Mandy Cowden (CLARE) Tina O’Reilly (Extern) Practice Learning Opportunities in the Third Sector: Community Development and Empowerment in North Belfast Mandy Cowden (CLARE) Tina O’Reilly (Extern)

PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION Practice Learning in the Voluntary Sector very much relies on partnership and collaboration. Extern are a Designated Practice Learning provider and we are funded by NISCC to represent the voluntary sector on practice learning forums through our VOCALs contract, which stands for Voluntary Organisations Communication and Learning Service. Along with our fellow designated providers we are committed to supporting and promoting practice learning across the voluntary sector. We have an Associate Practice Learning Provider agreement with Clare with whom we have had a successful partnership for a number of years providing excellent practice learning opportunities for social work students. We are responsible for the allocation and overall co-ordination of these placements. As a result I was practice teacher for a level three student who recently completed a P.L.O with Clare and so I will discuss this experience.

Feedback from the Service User about the Student and CLARE This is a service user’s experience of CLARE. He is 81 years old and lives alone; he has had a relatively new Parkinson’s diagnosis. Since my Parkinson’s diagnosis CLARE has provided me with excellent company, people who share my sense of humour and treat me like a king with dignity and respect. Initially I was paired up with a student Social Worker. We did a piece of work together on a scrapbook. My scrapbook talks about my life growing up and my line of work. There are fantastic stories about the interesting people I met while travelling and living in London. My interests and hobbies are also mentioned including my love for motorbikes and good friendships. This was a fantastic idea as I can now pass it onto future generations and use it as a reflection piece of my life. More recently, I now have a male volunteer who calls weekly to visit me, he is great company and a face to look forward to; I am extremely grateful for this as I live alone and it is something to get me through the week. CLARE has lifted my spirit in the sense that I know this is an organization that are keen to support and encourage me to remain independent at home for as long as possible. In terms of my Parkinson’s diagnosis CLARE has facilitated me with important medical appointments which have allowed me to keep on top of my health conditions and be aware of what is expected to come in the future. They have not only provided transport for these appointments but have also provided a listening ear. I truly benefit from all the support CLARE provide for me and it is reassuring to know that there is always a familiar voice at the end of the phone. The staff have excellent communication skills and listen attentively to everything I say. They are a breath of fresh air and always brighten up my day!

Role of CLARE Community Social Worker Engage with clients to identify their assets and desired outcomes. Co-production, relationship building, prevention, not service or crisis led or time limited and strengths based. Connect to community assets and appropriate services including SDS to maximise independence and improve health and well-being. Collaborate and work across boundaries to deliver and expand an innovative, preventative, co-ordinated, person-centred service. Monitor and review the client journey and outcomes. Contribute to the development of social capital in communities.

Learning from CLARE There is a key role for social work in community early intervention which must be re-claimed or lost! Shift of relationships between service users, carers & social work; CO-PRODUCTION The value of early intervention and preventative, collaborative models versus crisis driven responses. NEW innovative models need supported. Meaningful authentic partnership between Social Work & Communities-Beyond the cost neutral referring to groups culture. Know and be known to your community. Measure outcomes with people using services - what works or doesn’t. Funding / resourcing-including funding to outcomes; re-investing savings back into community. SDS has great potential for older people and for community employment but needs to be more accessible. Promote social work and its ability/ duty to positively disrupt and contribute to addressing inequalities. When is a social worker not a social worker? When they are in the 3rd sector!

Practice Teacher Experience: Initial Reflections My first experience practice teaching a student working with the Clare Project Entire social work career within the voluntary sector Initial visit to the service (pre-placement) alongside the student Wealth of opportunities evident particularly in relation to Community Development Student needed experience of community development work to meet the practice learning requirement. In my experience meeting this requirement can require creativity and imagination from the team around the student- it was clear however that community development is present in everything that the Clare project do.

ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF EVIDENCE Work Undertaken INDIVIDUAL CASE WORK COLLABORATION WITH STATUTORY/ OTHER ORGANISATIONS INCLUDING SAFEGUARDING REMINISCENCE WORK APPRECIATIVE COLLABORATION (consultation group, Health and Social Care A-Level students) ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF EVIDENCE

New Understandings Needs of the community, impact of structural barriers, adversity, welfare reform, legacy of the NI troubles Greater understanding of ageing, application of theory to practice Frailty Social isolation Community resources/ barriers to engagement Importance of community

Skills Development Verbal and Non-verbal Communication Skills Active Listening Skills Group Work Skills (working with large groups) Presentation skills Written Communication and Report Writing Confidence building for the student. Very challenging as required a thorough understanding of the role and ethos of the organisation as well as the needs of the community.

Social Work Values Relationship-based Person-centred Practice Co-production (Service users with negative experiences of services) Social justice and empowerment Respect and partnership

Overall Reflection My job was very easy!!! Benefit of synthesis in terms of how Practice Learning Requirements are understood and assessed Untapped resources within communities Reinforcement of passion for social work in the third sector and contribution to practice learning Funding uncertainties Realisation that I tended to over-compartmentalise the practice learning requirements- seeing community development work as distinct from other opportunities gained through the placement, or sometimes an “add on.” Here community development was part of everything the student did- one-to-one work with individuals involved linking people in with the wider community, looking for community-based solutions to individual need, e.g. recruitment of volunteers