Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 2) | Page 29

Fundamentals of Social Work
and how they wish to be treated. But to facilitate such occasions to move
towards learning about inter-professional work requires effort from practice
teachers. One way to structure this is to explore cross learning or joined up
learning through a range of modules with students from other professions.
In the areas of child and adult protection and increasingly in social care,
inter-professional work will begin to feature as a topic in itself.

Social Work Collaborative Practice
Social work is practised in a variety of settings and the roles which social
workers fulfil, the tasks they undertake and the way in which they deliver a
service is very much context dependent. Confidence and clarity regarding
their professional role and identity is important and necessary before interprofessional relationships can be successful.
It is good if inter-professional learning at placements and in the classroom
can be in the curriculum. To do this well, practice teachers will want to be
prepared for the facilitation of inter-professional learning and working as
this is an area that is “caught” more than “taught”. Ideally, the learning
occurs when two or more professions learn with, from and about each other
to improve collaboration and the quality of service and care.

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