage discussion about this type of learning and teaching approach. This learning design aimed to provide social work students with the underpinning knowledge, skills and experiences required to operate within the child protection (CP)process from referral through to child protection conference (CPC). A blended learning design was created centered around an incrementally developing problem based case study. Using a mixture of face-to-face teaching, online enquiry-based activities and role-play, students were able to develop the planning, recording, assessing, communicating and presenting skills required to respond to a CP referral, plan an investigation and prepare a report for a CPC.

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Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 Video only

Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 Video only Why did the government introduce a Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act in 2004? Members of Dudley Carers in Partnership explore the impact that the caring role can have on all aspects of their life. They invite you to follow the experiences of someone without caring responsibilities, a carer with support, and finally a carer without support. The aim of the video is to help you explore: The carer’s role How caring impacts on all aspects of their life Whether carers can ever have equal opportunities You are encouraged to think about: What can be done to support carers How being aware of a carers role can inform your own work and development This video resource has been created in unison with mental health carers, practitioners and members of the CEIMH team.

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Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004

Why did the government introduce a Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act in 2004? Members of Dudley Carers in Partnership explore the impact that the caring role can have on all aspects of their life. They invite you to follow the experiences, through some exercises, of someone without caring responsibilities, a carer with support, and finally a carer without support. The aim of the video is to help you explore: The carer’s role How caring impacts on all aspects of their life Whether carers can ever have equal opportunities You are encouraged to think about: What can be done to support carers How being aware of a carers role can inform your own work and development This video resource has been created in unison with mental health carers, practitioners and members of the CEIMH team.

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Bad interview and listening skills

Good listening skills, appropriate body language and respect are all important factors in the development of social care practice, this case study illustrates the opposite of these skills. In this case study you are introduced to Nicki and Gena. Listen to Gena's verbal interaction and watch her body language to gauge her overall engagement with Nicki. Use this case study to identify the changes the Gena should make to improve her practice. The aim of this trigger is to create and develop discussion around assessing potentially difficult mental health situations.

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Unprofessional Conduct

Unprofessional conduct - Holly Case Study This video case study illustrates a worker placing themselves at risk and committing a number of unprofessional mistakes. Chris carries out a home visit to Holly. See if you can spot the elements of unprofessional behaviour demonstrated by Chris. Can identify the issues that may put Chris at risk in this scenario? The purpose of this trigger is to create and develop discussion around professional conduct and awareness of safety when dealing with potentially difficult mental health situations.

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Case study: children, families and child protection

This case has been designed as a focus for learning about the legal, ethical and practice issues emerging from a child protection case scenario. As the case moves from allegations of abuse to planning for permanent care, learners can be asked to interpret and assess an unfolding scenario of complex need and to consider a variety of responses designed both to promote the welfare of the three children and ensure parents’ rights are actively considered. The case study consists of five short video clips representing the case at different points in time and offering the different perspectives of key players in the case: an anonymous caller; social workers involved in the initial investigation; a neighbour; a foster carer; and Jasmine Donnelly the thirteen year old daughter of Sharon Donnelly.

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Communication. Key concepts in verbal, non-verbal and written communication for the Practice Learning Qualification.

This learning object introduces Practice Learning Qualification (PLQ) candidates to key concepts and theories relating to communication within the contexts of education, health and social services. It uses the specific context of practice learning within social work education to introduce and explore the themes of verbal, non-verbal and written communication, and communication across diverse situations. In particular it highlights the values and techniques involved in giving and receiving feedback during professional practice learning.

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Crisis intervention. A framework for professional practice. Multimedia learning object

The aim of this learning object is to promote understanding of the key aspects of the crisis intervention model and explore its application to practice.

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Case study: criminal justice and domestic violence

The aim of this multimedia learning object is to familiarise students with the framework, key principles and statutes surrounding social work intervention with families and adult offenders

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Effective engagement in social work education

This web-based guide contains evidence-based examples of good practice and is intended to support universities and colleges to engage effectively with people who use services and carers in their social work and social care training.

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Tackling volatile substance abuse in Scotland

This training programme for the social care workforce includes detailed information about solvent and volatile substance abuse, together with a range of materials that you will be able to download and refer to again and again. This site also contains audio interviews, videos, factsheets and in-depth training materials that you’ll be able to take away and use in the training of others. The course is designed for use by staff within Scottish social work departments. These staff may not necessarily be trained in substance misuse issues, but they may be best placed to screen individuals who are vulnerable to substance misuse or to recognise those currently using substances and thereby support the assessment process of individuals.

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Involving Service Users and Carers in Interdisciplinary Education

This resource helps educators consider two primary issues of service user and carer involvement in social work education: 1. Student selection 2. Student assessment The aim of this resource is to help you explore issues of service user and carer involvement in interdisciplinary education from their perspective.

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Virtual Placement

This package has been created to help social work students prepare for "live" practice learning opportunities by exploring the nature of good practice. The multimedia approach adopted by this package places students in a wood, they are expected to navigate their way around seven trees that help them explore issues of: self-knowledge knowing and learning becoming and being a professional communicating collaboration and conflict making decisions and evaluating and reflecting The wood the students navigate has been designed to re-create situations, dilemmas and responses that can occur in live practice learning opportunities, the aim is to help the students (as explorers) consider the nature of good practice and to rehearse it.

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Human rights and the UK Human Rights Act

An audio and video based introduction to human rights. It charts the origins of human rights back to the United States Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution, setting the UK Human Rights Act 1998 in historical context. It also helps the lea

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What makes for good practice learning? The student perspective

This digest is for social work students undertaking practice learning. The advice that follows is drawn directly from student responses to a survey conducted at a British Association of Social Workers (BASW) student conference. They provide a rich source of tips based on first hand experience which is why they have been presented without alteration or supplementary comment. SWAP would like to thank BASW and all the students involved for their contributions.

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Using Lectures to engage Social Policy Students

Vanessa Cookson talks about her experience of good social policy lectures as an undergraduate student, while Zoe Irving offers ideas for engaging lecturers perspective.

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Social work and substance use: teaching the basics

This guide to teaching and learning has been written for lecturers and tutors working within social work education. The guidance and activities can be used at both qualifying and post qualifying levels and across a range of modules and practice learning opportunities. It is not intended to be a prescriptive guide, simply a way to support social work educators seeking to increase or consolidate their current teaching and learning in relation to alcohol and other drugs.

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This list was generated on Sat Nov 23 02:11:56 2024 UTC.