Social work - Practice Learning Support Grant: equality impact assessment

Recommendations and conclusion

The intention of the PLSG is to support social work students with their placement experience, and reduce financial hardship as a result of undertaking the assessed placements which are a mandatory component of their qualifying course. Therefore the background and circumstances of individuals is also relevant, not just the costs of travel to and from placement. Some students may need to buy extra clothes, or have other practical or wellbeing requirements to enable them to participate in practice learning placements to their best ability. The PLSG therefore has in-built flexibility of use in recognition of barriers other than travel expenses. This approach promotes equity rather than strict equality. While the PLSG might be considered as equal across the student cohort, providing flexibility in use is intended to recognise the different starting socio-economic positions of all students. This aligns with Scottish Government’s widening access agenda. It also remains the case however, that the additional cost for some students with limited access to public transport, such as those students resident in, or with a placement in, rural and island communities is often a hidden inequality.

Monitoring information of the Interim Travel Grant 2023–2024 and evidence gathered as part of this EQIA has led to the creation of a discretionary allowance to contribute an additional £2000 towards exceptional travel and accommodation costs, which can be particularly incurred by groups of students from different protected groups.

Officials considered that, in the context of limited financial resource, and during a capacity crisis for the social work workforce^[15],^[16] it was important to prioritise assistance for Scottish students, who may be more likely to enter the Scottish workforce following graduation. We do not currently have robust destination data for social work graduates (HESA data only indicate form of employment or ‘other’, not location). It would be helpful to include these data, either through graduates’ expected geographical destinations and roles, and/or through registration data, by recording ‘country where qualified’ with employer for individuals. We understand that international students are advised of the need to be able to cover the full cost of their studies, including practice learning expenses, before they take up their course. If they require assistance they should be directed to their institution’s discretionary funds. Students who are sponsored by employers should be supported by their employer with any additional costs incurred on placement, as part of the course requirements.

The PLSG will be implemented for academic year 2024–2025. Students will apply to the SSSC. This will reduce the administrative burden on both universities and student grant recipients.

This EQIA concludes that the PLSG may have an overall positive affect on some protected groups (age, disability, race and sex). It may contribute to widening access to social work education and access to the workforce for individuals from more deprived socio-economic backgrounds, and resident in and/or undertaking placement in rural and island communities.