Inter Professional Education in Social Work Training: Policy Implications Graham Ixer Head of Social Work Education General Social Care Council

Introduction Inter-Professional Education (IPE) 1) the Mandate 2) the Drivers 3) the Issues

Training Framework Generic three year degree Post-qualifying framework: - Three different post-graduate levels -Five areas of specialised training

Mandate (1) Approval of courses for the social work degree Rules (GSCC 2002) Requirements of Social Work Training (DH 2002) National Occupational Standards (2002) QAA Subject Benchmark Statements

Mandate (2) Codes of Practice for Workers in Social Care: ‘Recognising and respecting the role and expertise from other agencies and working in partnership with them’ (6.7) Undertaking relevant training to maintain and improve your knowledge and skills and contributing to the learning and development of others’ (6.8)

Mandate (3) Statement of Inter-professional values Led by GSCC, NMC and GTC ‘To underpin work with children and young people’

Mandate (4) PQ Framework “Inter-professionalism cannot only be promoted by means of shared modules. There is a distinct body of knowledge and skills associated with inter-professional and inter-agency working”

Mandate (5) PQ Framework a) Generic competence b) Specialist standards All five awards have explicit specialist IP learning requirements

Drivers (1) Integration Choice, control and personalisation Ever-changing workforce

Drivers (2) Career mobility and enhancement Delivery agenda and need for partnership and collaboration Economic Case?

Drivers (3) Social Work Training White Paper Care matters: Transforming lives (June 2007 ) Newly qualified social work status Strengthened social work curriculum on children Remodelling workforce Roles and Tasks of social work Greater child specialisation in training at all levels New initial training routes for social workers The role of Pedagogy in the curriculum - pilot

Issues (1) Generic or specialist? Language and terminology Does IPE actually work?

Issues (2) IP Values - “The last thing teachers need is yet another statement of professional values imposed on them.” “Teachers should be left to get on with the job.” [source: National Association of Schoolmasters’ Union of Women Teachers]

Conclusion Inter-professional competence: - core requirement - key element in training professionals Something that we all know is good yet unclear how and why?

Conclusion & Future Inter-professional Leadership Confidence to take responsibility The art of Argument and reflective practice Research minded practice Inspirational Students as future leaders – Passionate not passive action

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