Why study this course?
If you're a practising social worker with at least two years of experience this course will enable you to learn how to supervise, teach and assess social work students up to (and during) their last placement. The course has been designed to conform to the professional requirements and capabilities for Stage 1 and 2 (combined) of the Practice Educator Professional Standards for Social Work (PEPS), TCSW (2012) and The British Association of Social Workers (BASW, 2020).
More about this course
If you're an experienced social worker, this course is designed to further develop your knowledge and skills as a Practice Educator (PE), with opportunities to share different techniques and understanding with other PEs. We aim to:
- transfer your knowledge and skills of social work practice to practice education
- develop your understanding of the principles of adult learning, supervision processes, methods of assessment planning and decision making within an explicitly anti-oppressive framework
- help you reflect critically on supervision and teaching techniques
You'll be taught through a combination of lectures, our virtual learning environment Weblearn, seminars and workshops. You'll also have the support of a personal tutor.
On completion, you’ll have the authority and capability to recommend, using appropriate evidence, whether your students are fit to practise once qualified, and you will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Practice Education.
Assessment
You'll be assessed through a range of tools and expected to maintain a regular reflective learning log of your experiences of teaching and assessing your student, in order to plan and monitor your student's progress as well as reflect on your own learning from the experience.
Assignments will include individual and group activities, case-study work, presentations, progress exercises, coursework and direct observations of your practice.
You'll also be assessed via a portfolio which evaluates the ways in which you managed the student learning and assessment process, it includes your evidence-based recommendation as to whether your student is fit to practise once qualified. Other elements include a report by a practice assessor who will assess you twice during the course, as well as a feedback report from your social work student on your performance as a teacher, assessor and supervisor.
On successful completion, you will attain 30 credits at postgraduate level (Level 7) and be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Practice Education.
Professional accreditation
The course has been designed to conform to the professional requirements and capabilities for Stage 1 and 2 (combined) of the Practice Educator Professional standards for Social Work (PEPS), (TCSW, 2012).
Fees and key information
Apply nowEntry requirements
You must be:
- able to offer practice learning opportunities that are appropriate to London Metropolitan University social work students
- a registered social worker with at least two years’ experience post-qualification, but at least three years at the point of qualifying for the PEP
- currently working in a social work/ care setting, either Statutory or Private voluntary or independent sectors
Course structure
The course will involve:
- understanding learning and teaching in higher education from a range of theoretical frameworks, identifying and meeting workforce development needs, and understanding research methods
- ongoing critical analysis of up-to-date policy development and practices, in order to encourage and build on reflective practice learning and teaching in the field
- reviewing professional codes of ethics, underlying ethical concepts and methods of ethical decision-making
- supervising a social work student against the Professional Capability Framework (PCF) (BASW 2012) for 70 or 100 days
- assessing a social work student against Social Work England and the KSS for Children and Adults
- participating in interviews of potential candidates for entry onto our courses
- offering live supervision to current students with two-way feedback
- delivering teaching sessions on reflective practice and reflective writing
- role-playing case scenarios from practice with students' participation
What support will I receive?
You will be allocated a practice assessor who will provide verbal and written feedback on your performance when practice teaching a student. You will also be given formative feedback on your assessed university assignments prior to summative assessment. Teaching will be held in person at the University’s Holloway campus.
Questions?
If you have any questions at all please email pe@londonmet.ac.uk
Fees
To discuss the cost of the programme, please email pe@londonmet.ac.uk
How to apply
To apply, please complete the Practice Educator Programme (Stages 1 and 2) 2026/27 Application Form.
Please complete the form on a computer and submit only when all documents are ready.
As part of your application, please provide the following directly within the form.
1. Supporting Statement (maximum 200 words)
Your statement should include:
- Why you wish to undertake the course
- What you hope to gain from the training
- The skills and interests you have developed in your social work practice
2. Line Manager’s Reference
- Must be electronically signed and dated
- Include the referee’s full name, job title, and contact details
- Must be on headed paper (this can be submitted as a document or saved email)
3. Supporting Documents
- A copy of your passport
- A share code (required for non-UK passport holders)
- A passport-sized photograph for your student ID card
Please note that incomplete applications may be returned.
When to apply
The official closing date for September cohort 2026 intake is 7th of August 2026 and the official closing date for January cohort 2027 intake is 11th of December 2026. We advise that you apply as early as possible, as we will only consider your application if there are places available on the course.
All classes take place at London Metropolitan University at 10am to 4.30pm. Please note that some classes may be delivered virtually.
There are two intakes offered in 2026- 2027 academic year. The dates are as follows:
Practice Educator Flyer September 2026
- Monday 7 September
- Tuesday 8 September
- Monday 14 September
- Tuesday 15 September
- Tuesday 22 September
- Tuesday 3 November
- Tuesday 10 November
- Tuesday 12 January 2027 (MSc Course Lead)
- Tuesday 19 January 2027 (MSc Course Lead)
- Tuesday 9 March 2027
- Tuesday 4 May 2027
- Tuesday 11 May 2027
Portfolios to be submitted in June 2027.
Practice Educator Flyer January 2027
- Monday 4 January
- Tuesday 26 January
- Tuesday 2 February
- Tuesday 9 February
- Tuesday 23 February
- Tuesday 16 March
- Tuesday 23 March
- Tuesday 13 April
- Friday 16 April
- Tuesday 27 April
- Friday 7 May
- Tuesday 11 May
Portfolios to be submitted in June 2027.