Independent Practice Educators

Are you an experienced Practice Educator looking for flexible work supporting the next generation of social workers? The University of Sunderland is seeking dedicated, dynamic Independent Practice Educators to work with social work apprentices across North East local authorities on a casual basis. This role offers flexibility while allowing you to play a vital part in guiding, supervising, and assessing social work students and apprentices directly in practice environments. In addition to supporting and assessing social work student/apprentice placements, Independent Practice Educators may also be called upon to undertake second-opinion reviews across any of our social work courses where a student has not successfully met the requirements of their placement.,

• Practice Education & Supervision: Provide high-quality practice education and weekly supervision to social work apprentices placed within partner agencies.
• Progress Tracking & Reviews: Conduct practice observations, facilitate initial, mid-point, and end-point reviews, and complete formal progress reports.
• Targeted Learning: Identify individual learning needs, set clear objectives, and utilize appropriate learning resources to support student development.
• Critical Discourse: Challenge thinking, foster debate, and help apprentices develop critical reflection skills.
• Collaboration: Work closely with on-site supervisors, mentors, and university academic leads to ensure cohesive support.
• Pastoral & Student Support Liaison: Offer guidance on practice-related matters and liaise directly with the university academic team if issues arise where students might need extra help, ensuring the team can signpost them to appropriate support services.
• Second-Opinion Reviews: Conduct second-opinion placement evaluations for students across social work programmes who have failed to meet placement requirements.
  
  Essential: Current registration with Social Work England.
• Essential: Recognised Social Work qualification.
• Essential: Practice Education Stage 2 Qualification (PEPS 2)., Essential: Direct experience as a Practice Educator for Social Work students within the last two years.
• Essential: Practical experience in social work across any field.
• Desirable: Experience supporting students who are struggling or not on track for completion during placement.
Skills & Attributes
• Communication & Engagement: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage positively with a range of stakeholders, apprentices, and academic leads.
• Academic & Framework Knowledge: Working knowledge of the social work curriculum, how it relates to professional accreditation, and a strong understanding of pre-qualifying practice education (PEPS).
• Pastoral Liaison & Support: Strong interpersonal skills to navigate sensitive student issues, with the insight to liaise proactively with the university academic team so students can be signposted to appropriate support.
• Integrity & Professional Values: High level of commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and anti-oppressive practice, demonstrating honesty, accountability, and a solution-focused approach.
• Self-Management: Highly organized and self-motivated, with the ability to independently manage own workload, visits, and supervision schedules.