There is one piece of assessed work, a Workplacement Report, (80% of the total mark) which must include a reflective Workplacement log/diary, (20% of the total mark). The report should be 7,000 words long (excluding the log, bibliography and appendices).

Report Guidelines:

As there are a variety of ways in which the work placement may be undertaken, students will have different types of work experience. Thus accounts of such experience as well as reflections on academic knowledge and personal learning may be constructed differently. There is therefore no rigid format for the report.

The following guidelines should be appropriate for most reports. You are advised to consult your supervisor before the final drafting of your report. [Percentages in brackets indicate the proportion of marks for each section of the report]

1a Introduction

A short section outlining the background to the placement, e.g. the potential value of such activities (as part of an undergraduate degree) as well as where and when you undertook the placement. The introduction should include a summary of the main sections in the report.

1b Aims of the Report

These should be based upon the aims and learning outcomes for the module and your own identified aims.

[5%, for a & b together]

2a Researching the Report/The Evidence Base [10%]

Your work placement is a type of organisational research/case study. In this section you should describe the methods you used to collect information for your report, in particular:

(i) Secondary research/sources. This will include information obtained from the organisation itself as well as any other sources such as job/careers centres, internet, libraries, media (newspapers), professional and/or representative organisations, research centres, statutory bodies.

(ii) Primary research. This will include any direct data collection by means of e.g. interviews or questionnaire as well as your on-going participation (involving naturally occurring conversations, everyday observation, critical incidents, etc) often recorded in your log. Respect the confidentiality of the people you write about and be alert to ethical issues.

Look back at your research methods texts for ideas.

2b Finding Work, preparation and search [10%]

This section will depend upon whether you specifically carried out a job search for the placement or were more opportunistic’ e.g. basing the placement on where you have been working for some time. It should therefore be EITHER:

(i) an account of your own job search and your experience of the process of recruitment and selection to the job, OR

an analysis of the availability of jobs such as yours, typical methods of recruitment and any trends/changes taking place.

(ii) Did you attend the preparatory sessions and help offered by our placement co-ordinator?

3 The Organisation: Its Management, Context, related Social Issues [20%]

This section could provide an account of the aims (or mission €“ perhaps with a brief history), the context within which it operates, and the overall structure of the organisation. Use appendices for more detailed descriptions.

The context for a statutory/voluntary organisation may relate to social and demographic factors, users and their needs as well as to welfare/government policy. In a community based organisation consider whether the organisation embraces and develops National Occupational Standards (NOS).

This section could also include some consideration of the type of management (e.g. style or culture) as evidenced in e.g. planning/decision-making, work organisation/co-ordination, motivation or control. You might think about equality and diversity practices in the organisation.

Think about the relationship of your organisation and its work to social issues you have studied on your course.

4 Your Work Role & Skills Review [20%]

This is a reflective account of the duties and responsibilities of your work (job, role). As well as providing a job description’, you should also describe any induction, training or appraisal that you received. Following on from the job description you should identify the range of tasks/activities you undertook and the range of skills, which these required. Consideration should be given to what skills you had before entering the organisation, what skills you obtained either on-the-job or through training, whether these skills could be developed further and whether there are other skills relevant to this, or related, work.

5 Analysis of a Theme [10%]

Based upon the previous sections, the report should then focus upon one main aspect of the work placement, providing an account of how your experience may be related to the broader discussion/debates. You might choose to focus on, for example, the social policy context; social issues associated with your work; changes in the organisation or management of work; the changing skills agenda; funding issues. This section might provide a theme to be developed in your Project module.

6 Conclusion & Evaluation

[ 5%]

An overall assessment of the nature of the learning experience. Some consideration of future opportunities in this or related work and the implications for your career choice and future personal, as well as professional, development. Attach your new CV which should now include the work placement and indicate your Action plan for your next stage of personal development and career choice.

7 Bibliography {Not included in word length}

8 Appendices {Your Placement Approval Form, Learning Agreement form, Health &Safety form, Appraisal and other relevant documents €“ Not included in word length}

8a The Workplacement Log [20%]

A record of what you did during the period of the work placement, at least a weekly summary of activities. As well as providing a descriptive account, the log should include your reflections on these activities/experiences. Your work supervisor might want to provide a brief report on your performance and this can be included as an appendix.

8b Other appendices as appropriate