Strategies for facilitating social work placements in General Practice

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Zuchowski, Ines;McLennan, Simoane;Sen Gupta, Tarun;Lee, Rebecca;McArthur, Lawrie;Weller, Toni
Abstract

Background: Hosting social work placements within general practice can provide opportunities to extend interdisciplinary skills, increase ability to meet patient needs, and improve understanding of social work as a discipline. Objective: This paper is based on an Australian pilot project involving social work students being placed in general practice for their 500-hour placements. Collaboratively written by academics and practitioners from social work and general practice, it provides key strategies guiding practices to optimise implementing social work student placements. It identifies strategies to design the placement, select students, prepare practices, supervisors, and students, to benefit student learning and the general practice. Discussion: Preparing key stakeholders, providing targeted supervision, longer appointments for social work students and involving all stakeholders are key strategies to successfully facilitate social work placements in general practice. Hosting social work students effectively can further develop multidisciplinary practice, connecting general practices even more with best practice, research and community.

Journal

Australian Journal of General Practice

Publication Name

N/A

Volume

52

ISBN/ISSN

2208-7958

Edition

N/A

Issue

12

Pages Count

12

Location

N/A

Publisher

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

Publisher Url

N/A

Publisher Location

N/A

Publish Date

N/A

Url

N/A

Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.31128/AJGP-04-23-6792