DA4093 - Experiential Social Work

Apprentices will learn through lectures, workshops, and seminars facilitated by academic staff, many of whom are qualified and registered social workers and who have experience in practice from a range of settings, as well as from current practitioners in the field. In addition to taught sessions, apprentices will undertake 20-day skills in practice opportunity, which will introduce them to the diverse range of services for people with care and support needs. This 20-day skills in practice opportunity will include a minimum of 2 days where apprentices will shadow a registered social worker in a statutory setting. The skills in practice opportunity will provide a context for apprentices to put into practice their previously acquired learning alongside the programme specific knowledge developed in semester 1.



Apprentices will also achieve enhanced experiential learning from the 20-day skills in practice opportunity, by shadowing and observing staff, then reflecting on their learning in context.



Sensitive topics are publicised within the scheme of work and are made available to apprentices in advance. This enables apprentices to prepare and seek tutorial support prior to the session. Tutors will use personal tutorial time to discuss the appropriateness of making peer disclosures in relevant and safe settings.

Apprentices will be supported to critically explore social work practice through a series of themed workshops. All the sessions are delivered by a combination of academics, practitioners/employers and by people that use services. The sessions adopt a discussion-based approach to learning therefore the workshops will be interactive.

Learning will also be supported by small group activities, directed reading and research activities, as well as themed seminars, and tutorials. The learning strategy will utilise PowerPoint deliveries, talking lectures, use of video and case studies and up to date case reviews. Apprentices will be supported to develop their reflective writing skills during the workshops.



Support will include feedback from module tutors during small group seminars and guidance tutorials with a Personal Tutor. Additionally, apprentices will receive in-depth support from academic staff through detailed feedback following the formative assignment in preparation for the summative assessed work, including the development of the placement profiles before moving to Level 5 and the 70-day assessed practice learning opportunity. This support is to enable apprentices to reflect upon, identify and develop their learning needs whilst encouraging best practice in academic reading and writing which in turn will contribute to enhanced proficiency in English reading and writing.



There are opportunities for small group work sessions with peers throughout the module, providing peer-on-peer support. Good group work is a key component for development as a social work professional and apprentices will have the opportunity to contribute to group discussions and present to small seminar groups too. Apprentices will be supported in their 20 days skills in practice opportunity by a Personal Tutor and a named person in the organisation.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding (K&U):  

K&U –



At the end of the module apprentices will be able to:



Knowledge & Understanding (KU):

Describe the role of the social worker and how this role links to the 20-day practice opportunity.



Analyse the connections between self-awareness, collaboration, and effective action.





Intellectual/Professional skills & abilities (IPSA): 

IPSA -  



3. Demonstrate readiness to practice across all nine PCFs.

4. Development of professional reflection skills, recognising the impact of self in interactions within the 20-day placement opportunity.





Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA): 

PVA -

5. Discuss and critically analyse professional behaviour, professional boundaries, professional resilience, emotional intelligence and well-being.

Formative task:

Apprentices will be given the opportunity to complete an audit of knowledge, skills and values/behaviours based upon their previous experience and learning to date. This task will assist apprentices to develop a learning plan for their Degree Apprenticeship Practice Learning Documentation (DAPLD)


Apprentices are required to evidence the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) in accordance with British Association of Social Work at the Level Readiness for Direct Practice. How the apprentice meets this requirement in terms of assessed content is flexible and a range of methods including but not exclusively, digital storytelling, poetry, posters or written submissions will be encouraged.


To assist apprentices to consolidate their learning they will be supported to develop a profile for future learning opportunities.

How will feedback be provided.

Feedback will be provided via seminars and personal tutorial sessions

Summative Assessment:


The Summative Assessment consists of two components, all must be passed to complete the module successfully.


The development of a complete Degree Apprenticeship Practice Learning Document (DAPLD), incorporating two reflective narratives based on the 20-day practice opportunity of 500 words each.

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DA4088, DA4089, DA4091, DA4092

The Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) is a supporting structure that helps both aspiring and qualified social workers think about the skills, knowledge, and values they need to develop and demonstrate in their practice alongside Social Work England’s Professional Standards. The framework lays out what is expected at all stages of a social worker’s career, from entry level into training to the most advanced level. There are a range of personal qualities that all social workers require, and an awareness of different social context and the impact these can have on practice and those who use services, are essential prerequisites for undertaking training to be a professional social worker.

This module provides learning opportunities to enhance an apprentice’s existing practice-based knowledge and further equip them to demonstrate capability in the underpinning skills, knowledge and behaviours of social work, whilst developing an understanding of the wider community context of social work practice, The module will be delivered via lectures, seminars and workshops and attendance at a 20-day, skills in practice opportunity.