Social Work Practice Placements: Critical and Reflective Approaches

Abstract

Social work lecturers recognise the essential learning that occurs for students on practice placement. This is a welcome opportunity to review a book that addresses important practice placement and practice concerns. The design template for this book is intended to be ‘highly interactive’ using case studies, activities, reflection points, commentaries and research summaries. The book is aimed at student social workers, practice educators and academic tutors, and offers a practical resource for students and social work practitioners—the dilemmas, tensions, uncertainties and emotional challenges encountered by students while undertaking a practice placement. Jones explores the role of critical engagement by students during the practice placement learning processes by posing questions aimed at challenging thinking and reflection about decision making, emotional resilience and the human elements involved in the practice of social work. Variables that influence how social work is constructed and practised are identified and explored in some detail: ethical practice, organisational cultures, learning styles, application of theory, use of supervision, professional portfolio development, use of language and Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Jones, in acknowledging the complexity of social work, is a keen advocate for using critical and reflective thinking in practice. Students are encouraged to create their own ‘fertile learning environment’ (p. 58), adopting a curious approach in their quest for knowledge. Jones seeks to develop the reader's critical lens by inviting them to situate themselves as a ‘virtuous social worker’ (p. xiv) abiding by a ‘highly moral code’ (p. xiv). In this way, she declares her belief that professional values and ethics provide the foundation stone for social work practice. The introduction to ‘what is critical’ is particularly useful, as is the suggestion that one's own sense of ‘restlessness’ (p. xvii) is a good indicator as to what is important for reflection.