The assessment of students' practice

The Central Council is proposing to assess student's practice before awarding the Qualifying Diploma in Social Work. Until relatively recently the profession has made poor progress on what should be assessed and how. The reasons for this are explored, and a method of practice assessment outlined which appears to be fair, objective and valid. The method has evolved over the past fifteen years in association with one course, and lays emphasis on the creation of a relatively stable group of practice teachers who have worked out the specific areas in which students have to demonstrate positive skill, and the evidence required for making competent decisions. They are able to support or challenge one another in coming to decisions as to whether students should pass or fail, and are able to preserve a large measure of consistency of standards as between students and over the years.