Innovations to strengthen education for practice

Abstract

Field Education faces a number of challenges, not least in terms of the supply and sustaining of quality field education sites. At the same time, questions have been raised about preparation and levels of competence of new graduates. This chapter focusses on the latter concern. It provides an overview of how issues of leadership are conceptualized within social work professional practice education drawing on evidence from empirical studies, recent developments in teaching and learning and academic debate. It considers how new teaching technologies and innovations such as holistic competence and simulation-based education can advance preparation for professional practice. Such innovations require strong leadership in supporting experimentation and generating innovation and encouraging related empirical work to underpin pedagogic development.