The Social Work Story: substance use and social work education

1
The Social Work Story substance use and social
work education

• Dr Sarah Galvani
• University of Bedfordshire
• 19th September 2008

2
A brief history

• 1980s Inter ministerial group on alcohol
  misuse/DH concerned about the inadequate
  level of professional education and training in
  relation to alcohol problems (Harrison 1992
  7)
• 1990 Harrison led curriculum development group
  on behalf of CCETSW
• 1992 CCETSW published Substance Misuse
  Guidance Notes for the Diploma in Social Work
  including a list of core competencies for
  incorporation into the new DipSW

3
Core competencies - 1992
4
A brief history (cont.)

• Harrison established 2 flagship modules at
  University of Hull - levels 1 and 2
• Not mandatory
• Never monitored
• Little change in SW curriculum
• Not surprising.gt 30yrs of calls for change incl
  attempts at policy and practice guidance

5
Whats happened since?

• GSCC took over governance of QSW and PQSW
  training from CCETSW
• NOS for SW states alcohol and drug users are one
  of main groups of people using services and
  SWers must learn theories, models and methods
  of working (TOPSS 2002).
• Policy National strategies NTA established
• Training emphasis on training specialist
  workforce, NVQs, specialist courses

6
2008 - The bad news?

• QSW educ appears to be no better (some
  exceptions)
• Need to formally establish what is being done on
  SW courses, however
• Research based on views/experiences of NQSWs
  found that most still feel inadequately prepared
• More than 30 had no input at all
• 40 had half or one days input
• (Galvani and Forrester 2008)

7
What NQSWs said..

• Received no instruction on drugs/alcohol at
  university, was under-prepared for practicing in
  substance misuse setting, neglected area in
  current social work curriculum, does not focus
  enough on realities and challenges of front line
  practice.
• Without relevant training how can newly
  qualified social workers be expected to
  understand/relate to difficulties faced by
  service users and their families.I am angry that
  I didnt receive any training during the 4 years
  I studied for BA

8
2008 - The good news

• Social harms resulting from substance use seem to
  be higher up political agenda
• Inclusion in some PQSW pathways criteria.
  (Monitored?)
• BASW Special Interest Group (SIG) in alcohol and
  drugs
• GSCC/Home Office social work and substance use
  advisory group

9
The good news (cont.)

• Some good SW educ practice
• Lecturer was extremely knowledgeable, everyone
  benefited. Had placement at young peoples drug
  agency.
• we did have a substance misuse midwife give a
  teaching session and this was really good ...
• It was discussed/taught often. Always a
  consideration. However remember University
  only takes a small number of students every
  year for SW training. Therefore loads of group
  discussions with tutors.
• (Galvani and Forrester 2008)

10
What next

• Build on good news
• Establish what works from good practice QSW progs
  and disseminate it (SWAP project)
• Research what all QSW courses are doing
• Continue dialogue with GSCC about mandating input
  on QSW progs
• Help courses to embed sub use educ into the
  curriculum resource develop (eg. SWAP funded
  project proposed models).

11
Improving SW educ and practice

• 3 dimensional model
• Input on qualifying programmes to stem the flow
  of inadequately prepared social workers
• Sub use input on all post-qualifying education,
  that is monitored, reviewed and evaluated
• For non PQ staff, needs to be employer-based
  training.
• (Galvani 2007)
• Delivered in the following way

12
3-dimensional model (cont.)

• A compulsory 20 credit module on QSW progs (with
  further input on specialist elective pathways,
  eg, sub use and parenting)
• A PQSW module that
• sits within each of the PQ pathways, eg. mental
  health pathway has a dual diagnosis module,
• and/or a cross-cutting module that all PQSW
  routes would access
• Employers would introduce a rolling programme of
  substance use training

13
What else

• Develop resources for specialist services to
  enable them to easily contribute to SW educ
• Encourage growth, and continuation, of current
  placement opportunities in SW training
• Encourage monitoring of input on PQSW
• Keep open dialogue with other training providers
  for sharing resources and information

14
Summary

• Clear case for inclusion of alcohol and drugs on
  QSW and PQSW progs
• Historical resistance needs to be overcome
• Several pronged attack at QSW, PQSW and employer
  levels
• Use/encourage support and involvement of
  specialist networks
• Building on good practice

15
Thank you

• Contact details
• Dr Sarah Galvani
• University of Bedfordshire
• Tel [phone]
• Email sarah.galvani_at_beds.ac.uk
• And finally
• Were establishing a SW and Sub Use curriculum
  development group as part of SWAP funded project
  anyone interested?!