1. Managing Change in the Practice Learning Opportunity
Marion Canavan Practice Learning Co Ordinator. Hayley Jennett NIPTTP candidate. Sinead Breslin Social Work Student.

2. Time Line June 2016 Hayley awarded a place on the NIPTTP
September 2016 NIPTTP commenced.
September 2016 Hayley advised on change of post
October 2016 Regional Allocations
October 2016 Hayley transferred to new post
December 2016 Sinead advised of placement details
December 2016 Pre placement visit
January 2017 Sinead commences placement
March 2017 Line Manager is transferred
March 2017 Senior Practitioner acts up

3. Northern Ireland Practice Teaching Candidate / Practice Teacher Transfer of Post

4. What Worked Well Transfer from FIT to Gateway.
Previously worked in that Gateway Team
Transfer to take place October 2016
Team experienced in taking students.
Geographic location within close proximity of previous team.

5. Strong Line Manager who pushed for transfer to take place as agreed
Team experienced in taking students
Hayley knew Team and the Team knew Hayley
Hayley part time hours (3 days) Line Manager to act as onsite facilitator in her absence
Agreed site available for allocations meeting

6. Issues for Co Ordinator
Gateway preference for Level 3 student
Lost FIT Team potential to take student
Tight turn around for Hayley starting new post,
completing assignment and preparing for student.
Team managing change along with preparing for
student arriving

7. Learning
Team Leader named as onsite facilitator causing confusion in roles.
Practice Teacher details not fully updated
Importance of timing / planning
Importance of good communication regarding changes.
Knowledge and experience of staff involved to plan change.

8. NIPTTP Candidate/Practice Teacher

9. What Worked Well Timing of change allowed me to settle into the team
to prepare the team
to complete Induction Programme Plan
to complete academic assignment
took place in advance of student arrival.

10. Management pushing for clear dates of transfer
Limited impact on Sinead.
Support from Team and management.
Team experienced in taking students
Own Organisation skills

11. Learning Ideally, a longer period to settle prior to student arrival.
Contact number student received was my old number
Naming an onsite Facilitator and onsite Practice Teacher caused confusion and was unsettling
Importance of communication to update Practice Teacher details and site profile.

12. Importance of timing and planning
Importance of good support and team experience
Importance of pre placement visit
Importance of information for the student on the site

13. Impact for Student
Confusion with contact numbers to organise preplacement visit.
Onsite Practice Teacher and onsite Facilitator for same PLO which caused confusion.
Preplacement visit resolved all confusion
Minimal impact as all change occurred before my placement commenced
Expected by Team and induction programme in place

14. Managerial Change During Placement

15. Impact for Practice Teaching Candidate
February 2017 Team notified that Manager was imminently transferring to another post
New Team Leader on sick leave and Senior Practitioner to act up with no replacement
Unsettling period with another team change for team and their response to same.

16. Unsettling for me with new Line Manager and new style of management
Different management approach contributing to discussions in the context of professional judgement.

17. Impact for Practice Teaching Candidate
Joint meeting with Acting Team Manager to address issues cancelled delaying my ability to address situation
Student thus unsure who to approach for direction.
Different styles of management and decision making processes
Competing demands of being NIPTTP candidate alongside demanding pressures of the post.
Coping with the change myself.

18. Impact for Student Lack of clarity in roles Unsettlement in the Team
Different styles of management and decision
making in cases held by the student
Exposure of student same to same

19. What Worked Well
Student was confident in raising her concerns during supervision.
Meeting with Acting Team Manager to address issues resulted in supervision sessions and clear role setting.
Support and guidance from Practice Assessor in relation to the PT role during change and impact on student.
Competent level 3 student who coped well with change.

20. Learning Acceptance that change is realistic during a PLO.
Support systems in place but need to ascertain what the student felt her support needs were
Importance of documenting student needs and any adjustments required to sustain the PLO standards and ensure accountability
Using own supports to manage competing needs of own feelings of change whilst supporting student through change

21. Recognising exposure to dilemmas in the context of professional judgement can be valuable learning for the student involved.
Importance of supporting the student with clear lines of supervision and accountability

22. Impact for Student
Had built up a good relationship with onsite/line manger who was transferring.
Found out about change at same time as the rest of the team including my Practice Teacher directly before my first direct observation
Acting Team Leader very busy as replacement was on sick leave
Change happened well into my placement

23. What Worked Well Able to remain in the placement
Same Practice Teacher and the same team
Experienced and supportive team
Able to clarify roles very quickly
Good lines of communication and support system in place
Was very much part of the Team in dealing with the change and felt included and valued.

24. What Have I Learnt Realistic view of change within Social Work teams.
How to cope in a changing environment
The importance of a very supportive team
Importance of raising issues
How to prioritise risk
The debates and discussions around prioritising risk

25. Practice Learning Co Ordinator What Worked Well
Competent Level 3 student
Student embraced the change
Pro active Practice Teacher/Candidate
Experienced team very supportive of student
Placement site, Team and Practice Teacher remained a constant variable

26. Learning Change affected by numerous competing drivers
Imminent change minimised ability provide support and to plan for change.
Focus on ensuring supports were in place for student and in maintaining the placement for the duration.
Competing roles of Practice Assessor and Practice Learning Co Ordinator

27. Overall Summary Practice Learning is part of the wider system
Cannot control change or how or when it happens
Change can be managed
Reinforced capability of staff and team to manage change
Competing needs in managing change
Change is not something to protect students from
Consideration as to change as a key learning requirement

28. Questions?