Practice Educators

Practice educators are pivotal to the development of the social work profession, growing and nurturing the future generations of social workers. Here at Birmingham Children’s Trust, we have developed an accredited in-house combined Practice Educator Development Programme (PEDP), one of the first in the UK.

We support training practice educators to meet the Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPs) as they teach, supervise and assess final placement students in practice. Social workers completing the Accredited Child and Family Practitioner programme can apply for the PEDP at the end of their second year of practice year in the Trust. Each year applications are also open to wider staff members at any stage of their career wishing to join in building a secure support network for students completing practice placements in the Trust.

This 22-month programme requires a practice educator in training to provide two student opportunities over the learning period which is organised and supported by the Practice Academy. Each Practice educator in training is assessed internally to ensure skills and knowledge are developed in line with the PEPs. At the end of the programme, training practice educators will achieve the full Stage 2 Practice Educator Award.

The Practice Academy supports training practice educators with:

  • Bespoke direct teaching sessions in the first year to prepare training practice educators for the role.
  • Group and one-to-one reflective supervision support throughout the programme.
  • Support from an experienced practice educator assessor based in the Practice Academy.
  • Assessment of the training practice educator’s practice.
  • Two study days and two days Time off in lieu (TOIL) during the first year of the programme.
  • Access to key practice education resources.
  • Support with all aspects of the student placement.
  • Accredited certification of the award.

In addition, we support all practice educators with:

  • Regular support and training through monthly practice educator forums run by the Practice Academy.
  • Placement fee payment between £300 to £750 (for 100 day placements - £300 for on-site supervisor, £750 for practice educator stage 2 taking full responsibility for a student, £500 for long-arm practice educator role).
  • Two toil days for each final year student supported, and one day TOIL for practice supervisor hosting a final year student.