Introducing our annual Practice Educator Learning Partnership (PELP) conference as part of the Pan Dorset Teaching Partnership. We are hosting this event at the Executive Business Centre at Bournemouth University and look forward to welcoming you!

This event is open to all qualified and training practice educators as well as those supporting social work students in a placement supervisor role.

Event - Practice Education: leading change and making connections

The roles of practice educator and placement supervisor are central to student learning and we are looking at how this can bring a broader focus to professional development through critical engagement, action for change and professional leadership. The focus of this conference is on how practice education can support the 'purpose' and 'impact' aspects of our profession. We have brought together themes which help us look at how practice education can play a role in developing professional leadership in students, and help foster change-making in both our own practice, for students, teams and organisations.

As practice educators and supervisors we have a central role in helping student social workers develop into critically engaged and critically questioning practitioners, with the ability to demonstrate appropriate autonomy and professional leadership through their practice. For many students, they do not always see their potential to influence and shape social work practice for the future for the benefit of service users, communities and the organisations they work within. This draws upon the "impact" and "purpose" elements of the PCF domains.

We can create opportunities, model ways of engaging students in service improvement, and encourage their professional curiosity to provide 'fresh eyes' for our organisations and working cultures. At a time where our profession has seen many challenges and changes, not least through the pandemic and funding pressures, we are in a unique position where we can take a lead in fostering professional leadership. We can consider ways we can support students to take a broader focus to their practice and see the possibilities for creating impact in communities, with people with lived experience, and in society.

Overview:

The day will have two key note speakers and the opportunity to engage in facilitated workshops to discuss themes and network with each other.

Morning session:

Registration 9.30

Welcome and update 10.00 - Annie Draper (BCP) - core updates around practice education and PEPS.

Keynote - we are joined by Jeanette Sutton from Research in Practice to consider "Co-Production in Practice." The keynote speaker will talk about how involvement can be facilitated, how we can use this to create positive impacts in practice, also considering the topic of intersectionality by drawing on her own research. (Information about speaker - https://www.researchinpractice.org.uk/adults/news-views/2022/april/evidence-and-social-care-future/ )

Workshop

12.30 - 13.30 lunch

During lunch break - some demonstrations from staff at BU on the use and application of technology to enhance skill development for students via virtual simulation tools.

Afternoon session 13.30 - Ros Dray (BU) will lead the keynote in the afternoon in collaboration with student / practitioner contributors. We will be considering how we address the 'purpose' and 'impact' elements of social work through the PCF in practice learning experiences, and how we develop this capability in students. We will use workshops to consider and share ideas on fostering this within our own practice and organisations with examples shared by students and practitioners.

Workshop

Plenary 3.30

Close 16.00

Details:

Please note some refreshments will be provided but lunch is not provided at this event.

This event is being held on the 2nd floor of the EBC building. Parking is available locally for those travelling by car. Trains and buses are available. Please car share where possible.

This venue is accessible. Should you require specific access arrangements please contact Ros Dray on rosdray@bournemouth.ac.uk to discuss your requirements.

Registration will be at 9.30 in the main lobby on floor 2, with a 10.00 start in the lecture theatre. Lunch break will be 12.30-13.30 and close of the event will be at 16.00.

We look forward to welcoming you!

The Practice Educator Learning Partnership

Practice Education - leading change and making connections