Team-based rotation in social work field education: An alternative way of preparing students for practice in statutory child welfare services

Abstract

The workforce pressures facing child protection systems across Australia are well documented. The change agenda has therefore included a focus on enhancing current workforce capabilities. Using social work student placements is one recruitment strategy that is frequently adopted by child protection agencies, although demand pressure on the frontline often compromises student supervision capacity in busy child protection systems. This article reports on a small trial of a team-based alternative approach to student supervision in a child protection agency designed to build supervision capacity and create recruitment opportunities for students in statutory child protection. The trial involved a teambased model of field education where students rotate from one area of practice to the next (Intake, Investigation and Response, Case Management), also changing supervisor with a focus on collective learning. The findings suggest potential gains for both students and the child protection service system and point to ways of directly linking student education with workforce needs and employment opportunities.

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