5TH ANNUAL PRACTICE EDUCATION CONFERENCE “Thriving Placements – The Importance of Courageous Conversations”
Our Practice Education Conference, held at Kingston University, Kingston Hill campus on July 10th 2024, was a resounding success, attracting over 30 participants from all of our partner organisations.
The conference featured a diverse lineup of facilitators and sessions, providing attendees with comprehensive insights into the importance of courageous conversations in educational and professional settings.
The conference began with a warm welcome from Wilson Muleya and Charli Robson, setting the stage for a day filled with insightful discussions and networking opportunities.
Right Place, Right Time: Being Student-Focused with Difficult Conversations
In this session, Josie Newton emphasized the critical importance of engaging in difficult conversations within social work. She explored the nature of these challenging discussions, the barriers that often prevent them, their detrimental impact when avoided, and effective strategies to conduct them in a respectful and anti-oppressive manner. With over 22 years in mental health, Josie brings extensive experience as a support worker, social worker, and educator. She currently serves as the BA Social Work course lead and a Practice Consultant with the Developing Together Social Work Teaching Partnership, making her insights particularly valuable.
Courageous Conversations – Student Perspectives
Fatou Camara and Lauren Dawber led a session that provided a valuable perspective on courageous conversations from the viewpoint of current students. Utilizing Menti to facilitate a dynamic two-way conversation with attendees, they shared insights from their second year in the BA in Social Work program, revealing how these discussions look and feel from their side of the classroom. Fatou, dedicated to empowering marginalized communities, and Lauren, a mature student focused on working with the elderly and those in palliative care, both contribute rich, practical experiences. Their active roles in mentoring and course representation enhance their insights. Through the interactive session, they addressed issues such as imposter syndrome, self-awareness, and the support needed to navigate these challenges, offering attendees valuable perspectives and fostering a deeper understanding of these critical topics.
Building Emotional Resilience from the Start
Ulrike Nebel led a session centered on her recent postgraduate research, which explores the critical importance of developing emotional resilience among social work students during their placements. She highlighted strategies for fostering this resilience from the outset of their professional journey. Drawing on nearly 20 years of experience in adult mental health services, Ulrike combines her extensive background as a social worker and practice educator with her current role as a Practice Consultant and Professional Learning and Development Consultant. Her deep passion for practice education infuses her research and insights, offering valuable guidance on how to build resilience effectively in social work students.
A Conversation with People with Lived Experience about Practice Education
The session, facilitated by Clive Simmons, featured an engaging Q&A with Kerryn Holborn and Dr. Kane Holborn, focusing on the experiences of individuals with lived experiences and their interactions with social workers. Kerryn shared her personal journey, including her challenges and triumphs as a mother and carer, offering a heartfelt perspective on her experiences. Dr. Kane Holborn, an academic and poet known for his work on disability representation, enriched the discussion by presenting two of his poems that reflect his own journey. Clive Simmons, with over 33 years of experience in social work, including specialization in Safeguarding Adults and experiential training, skillfully guided the conversation, providing a deep and nuanced exploration of the relationships between individuals with lived experiences and the social workers who support them.
We were privileged to be involved in the Practice Educators Conference recently and to have the opportunity to be able to share our PLE perspective with regard to the topic on Courageous Conversations.
We were well supported and encouraged by both our facilitator Clive Simmons and our receptive audience consisting of
of Practice Educators, and Kingston University academics.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share and to enhance student learning in a practice setting.
Thank you.
Kerryn Holborn.
Student and Practitioner Vulnerability: Having Courageous Conversations in the Practice Learning Environment
Sarah Wilkins led a session on the crucial need to address vulnerability in social work training, emphasizing the importance of focusing on students’ emotional challenges and self-care to enhance their overall well-being. Her presentation highlighted how greater attention to these aspects can significantly improve student support. With over 20 years of experience as a registered social worker and qualified Practice Educator, and as a lecturer at the University of Brighton since 2016, Sarah brings a wealth of expertise in youth work, social work, and early years training. Her session was the perfect way to wrap up the day, illustrating how all the sessions were interconnected and relevant to one another, and reinforcing the day’s overarching themes of comprehensive support and understanding in social work training.
Closing Remarks and Reflections
The conference concluded with reflections on the day’s discussions and insights. Participants were encouraged to apply the strategies learned and continue fostering courageous conversations in their professional environments.
The feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Attendees valued the diverse perspectives and the practical advice provided throughout the sessions. They appreciated the interactive format and the opportunity to engage with a variety of stakeholders, enriching their understanding and professional practice.
