Practice Educator experiences of holistic assessment using the

PCFPam Field – UCLAN

Cathie Jasper – MMUNOPT conference October 2014

Context of research• PCF and holistic assessment – basis for assessing

students on placement from 2013-14

• PCF – national standards; different local implementation

- Some HEIs moved to assessing all current students 2013-14; others just first placement students- Differing portfolio requirements within partnerships

• Holistic assessment – ‘different conceptual approach’ to assessment of students on placement (TCSW, 2012c, p.1)

Aims of research• Collaboration between two HEIs – MMU and

UCLAN – differing portfolio requirements. Aim – to maximise data and contrast and compare experiences

• Aims : to gain PEs’ views and experiences on:

• using the PCF to assess students, positive benefits and challenges

• Portfolio elements and requirements and their usefulness in underpinning PEs judgements

• Effectiveness of PCF in helping to identify and assess weaker aspects of student practice

Study designMMU - 36 PEs, onsite and offsite PE

UCLAN – 56 PEs , onsite and offsite PE

n = 22 participated (majority were ‘experienced’ PEs and Stage 2 off site PEs and this was their first experience of assessing under the PCF)

- Completion of electronic questionnaire (n = 22); detailed questions; free text responses

- Attendance at focus group (n = 9)

n = 26 participated (majority were ‘experienced’ PEs; 1/3rd were Stage 2; majority were on site PEs and this was NOT their first experience of assessing under the PCF)

- Completion of electronic questionnaire (n = 23): detailed questions, free text responses

- Attendance at focus group (n = 3)

PCF - positive comments…..• I have fully embraced the freedom of assessment

under the PCF’

• (feel positive about) ‘the opportunity to think more widely with students about their development as social workers’

• ‘it is a far better experience for me and the student’

 • ‘it has made the PE role more enjoyable and

allows for more reflective and analytical supervisions with students’

Emerging themes – shared 1. Applicability and flexibility of PCF2. Developmental nature of PCF – supporting

student learning and identifying weaker students3. Role of PCF in defining social work – as an

approach - and developing professional identity4. Reflection and supervision – the supporting trunk

of holistic assessment

…..the tree of holistic assessment

PCF…….the sun shining through the branches of a tree…..

Sun , growth and development (PCF); branches responding, reaching up and looking forward but need to pay attention to the roots and the stem for

continued healthy growth and development ; also , what is obscured, what is exposed

Applicability and flexibility of PCF• To different settings and to different studentsIncluding ‘non social work’ settings

• Student encouraged to engage with wider variety of work; less constraining than the Key Roles

it keeps the focus firmly on good practice and implementing theory within practice , which sometimes got a little lost in the frenetic pace of the key roles and scrabbling about for ‘suitable tasks’ to complete in order to tick a box

• Frees up the PE; focus on the learning journey; more enjoyable experience for PE

(Outliers - one in each group , PCF vague, broad and obscures specific social work skills)

Developmental nature of PCF • PCF as supporting student learning – domains

required reflection and analysis of practice

• PCF graded levels – focus on the flow of the learning journey

• Identifying, supporting and assessing weaker students – different emphasis

- MMU - support and tool for PEs to assess / fail - UCLAN - defining areas of strengths and for development with the student; PCF used constructively to map development‘it measures progress rather than achievement’‘it (the PCF) just encourages the students to identify themselves (what they are achieving)’

Social work as an approach and

developing professional identity

• Defining social work as an approach ; broad sense not as series of tasks

• PCF ‘opening up’ areas for students – encouraging reflection; wider engagement with areas of work

• PCF encouraged awareness and link to ongoing and future development

Reflection and supervision

• Focus, content and use of supervision had changed

• Student reflection and ‘talking through’ at the heart of supervision

‘It’s an active conversation each week in your supervision’

• Relationships within supervision highlighted, particularly for UCLAN PEs

Areas of difference

1. The portfolio and ‘paperwork’ – it does make a difference (…learning partnership or ‘weight’ of PE responsibility)

2. PCF used to identify weakness (fail) or strengths and areas for development

3. Relationships within the placement

…findings and reflections on the reasons…..

The portfolios….UCLAN portfolio MMU portfolio

• Practice Learning Agreement

• Mid-Point Development Plan

• Final Report• Direct Observations• 3 Critical Analysis of

Practice

• Practice Learning Agreement

• Interim Review• Final Report• Direct Observations• Critical reflection on

Practice• Critical reflection on

Professional and personal development

• 2 pieces of service user feedback with student critical reflection

Areas of difference1. The portfolio does make a difference to PEs experience – is it seen as a support for student learning and the ‘learnins partnership’ or as ‘onerous paperwork’

- UCLAN PEs – liked Critical Analysis of Practice and Mid-Point Development Plan; perception that student engaged with PCF

- MMU PEs – paperwork and forms onerous and PE dominated; impact – students had limited engagement with the PCF and the portfolio; ‘weight’ of responsibility on PE

Areas of difference

2. PCF used to identify weakness (fail) or strengths and areas for development

3. Relationships within the placement

- UCLAN – learning partnership with student

‘- MMU – greater focus on significance of relationships with on site supervisors and tutors

Study limitations and further

research• Further research:

• Final placement, PEs in statutory settings

• PE experience and familiarity with assessing under the PCF , does it make a difference to portfolio/paperwork considerations?

• Implications for PE training and standards – relational aspect of holistic assessment

Limitations:

• No student voice• First placement, all

non statutory settings• Not all PEs were social

workers where on site PEs

The tree of holistic assessment

PCF…….the sun shining through the branches of a tree…..

Pay attention to the trunk and the roots – reflection;

supervision; the learning partnership;

portfolio/paperwork that engages student and

enhances learning

Group activityQuestions to consider:1. How useful is the PCF in helping a student develop

their professional identity as a social worker in both first and final placements?

2. What implications does the use of the PCF and holistic assessment have for the training of PEs and their assessment under the PEPs?

3. How useful have you found the PCF as an assessment framework?

4. How have you changed your practice as a PE since the introduction of the PCF and holistic assessment?

References and contactsTCSW (2012c) Use of the PCF and Assessment Criteria for Practice Learning, London: TCSW [Online][Accessed on 1.3.14]. Available from: http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/TheCollege/_CollegeLibrary/Reform_resources/Practice-Learning-Guidance(edref8).pdf

• Cathie Jasper – C.Jasper@mmu.ac.uk

Pam Field – PField@uclan.ac.uk