SCIE media releases 2004
SCIE calls for research funding to make social work education evidence-based
27 July 2004
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), is calling for increased funding for the evaluation of social work education after another review of how core social work skills are taught revealed that social work educators face a lack of evidence in deciding which teaching and learning methods are most effective.
Knowledge review 6: Teaching and learning communication skills in social work education, commissioned by SCIE in collaboration with the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Social Policy and Social Work (SWAP), identified a number of theories and innovative approaches to teaching communication skills, but found that few of these were published or had been thoroughly evaluated.
Wendy Hardyman, Research Analyst at SCIE and coordinator of the review, said that this was a common issue in social work education.
"Like other knowledge reviews SCIE has commissioned, this study shows that while some social work educators are using innovative and effective teaching approaches, they rarely have the means to evaluate them properly.
"As a result, although the new degree puts a strong emphasis on communicating well and it is a crucial skill social workers, there is a limited evidence base for identifying what teaching and learning methods are most effective."
This point was driven home recently by Professor John Carpenter from the University of Durham in a hard-hitting address to the Joint Social Work Education Conference at the University of Glasgow.
In his address, Professor Carpenter pointed out that unless social work educators began to evaluate the outcomes of the new degree, "other people will do it for you!".
Responding to the need, SCIE and the Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education (SIESWE) announced that they would be exploring ways of working together to support social work educators to evaluate their work, including lobbying research funding bodies.
SCIE has brought together the examples of good practice which were identified together in Resource guide 3: Teaching and learning communication skills in social work education which aims to be a resource for all those involved in teaching and learning on the new social work degree.
The guide identifies general principles of teaching communication skills, looks at what people are currently doing and gives practice examples, and provides links to more information.
It also identifies key messages from service users and carers about what makes a social worker a good communicator.
Free copies of Knowledge review 6: Teaching and learning communication skills in social work education and Resource guide 3: Teaching and learning communication skills in social work education can be downloaded from this website.
Alternatively email publications@scie.org.uk or call 020 7089 6840.
Media contact
Margaret Lynch | Press Officer | T: 020 7089 6858 | M: 07834 194 896
Notes to editors
- SCIE produces free paper and web-based publications which bring together existing information about a particular area of social care, draw out key messages for good practice and identify areas where more research is needed to inform good practice. SCIE's work includes projects on services for adults, children and families; participation; human resource development; social work education; e-learning and the use of knowledge in social care. SCIE also owns and runs the free electronic Library for Social Care.
- SCIE's work is centred around eight themes including social work education. As part of this programme, SCIE has already produced Knowledge review 1: Teaching and learning assessment skills in social work education and Resource guide 2: Involving service users and carers in social work education, which can be downloaded from this website.
- Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Social Policy and Social Work (SWAP) is one of 24 discipline-based centres which form the UK-wide academy with the main aim of promoting high quality learning, teaching and assessment in our subject areas. It was formerly known as SWAP ltsn. For more information visit www.swap.ac.uk.
- SIESWE is a collaborative initiative of the nine Scottish universities involved in teaching social work education programmes. For more information visit www.sieswe.org.
- The social work degree was introduced in September 2003 and replaces the Diploma in Social Work. The new degree, accredited and approved by the UK care councils, was introduced in England in 2003 and will be introduced in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland in October 2004. Service users must be involved in all parts of the degree and students are required to complete a minimum of 200 days practice placement. Communications skills are a key outcome requirement of the degree.
