Group 3.3 “Social work education, skill training and professional competence”

Contents Introduction Introduction Practical training: commonalities and differences Practical training: commonalities and differences Empowerment in relation to practical training Empowerment in relation to practical training Remarks Remarks

Introduction Social Work as a social science must combine theoretical knowledge with practical experiences as fundamental key concepts. By comparing with other countries new ideas and suggestions emerge for improvement in the specific aspect of education.

Practical training: commonalities and differences

Duration ITALY Anna Maria, Valentina GREECEEratòESTONIADagmarROMANIASimonaMACEDONIABertinaLATVIAAlina First level degree: 3 years 3 years(+2) 4 years First level degree: 3 years 3 years(+2) 4 years 4 years 4 years 4 years 1 st year:125h 2 nd year:200h 3 rd year:250h The student decides the timetable. 2 nd year:150h 3 rd year:300h 4 th year:150h (additional 720h in last semester) 1 ° module: 320h observational; 2 ° module:320h participative; 3°module:320h special practice (not compulsory). 1 ° year:60 h 2 ° year:60 h 3 ° year:60h Flexible timetable. In between 2 nd and 3 rd year, during summer: 1 month:160h.2 nd year:160h observational; 4 th year: 320h participative.

ITALY Anna Maria, ValentinaGREECEEratòESTONIADagmarROMANIASimonaMACEDONIABertinaLATVIAAlina 1 st /2 nd year: University decides; 3 rd year: the student can propose. Students choose from list, finally University decides. Last semester students decide the placement. Students decide. Students decide from a list, they can also propose. Students decide. Students choose, but when in doubt the University suggests. Choice of placement

ITALY Anna Maria, Valentina GREECEEratòESTONIADagmarROMANIASimona MACEDONI A BertinaLATVIAAlina 2 supervisors: 1 st supervisor at university; 2 nd supervisor at placement. Cooperation university/ placement supervisors. 2 times during the practice semester the supervisor of the university meets the supervisors of the placements all together. External supervisor: organizes group- works for students at the university - compulsory. Cooperation university/ placement supervisors. Cooperation between placement and external supervisor. External supervisor: organizes group-works for students once a week - compulsory. No cooperation university/ placement supervisors. Collaboration between university ’ supervisor and students. Cooperation university/ placement supervisors. University ’ supervisor meets the students once a week during the practice time. No cooperation university/ placement supervisors. Students individually cooperate with the university ’ supervisor. No cooperation between university ’ and placement ’ supervisors. Collaboration between university ’ supervisor and students - compulsory once a week. External supervisor can be provided for additional payment. Supervision

ITALY Anna Maria, Valentina GREECEEratòESTONIADagmarROMANIASimonaMACEDONIABertinaLATVIAAlina Contract between University and Placement. Insurance of students is provided Contract between student and University. Contract agreement

ITALY Anna Maria, Valentina GREECEEratòESTONIADagmarROMANIASimona MACEDO NIA BertinaLATVIAAlina Daily diary about the concrete activities/tasks of the student (compulsory.) Individual self- reflection with the support of the placement ’ and the external supervisors. Depending on the external supervisor there is a daily dairy about activities/tasks of the student. Individual self- reflection with the support of the placement ’ and the external supervisor. Daily diary about tasks/ emotions/cases at the placement (compulsory.) Individual self-reflection with the support of the placement ’ supervisor. Daily diary (not compulsory.) Individual self- reflection. No diary. Individual self- reflection with the support of the placement ’ supervisor. Daily or weekly diary about tasks/emotions/ conflicts/suggestion (compulsory.) Individual self- reflection sometimes with the support of the external supervisor. Diary and self- reflection

ITALY Anna Maria, ValentinaGREECEEratòESTONIADagmarROMANIASimonaMACEDONIABertinaLATVIAAlina Approach depends on placement ’ s supervisor choice Methods/ techniques depend on organization/ institution/ agency culture/ way of working; approach depends on theoretical courses of the year method/ technique: case-group- community work/intervie ws/team work/ home visits do not emphasize theories, focus is on methods, skills; method/ technique: case-group- community work/interviews / team work/ social research/ home visits approach depends on supervisors education and organization developmental level; method/tech nique: case-family s.w./ group- community work/interviews /home visits/ team work. approach is not used now, but is developed; method/tec hnique: no specific methods, but s.w. use community work and family work do not emphasize theories; method/tech nique: case work/ interviews/ home visits/ sometimes group work- community work/ rarely team work. approach depends on supervisors education and organization developmental level method /technique: case-family sw, group- community work/ interviews/ home visits/ rarely team work. Approaches and methods

ITALY Anna Maria, Valentina GREECEEratòESTONIADagmarROMANIASimona MACEDONI A BertinaLATVIAAlina Students task: 1. paper case analyses; 2. paper report of all practice; 3. self-evaluation; Placement supervisor: open form of evaluation (activity, motivation, initiative, personal recourses) university supervisor: oral examination based on placement supervisors evaluation; approved/ not approved Students task: 3 cases (process, activities, future actions); self-evaluation; Placement supervisor: evaluation (activity); neutral/ external supervisor: evaluation (more analytical) and gives marks 1-10 Students task: 1. description of organization; 2. overview of practice tasks, 3. case analyses; 4. self-evaluation Placement supervisor: Partly open form of evaluation (activity, motivation, initiative, personal – inner recourses); university supervisor: individual presentation/ discussion; marks: A-F based on placement supervisor ’ s evaluation and university supervisor ’ s opinion after presentation. Students task: 1. paper case analyses; 2. paper report of all practice; 3. self- evaluation; Placement supervisor: Short evaluation paper (activities); university supervisor: oral examination and students presentation marks: 1-10 given by university supervisor Students task: 1. paper case analyses; 2. paper report of all practice activities; Placement supervisor: Short evaluation paper (activities); university supervisor: oral examination based on placement supervisors evaluation; approved/ not approved Students task: 1. paper case analyses; 2. diary; Placement supervisor: Short evaluation paper (questionnaire made by university); university supervisor: oral examination and individual presentation/ discussion; marks: 1-10 given by university supervisor Evaluation

Empowerment ITALY AnnaMaria, Valentina GREECEEratòESTONIADagmarROMANIASimonaMACEDONIABertinaLATVIAAlina Depends on student initiative/ (placement and university) supervisors work/ structure and culture of organization/ institution/ agency;

Empowerment Empowerment is connected with self-help and with the participation of individuals, students and communities in decisions that affect them. Wish to participate S.W. /Supervisor Client needs help from S.W Student needs help from S.W/Supervisor

Elements of student’s involvement  Positive Environment, a necessity for student involvement more “power” access student involvement more “power” access  Freedom to express opinion  Give positive criticism become more creative

 University and Placement have to share values and similar ideas. That way they can be open during the share values and similar ideas. That way they can be open during the practical training in order to help practical training in order to help students to be self-directed students to be self-directed  Better collaboration between University and Student and University and Student and Placement share feedback Placement share feedback

 Motivation is vital it promotes independence from hierarchical independence from hierarchical control control  Propose changes in your Placement

 Constructing the knowledge and capacity to achieve a critical capacity to achieve a critical perspective perspective  Focus on alternative solutions and views views

 Doubt and challenge the Educational system  Become aware of your personal resources and then use them

 Peer empowerment, a good aspect to develop  Increase level of awareness  Demand on access to information, involvement in decision-making/ processes

ALL THE ABOVE PROVE THAT: With empowerment social work education (practical training) is more efficient, effective. Participation combined with continuous improvement is encouraged.

References  Adams, Dominelli & Payne (eds) ed) Social Work:Themes, Issues and Critical Debates. Macmillan Press LTD.London - Chapter 9: Personal and Professional Development (Joyce Lishman) - Chapter 9: Personal and Professional Development (Joyce Lishman)  Dalrymple, J & Burke B (1995) Anti-Oppressive Practice.Social Case and the Law. Open University Press. Buckingham -Chapter 7: Empowerment -Chapter 7: Empowerment  Payne, Malcolm( ed) Modern Social Work Theory.Macmillan Press LTD. London - Chapter 14: Empowerment and Advocacy