PRACTICE LEARNING QUALIFICATIONS (SOCIAL SERVICES) PLQSS

Following on from the SSSC 2003 consultation on the reform of the Practice Teaching Award, the Scottish Practice Learning Project (SPLP) was given the task of developing a new framework of qualifications to replace the Practice Teaching Award. The Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education (the Institute) was commissioned to develop the qualifications on behalf of SPLP.  This work has now been completed and the final submission which was updated in August 2006 (pages 57 and 58 in terms of the section on the programme development board) and November 2006 (pages 6, 1.2.3 and 10, 1.3.viii) can now be downloaded PLQ Submission (November 2006)

The new qualifications will be known generically as the Practice Learning Qualifications (Social Services), although awarding bodies such as the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) may for academic and organisational reasons give their awards slightly different names, for example Professional Development Award in Practice Learning (Social Services).  The qualifications will reflect the importance of practice learning throughout the workforce and will enable those involved in supporting practice learning at all levels of their organisation to gain recognition for their knowledge and skills. We expect the qualifications to play a significant role for many staff as part of their continuing professional development, and to be used to evidence post registration training and learning. Supporting the learning of others is increasingly becoming everybody's business and the qualifications will play a key role in underpinning the development of stronger learning cultures within the social work and social care sector. To reflect this the PLQ(SS) will be the first new qualifications to be approved by the SSSC under the Rules and Requirements for Specialist Training for Social Service Workers in Scotland 2005.

To reflect the increasingly inter and multi-professional approach to practice within social services and the increasing involvement of those who use services and their carers in social work education, the new qualifications will also be open to, those working in related professions who are involved in practice learning but who may not be eligible for registration with SSSC and to service users and carers.  For legal reasons relating to SSSC approval the qualification awarded to those who are not eligible for registration with SSSC will be called the Practice Learning Qualification (PLQ), but will be virtually identical in all other respects to the PLQ(SS).

The qualifications are located within the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and are staged at different levels to reflect the range of roles people undertake in supporting learning, not just of social work students, but also in the wider workforce. The qualifications will be flexible and accessible with considerable scope for recognition of prior learning and experience as well as the opportunity to undertake taught modules as required.

Credit rating and SCQF levelling will be as follows:

Stage 1 − SCQF level 7 (20 credits);
Stage 2 − SCQF level 9 (40 credits);
Stage 3 − SCQF level 10 (60 credits);
Stage 4 − SCQF level 11 (60 Credits).

The design and development of the framework was undertaken through a collaborative approach by a development group co-ordinated by the Institute. On-going development of core aspects of the Qualifications, including Assessment, Teaching and Learning Materials, Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer and Involvement of Service Users and Carers, is being taken forward by a National Short Life Working Group with the support of funding from the Scottish Government. Service Users and Carers have been involved in all aspects of the development of the PLQ(SS) and will continue to play an integral role.

The SQA has developed Stages 1, 2 and 3 as Professional Development Awards which can be delivered across Scotland through the Learning Networks. The Stages 1, 2 and 3 awards for candidates eligible for SSSC registration and for those not eligible for registration have now been validated by SQA and are known respectively as the Professional Development Awards in Practice Learning (Social Services) at SCQF levels 7,9 and 10 and the Professional Development Award in Practice Learning at SCQF Levels 7, 9 and 10.  A number of dates for SSSC approval events have been arranged from September 2007 onwards.  The first programme is being delivered by Learning Network West, where a pilot Stage 3 programme is currently underway. 

Although SQA will be the main awarding body for the PLQ(SS) across Scotland for Stages 1, 2 and 3, the Robert Gordon University has also developed an award at Stage 3.  The Universities of Paisley, Glasgow Caledonian and Glasgow School of Social Work are working in partnership to develop a Stage 4 award in the West, and the Universities of Edinburgh, Stirling and Dundee are also working together to develop a Stage 4 award.

We would like to reassure all current holders of the Practice Teaching Award that the Practice Teaching Award will continue to be recognised and valued as a valid qualification for practice teaching and that they will not be required to undertake the new qualification. Likewise we would also wish to encourage those currently undertaking the Practice Teaching Award to complete their programmes and submit their portfolios for assessment.

 

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