Expand+How Do I Apply?
Adult Continuing Education now welcomes online applications for ACE programmes from Certificate to Masters level. Students can register and pay online quickly and securely by simply clicking the “apply now” button within course descr...

Hide-How Do I Apply?
Adult Continuing Education now welcomes online applications for ACE programmes from Certificate to Masters level. Students can register and pay online quickly and securely by simply clicking the “apply now” button within course description, and filling out the online application form. Once you are registered on UCC360 you can apply for additional courses without needing to register each time.

ACE also welcomes applications by post and an application form can be downloaded and printed from within each course description (on web).

Expand+1 academic year.

All students will be registered for a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Fieldwork Practice (Social Work) in their First Year and will be registered for an MA in Second Year.

Students who opt to exit at the end of the first year...

Hide-1 academic year.

All students will be registered for a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Fieldwork Practice (Social Work) in their First Year and will be registered for an MA in Second Year.

Students who opt to exit at the end of the first year will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Fieldwork Practice and Supervision (Social Work) upon successful completion and passing modules to the value of 60 credits.

A student who subsequently wishes to continue progression for the degree of Master must complete the programme within 5 academic years from the date of successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma Examinations, subject to the programme being available.

Note: Recognition of prior learning: Applicants who already have completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Fieldwork Practice and Supervision (Social Work) from 2001 to the value to 60 credits will be granted exemptions for these modules in the MA and may proceed directly to the 30 credit research module in Part II.

Expand+Year 1:CQSW/NQSW Certification/Registered with CORU. 2yrs post qualifying experience. Written Permission of employing agency. Agreement to take a student on placement Have supervised at least one professional social work student Course participants r...

Hide-Year 1:CQSW/NQSW Certification/Registered with CORU. 2yrs post qualifying experience. Written Permission of employing agency. Agreement to take a student on placement Have supervised at least one professional social work student Course participants represent a wide range of social work practice contexts. Statutory and community / voluntary agencies are all included.

Year 2: To progress to MA in year 2 participants must have successfully completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Fieldwork Practice and Supervision [Social Work].

Expand+Unique Aspects of the Course
This is the only program in Ireland offering a recognised qualification to social workers in practice teaching and supervision. It offers social work professionals a unique opportunity to up skill and upgrade their prof...

Hide-Unique Aspects of the Course
This is the only program in Ireland offering a recognised qualification to social workers in practice teaching and supervision. It offers social work professionals a unique opportunity to up skill and upgrade their professional and academic qualifications on a part time study basis.

Practicalities of the course
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Year 1:
CQSW/NQSW Certification/Registered with CORU. 2yrs post qualifying experience. Written Permission of employing agency. Agreement to take a student on placement Have supervised at least one professional social work student Course participants represent a wide range of social work practice contexts. Statutory and community / voluntary agencies are all included.

Year 2:
To progress to MA in year 2 participants must have successfully completed the PgDip.

Expand+The Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Fieldwork Practice (Social Work) was set up in 2001 and it represents a very import program in terms of the School’s mission of creating and sustaining community outreach and partnerships within the context of on-...

Hide-The Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Fieldwork Practice (Social Work) was set up in 2001 and it represents a very import program in terms of the School’s mission of creating and sustaining community outreach and partnerships within the context of on-going professional development and cpd. The program provides social work practitioners with an important opportunity to engage part time in a professionally accredited, post qualifying program in Practice Teaching and Professional Supervision. Specifically, the program is designed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to become competent Supervisors and Practice Teachers. The establishment of CORU, the statutory regulation body for social work, and the setting up of the social work Registration Board heralds a new era for social work. We are in an age where participating in CPD and Post qualifying social work education is gathering momentum. This program responds to an identified need for the provision of more dedicated post qualifying training and professional development opportunities for social workers.

The option to progress to a Masters route in year 2 represents an innovative and timely option for practitioners wishing to advance academic qualifications and to develop their knowledge and experience of research in the areas of practice teaching and supervision.

This course was externally accredited by the National Social Work Qualifications Board. It is currently the only nationally accredited, post qualifying course in social work. It is designed to equip social work practitioners engaged in practice teaching and supervision to develop the knowledge, values and skills necessary to competently execute the demands of the role. It is intended to offer the programme to individuals who are employed as social workers and who wish to study part-time. We require participants to incorporate their working experience into the learning process by agreeing to take a student on placement during their attendance on the course. The reflective design, delivery and assessment of the course will ensure that participants can simultaneously develop their competencies academically and experientially.

The aim of this programme is to prepare relatively new and experienced social workers for the task of practice teaching and supervision of social work students.

This course offers a balance of structural theoretical inputs with experiential models of learning, self-directed and library study. It involves on the job supervision of a professional social work student (MSW/BSW) while on placement over a 14 week period (January-April). Participants must be able to demonstrate through their supervision and practice teaching and in their completed written portfolio and thesis, self-awareness and a capacity to be critically reflective.

Learning Outcomes for the Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Fieldwork Practice and Supervision (Social Work) (Year 1 )
◾Explore on-going policy and practice influences on student’s supervision and practice teaching practices.
◾Critically appraise different work-based learning strategies and opportunities to meet identified learning needs
◾Critically appraise research, policies and developments with respect to practice teaching
◾Engage in a process of reflection on the on-going influences on their own practice so that practice teachers can help their students to become conscious of their values, knowledge and skills as well as the requirements and constraints of societal and agency environments.
◾Practise as a learned member of multidisciplinary teams in the delivery of quality service for individuals and families across a variety of contexts with greater insights into the research-base, ethical, and professional underpinnings of Social Work practice in Ireland

Learning Outcomes for SS6805 (year 2)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
◾Conduct a piece of social research in an area of social practice.
◾Undertake a literature review, methodology, analysis of data and presentation of findings.
◾Connect primary research data with theoretical debates and concepts
◾Identify the original contribution which their research makes to the development of practice.

Expand+Students take the following modules:

Year 1 Modules:
◾SS6800: Introduction to Practice Teaching and Supervision (10 credits)
Introduction to conceptual frameworks of supervision and assessment of fieldwork practice. Theories and methods o...

Hide-Students take the following modules:

Year 1 Modules:
◾SS6800: Introduction to Practice Teaching and Supervision (10 credits)
Introduction to conceptual frameworks of supervision and assessment of fieldwork practice. Theories and methods of reflective learning and adult/experiential learning. Constructing a reflective learning environment to encourage and promote reflective thinking and practice. Examination of current policy issues in relation to practice teaching. Introduction to different models of group work intervention and to their relevance for practice teaching. Examination of how the social group work perspectives of empowerment, participation and social inclusion are applied in work with students.
◾SS6801: Preparation for Practice Teaching (10 credits)
An introduction to the humanistic values and ethical codes of social work and to identify the value conflicts inherent in the social and organisational contexts of social work practice. An examination of the role of practice teacher and the values that underpin that role. An introduction to anti-oppressive and anti-racist practices. A review of the practice teaching role within the agency context: placement planning, induction, supervision, assessment, recording and report writing.
◾SS6802: Developing and Demonstrating Competence in Practice Teaching and Assessment (5 credits)
Work-based learning to meet identified learning needs. Reflection upon the process of developing effective learning agreements. Demonstration of teaching strategies and techniques used within the context of the agency setting.
◾SS6803: The Reflective Practice Teacher (5 credits)
Candidates make a group presentation reflecting on their practice within an anti-oppressive, anti-racist framework, exploring their personal and professional development.
◾SS6804: Practice Placement (30 credits)
Orientation to knowledge, skills and practices of teaching and supervision in social work. Introduction to competencies in practice teaching and supervision.

Year 2 Modules:
◾SS6805: Dissertation in Advanced Fieldwork Practice and Supervision (Social Work) (30 credits)
Writing a literature review, the role of theory in research, qualitative and quantitative research methods in practice.