The framework for Social Work education in Scotland

The framework for Social Work education in Scotland

Scottish Requirements for Social Work Training

Programme providers must make sure that they meet the Scottish Requirements for Social Work Training that are set out in this document. The requirements are organised into two sections - entry requirements, and teaching, learning and assessment requirements.

Entry requirements

All providers must do the following:

A Make sure that the candidate meets the university's admission requirements for the degree.

B Make sure that the candidate is registered on the part of the Scottish Social Services Council's (SSSC) register for students. (The SSSC's registration requirements will normally be completed by the beginning of the course and will include criminal records checks. A student will not be able to start practice learning in a service delivery setting unless they are registered.)

C Make sure that the candidate has the language and literacy skills they need to:

• understand and use the written materials that are used to teach the degree; and
• communicate clearly and accurately in spoken and written English.

(These skills would normally be equivalent to Standard Grade 2 in English.)

D Make sure that the candidate has one of the following:

• the basic numeracy skills they need to understand the course materials and meet the Standards in Social Work Education (SiSWE), for example:

- managing resources;

- financial statistics; and

- budgetary procedures.

(These skills would normally be equivalent to Standard Grade 2 in Mathematics.)

• the ability and opportunity to learn and to demonstrate these skills while studying for the degree.

E Make sure that the candidate has the potential and willingness to learn the basic information technology and communication skills they need to get the European Computer Driving Licence, or its equivalent, by the end of their first year of study.

F Use selection procedures that:

• take account of the candidate's strengths and weaknesses; and
• exclude individuals who would not meet the SSSC's registration conditions.

G Make sure that selection policies and procedures include effective and appropriate ways of involving key stakeholders in social services. ('Stakeholders' include people who use services, carers and employers.)

Teaching, learning and assessment requirements

All providers must do the following:

H Design the content, structure and delivery of the training to allow social work students to show that they can meet the SiSWE and are suitable to be registered with the SSSC.

I Make sure that students' achievement against the SiSWE is regularly and accurately assessed, and confirm that all social work students have been assessed and have met all the learning outcomes before they are awarded the degree in social work.

J Make sure that policies and procedures for assessment include effective and appropriate ways of meeting the requirements of key stakeholders in social services.

K Make sure that students understand that they must be registered with the SSSC to start and stay on the programme, and that if the SSSC removes them from the register as a result of their misconduct, they will not be able to achieve the professional qualification in social work.

L Make sure that all students have the practice learning they need to meet the SiSWE.

M Make sure that all social work students spend at least 200 days in practice learning, of which at least 160 must be spent in supervised direct practice in service delivery settings. This practice learning must be assessed. Up to 60 days of the supervised direct practice element can be subject to credit from prior experiential learning.

N Make sure that this assessed practice learning is structured over the course of the new degree to allow students to gain experience of:

• carrying out statutory social work tasks, involving legal interventions;
• working in at least two contrasting service delivery settings (for students entering through work-based routes, at least one of these should be outwith their employing agency other than in exceptional circumstances);
• providing services to at least two user groups; and
• providing services in a way that takes account of and values diversity.

O Make sure that all students undergo assessed preparation for direct practice to make sure they are safe to carry out practice learning in a service delivery setting. This preparation must include the opportunity to develop a greater understanding of the experience of service users and the role of social workers.

P Make sure that the students spend enough time in structured academic learning, under the direction of an educator, to meet the required level of competence. This is expected to be at least 200 days or 1,200 hours.

Q Make sure that the programme is continually updated as a result of developments in legislation, government policy and best practice so students have the skills, knowledge and understanding they need.

R Make sure that the students' continuing learning requirements are recorded in an individual learning plan that they can take with them into their career in social work.