The Role of the Second Opinion Practice Teacher.

Within The Rules and Regulations for the DipSW (Revised 1995), there is no requirement that a second opinion practice teacher is used. However, the West of Scotland Consortium decided that the option of using a second opinion practice teacher should remain within its programme, but will only be used in exceptional circumstances (see para 2.3.2,)

A second opinion practice teacher may be introduced to a DipSW placement by the process outlined in the Assessment Pack, (see section 2.3,). If used, the second opinion practice teacher is likely to be introduced to the placement around the time of the interim review when the student's progress is being formally assessed. In choosing a second opinion practice teacher, it is important that this person is experienced and independent of the student's designated practice teacher and placement setting with no previous knowledge of the placement.

The responsibility for identifying a second opinion practice teacher lies with the placement providing agency, although the second opinion practice teacher might be sought from outwith that agency by reciprocal arrangements and the Practice Assessment Panel may wish to make a recommendation.

The sole purpose of the second opinion practice teacher is to provide a second opinion on:

• where the student has evidenced the required standard of competence for the placement


and


• what the placement grading should therefore be.

In carrying out this purpose, the second opinion practice teacher will undertake the following tasks:

1. Read earlier placement written material and meet with the student to discuss issues.
   
   
2. Prepare an additional working agreement.
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3. Address particular, identified areas of concern.
   
   
4. Meet with the student to prepare for direct observation session(s) and afterwards to feedback on the session(s).
   
   
5. Observe, on at least one occasion, the student's practice with a client/group/community group/or, in group care, opportunity-led practice.
   
   
6. Meet with the designated practice teacher and discuss assessment issues.
   
   
7. Meet with the student's tutor and discuss assessment issues.
   
   
8. Prepare a written report addressing the above.

The report of the second opinion practice teacher will, (as with that of the designated practice teacher), be shared with the student, the designated practice teacher and the tutor. It will be made available, alongside the report from the designated practice teacher, to the Practice Assessment Panel and if necessary to the Programme Assessment Board. The status of the report of the second opinion practice teacher will be the same as that of the designated practice teacher.

©West of Scotland Consortium for Education and Training in Social Work 2001.