Social work students’ perceptions of their readiness for practice and to practise

This study explores how social work students perceive they become ready for the workplace during their three-year undergraduate course at two Higher Education Institutions sites in England. The work provides a unique contribution in that to date little is known from the perspective of students themselves, about how they perceive they become ready for the workplace. This study used an integrated mixed methods methodology. Data were gathered from a combination of pre- and post-test questionnaires (N = 74 participants) and eight semi-structured interviews including the use of pictorial images and drawings. Five themes were generated from the semi-structured interviews are: (i) becoming ready and resilient; (ii) feeling shut out; (iii) navigating my placement; (iv) trying to fit things together and (v) having what it takes. Participants described their becoming ready for practice as a developmental journey in which they become more resilient, confident and reflective. The findings suggest satisfaction with the social work course although for some they perceived themselves less prepared for most statutory social work positions. The findings from this study can be used to inform and enhance a creative curriculum to support student confidence and competence by facilitating a supported learning environment offered by practice educators pre registration.