Practice Learning Hub

Welcome to Perth and Kinross Practice Learning Hub.  This web page has been developed for social work learning and professional development and covers:

• Social work practice learning
• Newly Qualified Social Workers and Supported Year 
• Continuous Professional Learning and Development
• Local Learning Partnerships

Our practice learning hubs’ aims: 

• Keeping Knowledge Current: Social work is a constantly evolving field. Ongoing learning ensures practitioners stay up to date with the latest research, policies, legislation, and best practices.
• Enhancing Skills: Continuous learning helps social workers develop and refine essential skills—such as communication, assessment, intervention, and critical thinking—so they can better support individuals, families, and communities.
• Promoting Ethical Practice and Human Rights: Learning supports ethical decision-making by helping social workers understand new ethical dilemmas, cultural issues, and safeguarding responsibilities.  Human rights are fundamental rights and freedoms inherent to all people, regardless of their background, ensuring dignity, fairness, and equality.
• Improving Outcomes: By engaging in lifelong learning, social workers can deliver more effective interventions, leading to better outcomes for service users.
• Supporting Professional Development: Learning is key to career progression, reflective practice, and meeting professional standards set by regulatory bodies.
• Adapting to Change: Social work often involves responding to complex and changing social issues. Ongoing learning enables practitioners to adapt to new challenges and innovate in their practice.

Laura Carse, Learning and Development, Perth & Kinross Council	Laura has over 22 years’ experience in social care across Scotland and internationally, working in roles such as Social Worker, Practice Educator, and Team Leader. Qualified as a practice educator for 8 years, Laura is passionate about supporting students on placement and promoting lifelong learning. Her approach is rooted in collaboration, inclusion, and empowering individuals and communities to take ownership of their learning.   Laura believes that education is a partnership and values creating positive, open relationships that help students thrive. They are committed to anti-discriminatory practice and see continuous learning as a catalyst for social change.   “A love of learning has a lot to do with learning that we are loved.” Fred Rogers
Gillian Muir, Senior Learning & Development Officer, Perth & Kinross Council	Gillian brings over three decades of experience in social work and education, spanning statutory and voluntary sectors. Her career includes practice in Criminal Justice and Children and Families services, managing voluntary organisations, and leading learning and development initiatives for social care staff. A qualified Practice Educator since 1993 and Practice Assessor since 1995, Gillian has supported countless students and practitioners through supervision, teaching, and assessment, including four years as a lecturer at the University of Dundee.   She is passionate about inclusive practice, reflective learning, and integrating theory with practice. Gillian has developed innovative blended supervision models and teaching resources to prepare students for practice learning. As PKC Lead for the NQSW Supported Year project, she champions workforce development and the creation of supportive learning environments. Her approach emphasises curiosity, collaboration, and understanding the wider social context to promote equality and positive outcomes.
Julie Parker, Assistant Team Leader with The Access Team, Perth and Kinross Council	Julie has over 34 years of experience in social work, qualifying in 1998, and currently supports the Access Team in delivering statutory duties, including Crisis Intervention, Early Intervention, and Adult Support and Protection. As a Practice Educator, she is passionate about mentoring social work students, sharing knowledge, and fostering a collaborative learning environment.   Her professional interests include trauma-informed practice, recovery, and safeguarding children and adults. Throughout her career in both statutory and voluntary sectors, Julie has championed social work values, human rights, and self-determination. In her current role, she works in a fast-paced setting with adults over 16, focusing on crisis response and protection investigations—making this an ideal placement for final-year students. Committed to continuous professional development, she values the contribution students bring to the organisation and strives to create inclusive, supportive learning experiences.   “The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” Bob Marley

Local Learning Partnerships

Purpose and Scope

Our collective purpose is to continue to develop and sustain a locality learning partnership across Perth and Kinross that contributes to the work nationally of the SSSC, Scottish Social Work Partnership and Social Work Scotland. 

Our aim is to support the workforce and development of the social work profession.  The locality learning partnerships’ aim is to support individuals in their social worker journey through education, practice placements, NQSW year and fully qualified status providing a continuous, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment.   

Background

The Local Learning Partnership in Perth and Kinross was set up in 2023 and has grown year on year.  Over the past two years we have as a collective been able to organically facilitate this partnership approach to practice learning, NQSW year and Continuous Professional Development. 

Governance and Collaboration

• Governance and accountability: formal agreement with an HEI and coordinated placements across sectors, with lead responsibility for administration and quality assurance.
  
• Strategic planning and evaluation: clear commitment to placement numbers, blended learning experiences, and regular engagement with HEIs to match students to appropriate opportunities.
  
• Engagement and collaboration: active collaboration with multiple HEIs and third sector organisations, involving them in student interviews, placement planning, and teaching delivery.
  
• Commitment to quality learning provision: inclusive placement offer for all students residing in the area, with tailored matching and blended statutory experiences where needed.
  
• Workforce development and capacity Building: free PE training for third sector staff and extended NQSW support, contributing to broader workforce development. 

 Practice Learning

Vision and achievements

•  Students are a valued part of every team and their wellbeing is at the forefront of cultures and practice
• We have developed a ‘team around the student’ model to reduce pressure on individuals in the Link Worker and Practice Educator role
• We have increased the use of a group supervision model in the delivery of a peer learning and induction curriculum with 30 different practitioners contributing
• We have developed and implement an enhanced Link Worker training programme in person and have increased our capacity, which is now 67 people qualified
• Students become part of project and development work through research, dissertations and their attendance and input at strategy groups 
• We have increased provision of final placements to support recruitment with a third of all students obtaining employment with us.  In 2023 we had 25 students on placement, 35 in 2024 and 38 in 2025.   

Peer Learning Programme

The peer learning programme has been developed with social work students for social work students on placement in Perth and Kinross from both third sector and statutory. 

We have guest facilitators for 18 sessions (weekly) from across a variety of disciplines who are the experts in their field that are keen to support learning and professional development.

The Scottish Government are developing Local Learning Partnerships nationally and our peer learning programme is a positive example of a model of practice that is equips individuals for the generic social work role and the challenges of the sector.

Aims of peer learning group: 

• Provides peer group support and enhances professional networks 
• Maximise learning available across the service understanding the generic role of social work (eg learning from others in different locations - hospital / third sector / Prison / community / rural / urban)
• Support critical reflection and consider different perspectives (giving and receiving feedback- peers and practice educators)
• Generate evidence about practice and learning and link to the Standards in Social Work Education (use of evidence gathering tool; tasks)
• Develop a space for students to develop collaborative practice skills (eg projects, critical reflection, working in groups)
• Maximise our practice learning capacity to support student placements.
• Widen involvement of others in contributing to students’ assessments
• Provide opportunities for social work staff to contribute to student learning and develop mentoring or teaching skills.

Practice Educator role and training

A Practice Educator in social work is an experienced, registered social worker who acts as a teacher, mentor, coach, and assessor for social work students during their practical placements. They guide students in applying social work theory to real-world situations, foster their professional skills and values, and ultimately determine their "fitness to practice" upon qualification

Senior Learning and Development Officer Practice Educator Role Breakdown

Practice Educator Training

The Graduate Certificate in Practice Learning is facilitated through Edinburgh Napier University. The main aim of the programme is to provide an integrated course of knowledge, skills and values to equip you to work effectively as a social work practice educator in social services settings including the achievement of high quality ethical interventions, positive learning outcomes and the development of learning cultures.

The programme has been developed in accordance with the Rules and Requirements for Specialist Training for Social Service Workers Scotland (2005) and the Standards for Practice Learning Qualifications at SCQF Level 10.

It will enable you to provide formally assessed practice learning opportunities for social work students across the higher education sector and to provide support, feedback and assessment of their learning against the Standards in Social Work Education (SiSWE).

NQSW Supported Year

•  Currently held by Gillian Muir, Learning & Development Team 
• Co-ordinating role in inducting, preparing and monitoring the progress of NQSWs and their supervisors through the SSSC NQSW Supported Year
• Preparing supervisors to engage in a planning → feedback → review loop with NQSWs
• Ensuring supervisors and NQSWs are aware of and protecting learning time to take advantage of the wide range of PKC learning opportunities e.g. courses, Practitioner Forums, shadowing experience, the NQSW Forum

Continuous Professional Learning

Mental Health Officer Training

The  programme offers a postgraduate qualification for social workers wishing to practice as Mental Health Officers (MHOs) in partnership with the East of Scotland MHO Award Partnership.

It has been designed and delivered in partnership with 13 local authorities in the East of Scotland and the University of Edinburgh.

The programme focuses upon the role of the MHO in relation to relevant Scottish legislation. In addition to the taught elements, students undertake two periods of assessed MHO practice.

Under Section 32(2) of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, local authorities have a statutory duty to appoint and provide training for MHOs to undertake mandatory responsibilities, enshrined in legislation, currently:

• the 2003 Act
• the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000
• the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995
• the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 

Applied Professional Studies

Adult Services, Support and Protection: This course is appropriate for practitioners and front-line managers working in diverse roles within adult social care.

Students on the course may come from a health and social care, social work, occupational therapy or housing background and may be working in statutory services or the voluntary and independent sector.

Practitioners and managers are required to deliver support and protection services to a varied population, in imaginative ways and within a challenging wider context. The pace of change in law, policy and service structures adds to this complexity. This course offers a valuable space where health and social care practitioners and managers can engage with that complexity; widen their knowledge of relevant theory and contemporary research and share practice experiences with professionals from across Scotland.

Sponsorship Programme

•  Perth and Kinross Council has a small sponsorship programme for staff who wish to access social work training while continuing to work. This is an opportunity for the council to ‘grow our own’ social workers and provide career development and career pathways.
• The types of people who apply are those in roles such as Outreach Worker, Social Work Assistant, Senior Social Care Officer, Justice Assistant and Community Care Assistant.
• PKC sponsor staff on to the Open University (OU):
  • BA Honours Social work employment route. This route normally takes 3 years to complete although there is some flexibility.
  • Post-Graduate Diploma (PG Dip) This route is eligible for applicants who already have a degree and is a condensed 18-month employment route.
  • There can be both funded and self-funded options within the sponsorship programme.
  • The application process is managed by the HSCP Learning and Development team for all applicants across the Council, with input and support from people with lived experiences Children, Families and Justice Service colleagues. 

Coaching services

Free and independent coaching service for social workers. BASWA offer coaching sessions that have been specifically designed for social work students and social workers at any stage in their career across the UK.

Support from a volunteer coach helps practitioners with:

• Impact of work role on personal life, health and wellbeing
• Career planning or building your skills and confidence
• Managing the demands of the role
• Navigating change in your organisation

Background: Kate Cuthbertson British Association Social Work Assistant Coach Supervisor worked in partnership with Perth and Kinross Council to consider how we could utilise coaching in practice learning.   Our Practice Learning Hub works collaboratively with Perth and Kinross Organisational Development to facilitate Coaching sessions:  Learn new techniques and strategies to enhance support to students / service users Best ways to support staff in a challenging social care climate Staff, students and services users  finding their own solutions rather than telling them Supporting our wellbeing within the systems we work in

Workforce Planning & Reports

Strategic planning

• We are meeting our responsibility to train and inform the development of future social workers
• Monitoring and reviewing student employment journey to inform practice learning approach and future placements.
• Raising awareness amongst student cohorts of the support Perth  and Kinross Council provide as an employer
• Perth and Kinross are leading the way in relation to the NQSW and CPL professional development.  Students want and need to be fully supported  in their first year of practice.  We can facilitate and are equipped to meet NQSW learning needs in accordance with the standards.
• Working with HR in making sure students aware of job vacancies and encouraging applications.
• Students support the Continuous Professional Learning of all workers across their placement team through questioning, challenging and support collective reflection and development.
• Students share new ideas and knowledge specifically research that will help support improve practice across the organisation as a whole.
• Students make a significant contribution to teams’ work.  In 2024 the student cohort provide input and support to over 400 individuals.

SSSC reports

Key findings:

• Overall WTE staffing figures have risen consistently since 2020 with the exception of December 2024.
• Senior posts have risen much faster than main grade posts.
• We have also seen the vacancy rate for social workers fall to its lowest levels since 2020. However, caution must be taken due to the lower number of responding authorities in December 2024.
• The overall number of social workers per 100k population fell slightly from the high seen in June 2024

If you would like to find out more you can contact us at...... 

Learning and Development, Perth & Kinross Council, Pullar House (First Floor)

35 Kinnoull Street, PERTH, PH1 5GD

Email: practicelearning@pkc.gov.uk / NQSW@pkc.gov.uk