Assessing competence to practice social work-the first year of a professional practice advisory panel

This paper describes a development in the assessment of C.Q.S.W. students practice competence on a two year postgraduate diploma/masters course. In 1984 a professional practice advisory panel was created. The work and functioning of this panel during its first year are described. Consideration is given to some important issues which have faced the panel and some tentative comments are made about the impact of the panel during its first year of operation.