Reflective practice and workplace learning: the experience of MSW students

Abstract

Although reflection has become increasingly important in social work education there has been little empirical research into student's experience of operationalizing this concept in practice. This article reports on a two‐year study of master of social work students' experience of reflecting on their practice in workplace learning in Northern Ireland. Using practice illustrations from the research, the paper explores the status of reflective practice in social work alongside other competing paradigms including evidence‐based practice and competence‐based approaches to learning. The analysis highlights the value of reflection and the significance of good supervision and support from practice teachers in enabling students to reflect and achieve successful outcomes. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings for the new undergraduate social work degree and argues that there is a need for clearer standards and scope for greater consistency in how reflection is supported and facilitated in workplace learning.