An outcome evaluation of a diploma in social work programme

Abstract

This paper reports on a piece of evaluative research into employment outcomes for students completing The South Wales Diploma in Social Work Programme, and the extent to which students felt prepared for their new roles. It was recognised that such a study could determine if the South Wales area was over-producing qualified social workers and if the demand was diminishing with the shift towards community care. It would also generate insights into views of new practitioners, in particular the relevance to their practice of the strong emphasis within the Programme on anti-discriminatory practice. Anonymous questionnaires were mailed to 98 students six months after completing the Programme. Data was generated on biographical details, current posts held, and the relevance of the taught course to current practice. The findings are set against those of similar studies into students' experiences of professional and post qualifying training, and employment outcomes. Discussion then focuses on the current debate in social work, the changes in the value base as set out by CCETSW (1989) in its Paper 30: Rules and Requirements for the Diploma in Social Work, and its review of the document six years later (CCETSW, 1995).