South Wales Independents Meeting minutes

South Wales Independents Meeting

Future Inn, Cardiff 25/05/2018

Dr Christian Beech – Academic Regulation v Professional Regulation

CB facilitated a conversation around the failing students and where academic regulations fit with regulatory body.

• University struggles to understand professional standards in an academic setting -nursing/medicine similarly misunderstood.
• This can cause conflict when the academic rules allow for repeat attempts at courses where there are ethical and codes of conduct concerns with a student.
• Social work as redemptive profession balanced by need for public confidence in the profession.
• Students coming along with more mental health support needs.
• SCW not especially helpful as refer-back to Institution.
• Complexity of legal contractual relationship between student and University.
• Students as consumers of education creates expectations.
• Students more likely to challenge and employ lawyers.
• Due to length of placements, issues may not present until late in the day. This creates added layers of difficultly.
• Some LA’s refusing to offer further placements leading to impasse.
• Difficult to filter out at recruitment/interview stage.
• Good collaboration within Institutions between professional courses around professional conduct issues.
• Need more consistent support for PA’ers.
• Longer first placement to identify issues sooner.
• Peer support and professional body support.

A general conversation was then held on peer support available to Independents and the use of the new BASW meeting space by members, for meetings.

Allison Hulmes

Professional Officer

BASW Cymru