Effective assessment for the degree in social work SWAP with JUC-SWEC Care Council for Wales Scottish Social Services Council Northern Ireland Social Care Council General Social Care Council

Aim To promote the effective development and implementation of assessment strategies for the degree in social work that are fit for purpose (robust, reliable, valid and equitable)

Objectives To promote debate about the specific issues for assessment in social work education, in both university and practice learning To enable networking between external examiners To provide information about best practice in designing and implementing assessment strategies To enable networking between heads of programmes and/or programme assessment coordinators To identify common issues in assessing social work education to contribute to a publication to enhance best practice

Programme (morning) Introduction Programme assessment strategies, Professor Peter Hartley 11.00Panel: QAA, 4 UK CCs and SW Reform Board Coffee 12.00Discussion groups Lunch

Programme (afternoon) 13.30Themed discussions A - Ensuring the assignments test specified learning outcomes B - Assessing practice learning C - Specifying assessment criteria and grade descriptors D - Setting and maintaining standards Network discussions: EEs and programme/assessment leads 15.00Tea 15.15Closing plenary 16.00Finish and future actions

Morning discussion group What are the ingredients of a robust, reliable, valid and equitable assessment strategy for social work education? How can existing strategies best be enhanced and barriers to best practice overcome?

Discussion group rooms Group A: In this room (NB change to list) Group B: Meeting Room 1-2 Group C: Meeting Room 3 Group D: Meeting room 4

Afternoon discussion group A - Ensuring the assignments test specified learning outcomes (in this room) B - Assessing practice learning (Meeting room 1/2) C - Specifying assessment criteria and grade descriptors (meeting room 3) D - Setting and maintaining standards (meeting room 4)

Network discussions External Examiners (in this room) Programme/assessment leads (meeting room 1-2) Key messages to the other group about making assessment effective

Closing plenary Questions/ key points from themes discussion groups Messages/key points from network discussions Future action for different bodies Future collaborative work (e.g. guidance, audit tool)