Purpose of the Local QAPL Board

Quality Assurance of Practice Learning (QAPL) Protocol

Introduction

Thisprotocol is based on the QAPL benchmark statement of September 2011 and is the result of shared working practices agreed by Anglia Ruskin University, University Campus Suffolk, the University of East Anglia and City College Norwich, Norfolk County Council, Suffolk County Council, Cambridgeshire County Council & Peterborough City Council through the Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Sub-Regional Social Work Development Partnership.

Purpose of the Local QAPL Board

To improve Practice Learning Opportunities for trainee Social Workers and Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHP) through evaluation and assessment of all placement settings and Practice Educators within the local authority area, including private, voluntary and independent sector placements.

Membership of the Local QAPL Board

Membership of the local QAPL Board will vary depending on the placements that are being discussed at each meeting, but will typically include:

Representatives from local HEIs
Local Authority representatives
Private and Voluntary Organisation representatives
Service User & Carer representatives

Members will take it in turn to act as Chair of the board for a period of one year.

Objectives

To hold and monitor a register of Practice Educators, both employer-based and independent.
To identify issues and create action plans regarding the development needs of Practice Educators; in particular identifying Practice Educators who are not meeting the required standards.
To monitor the performance of On-Site Supervisors and their role in the placement process; and to create action plans to develop skills as identified.
To identify student issues around preparedness for placement and create action plans to resolve as required.
To provide a register of placements, to identify placement provider issues around preparedness for taking a student for placement, the learning on placement and creating action plans to resolve any issues as required.
To inform about any other general educational and training needs for the year ahead.

Functions

To interpret results from QAPL feedback forms, completed by Students, Supervisors, Practice Educators and HEI Tutors at the end of each placement. Identifying any issues and actions that need to be taken, addressing timescales involved and informing individuals concerned where necessary.
To approve the re-accreditation of Practice Educators; informing, and updating Practice Educators of the process and dates / timescale involved.
To co-ordinate core Practice Educator continuing professional development, provided through HEIs, to ensure opportunities for Practice Educators to maintain currency on the QAPL register.
To monitor any concerns regarding Practice Educators on the QAPL accredited Practice Educator register.
To make recommendations to HEIs about how students are to prepare for their placements; identifying differences between the first and final level requirements as necessary.
To make recommendations to organisations about their preparedness for providing placements and ensuring individual teams are aware of all that is involved in taking a student.
To produce a plan for the training and the development of placements within the local authority area; to be reviewed across the year.
To provide feedback to the Regional QAPL Board.

Associated processes:

a)Procedure for concerns regarding a Practice Educator

b)Procedure for concerns regarding a Placement

c)Placement Approval and Agreement Form