Knowledge and Understanding - Level 10
Demonstrate detailed knowledge and critically apply this to practice.
Students should now be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of legislation relevant to child care and protection and how the legislation applies to their practice. For instance, Children (Scotland) Act 1995, Fostering of Children (Scotland) Regulations 1996.
By this stage in their academic career students should be able to show that they have accessed, read and understood core guidance and significant inquiry reports, and made links to their practice. One way students can evidence this is in their reflective learning logs.
Students need to demonstrate a competent and critical understanding of principal theories in relation to child care and protection and clearly evidence how these underpin their practice. This means that they should approach their practice from a perspective which always takes cognisance of the needs of children.
The SSSC Codes of Practice (2003) state that social workers must follow "risk assessment policies and procedures to assess... take necessary steps to minimise the risks" ensure relevant colleagues are informed" (4.2, 4.3, 4.4).
We recommend that all students should be able to clearly demonstrate competence in assessment and intervention in child care and protection. This should include an ability to identify children in need or at risk and take appropriate action. Underpinning their assessment should be a sound knowledge base in relation to child development and parenting capacity.
One of the comments from the Child Protection Audit "It's Everyone's Job to Make Sure I'm Alright " (Scottish Executive, 2002) was that there was limited evaluation of outcomes for children. Students need to demonstrate that their view of child care and protection places the child at the centre and focuses on his or her long term needs and that their intervention is predicated on evidence based practice.
Students will need to demonstrate during their practice learning opportunity that they can collaborate and undertake joint work with other professionals irrespective of their practice setting. This could include sharing their knowledge about child care and protection or drawing upon case knowledge and expertise of other professionals.