Social Work Placement Prep: Reflective Learning Log & PCF Domains

This reflective learning log documents a social work student's preparation for practice, focusing on skills development through a carer interview and an actor interview. The student reflects on their initial nervousness, the process of conducting the interview, and the emotional responses of the carer. The reflection incorporates the Carl framework and Gibbs's reflecting cycle model, analyzing personal strengths and weaknesses based on feedback from colleagues. Key theories such as social exclusion theory and the empowerment model are applied, alongside the Care Act 2014 and the Data Protection Act 1998. The log highlights the importance of assessment, emotional control, and clear communication, demonstrating the student's growth and areas for continued improvement in alignment with the PCF domains and SWE standards. Desklib offers a wealth of similar assignments and study tools for students.

2,500 word Reflective Learning Log Template
Skills for Practice 1
This template MUST be used to write your reflective account of how you have prepared for practice. It should
provide a rationale for why you think you are ready to embark on your first placement. Tell us about what you
have learned about the role of a social worker, professional practice and importantly what you have learned
about yourself. Tell us about how you have developed through feedback, reading, research, guidance from
others/are developing and how you will continue to develop your learning through to your placement and
beyond. To do this you should reflect on these 2 activities that you have engaged in since commencing the
course
1. Service user/Carer interview
2. Actors interview
You should challenge yourself by digging deep to explore your own assumptions, prejudices and values.
STUDENT NAME ……………………………. Date ………………………….
Reflective account of a significant event / learning opportunity
This log MUST DEMONSTRATE evidence of how you have met the 9 PCF domains. Use the column on the right to cross
reference the Domains and HCPC student codes of conduct/ standards that you think are well evidenced by the
practical work that you have undertaken.
You are expected to include theoretical perspectives as well as a reference list.
THE CONTEXT:
Put the reader in the picture by describing what you did and how you did it. Also make clear links
throughout the document to which domain you have met and how.
This is your introduction and what is written here should be developed later on in the reflective log.
You should also identify the reflective model that you have chosen to use to illustrate your
reflective practice. You do not need to explain what reflection is but rather show how you have
reflected on your practice.
This section should be no more than 500 words.
In this section you should List
the PCF Domains, SWE
standards, KSS that you have
met. Ensure that your
evidence is clear and
evidenced as to how you
achieved them.
I was very excited and nervous because I was going to take my first interview with
a caregiver named, Heather. Since it was my first interview, I was very afraid and
regularly thinking about my interview that how it will be, can I do this or not and
many more question like this are arose in my mind. I was worried because I did not
know how I used a impropriate word during the carer interview. I was thinking
about how expert and people will assess me and how I assess the situation of carer
during the interview. I was filled with panic, nervousness and anxiety before my
interview. First of all, I took my diary and start to prepare the list of question for
the interview. I was thinking about the condition of heather and write down the
relevant question in my diary. I did not want to any mistake so, i prepared my self
before the interview. In the next morning, I was thinking about these question &
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did not feel when it was 9:30 o'clock which is our scheduled time for interview, all
the guest were sitting on their seat. Now Heather was also ready to give her
interview. I was very confident but as I was making my introduction with heather
suddenly I felt very shaky and nervous in the beginning of interview. But I was
properly involved in my case so it help me to moved out from that situation. After
that moment, I made myself confident and tried to made the situation perfect,
which is professionally more comfortable for both. I was thinking about the carer
and realised that if I shown my nervousness then it will may be make the carer
more worry for his husband and may be creates a doubt in carer mind regarding
this interview with me. Therefore, I was trying to do my best for keeping my
anxiety in my control. So that it does not affect badly to the carer situation. In the
beginning I was propelled out from my case by my anxious feeling and I forgot to
use my hand notes frequently, which I had with me for the questioning during the
interview. Now I was trying to control my feeling and start the questioning from
the carer. First of all I tried to know her situation therefore, I asked him about the
whole incident related to her husband's aircraft accident. I noticed her during the
answering of my question, she became too emotional. The pain, what she was
feeling during that incident can seen clearly on her face. Her eyes became watery
and she was shivering to thinking about that situation. The Carl frame work model
of reflecting and the Gibbs's reflecting cycle model was used during my reflection
of interview.
REFLECTION/CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This is an important part of your skill as a developing professional. Do not be afraid to critique yourself
or the practice environment, We are not looking for perfection, but we are looking for your ability to
evaluate yourself; your behaviour, your values, your thoughts and your feelings, and learn from them .
This section is about what you were thinking and feeling at the time of the event and how it connects
with professional practice. Draw reference to professional frameworks and expectations.
PCF
Domains/SWE/Student
Codes of conduct
achieved
When she was shivering during the answering of my question then I took a glass of water from
the table in front of us and move towards the carer. She take one to two ship of water and
tried to manage herself. After few minutes, when she felt well I asked her that what are the
problem she had to face in providing care to her husband in France where as her daughter was
at her home that was in UK. Then she replied to my question that she had to face lots of
problem like she left her daughter alone at her home in the guidance of her friends and she
was in France to look after her husband. She was a paid care giver so she knew that how to
manage the thing to providing the care for her husband. But she had to faced number of
financial problem during the treatment procedure of her husband. Her husband's situation was
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too critical, he was in coma and he had more numbers injuries in his head. Even she told me
that she was facing the financial problem also because bank account of her husband was also
friezed and she did not have power of attorney for that account. So, that she had to face the
financial problem. During answering the question I politely and respectfully interrupted her in
the middle and asked her that how she managed those no. of problems together? She told me
that she was facing no. of problem like she had to mange the financial problem for this she was
taking help with her other family members, friends and her neighbourhood. She also tried to
meet some people who could help her to unfreeze her husband's account or helped her for
providing the power of attorney. She told me that she did not facing to much problem relating
to care of her husband because she was very professional in this field . And she also looked
after her daughter because she was suffering from diabetes. She also shared her bad
experience during look after her husband that how she felt lonely. She told me that every
second a fear of misshapen scared her and due to foreign place no one around her to give her
some strength. There was no of question which I asked with her and she also replied my
question very calmly and quietly. Now it's 11 o'clock and I did not feel how the time passed.
With giving her some hope and strength I was finish my interview. Now I feel relaxed and
wanted to know from my colleague that how was my first interview. I took some feedback
from the expert sitting around us during the interview. Their feedback was going to help me to
analyse myself that which area was not cover by me during the interview, what should I had to
change during the interview, about my skills, my strength, my weakness and no of many things
which need to be change in my style during the interview.
After taking the feedback there I realised that there are some positive and some
negative feedback. After reading those positive feedback I was feeling boost up and
enthusiastic. And by getting those negative feedback I was trying to analyse my mistakes and
noted down in a my notebook so that in my next interview I did not do the same mistake.
Despite the initial few moments of my interviewing session with carer I was feeling very
comfortable and putting down some relevant question in front of carer. According to positive
feedback of the expert, the question which is putting down in front of carer was relevant so, I
learned from that it become very beneficial to writing down the relevant question in the dairy
for upcoming interview. I also learned that there is no need to feel shy or fear with your
colleague because they are the person who told you about your weakness and strength. They
also helped you to boost up your confidence and also in increasing your skills. There is need to
put your all question clearly and openly no need to feel awkward during any questioning.
Query should be asked confidently and clearly in good manner. Reason for asking the question
should be clear and asking without any pressure. I have learnt the importance of assessment
before and after the interview. I also learnt to control my feeling and hide my expression
THEORIES AND METHODS.
Please use references to demonstrate your understanding of the theories that have guided you in your
practice
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Consider the event or activity and identify any theories learned in class, professional practice, or from
your reading/research that help you to explore what you learned and what was happening in the
practice presented. The ideal entry could include a quote (in inverted commas and referenced)
followed by your interpretation of the ideas involved, and how they link with the piece of practice. The
legislative framework you are working within MUST also be considered here, as are social work values
and ethics that have been expressed through this work. In short draw on theories that explain what was
happening, eg, attachment, social learning, social exclusion theories, etc. Methods of intervention
include task centred, empowerment models, etc. Theories about values, include anti-oppressive, anti-
discriminatory practice). Then conclude by identifying what you have learned and what you need to
improve on. Students are expect to include no less than 4 theories per log (law, values,
methods of intervention, theoretical explanations) to demonstrate professional development
and ability. There should be no less than 4 references referred to in this section.
PCF domains/SWE
standards/
Student codes of
conduct achieved
The theory behind the interview is to be:
 Be positive
 set the interviewing goal
 asking the right questions
 ask what is appropriate.
Social exclusion theory : it help to improving the ability , dignity and opportunity.
I used the empowerment model during the interview which address many of the identified
barriers during the interview.
I was taking the interview with carer under the care Act 2014. in which I keep in mind about the
feeling, will and wishes of the carers. I ensured the privacy of carer's information under the
protection act 1998.
four theory which is related to law, values,method of intervention,and theoretical approach as
the health belief model, the theory of reasoned action, the theory of self efficacy and the
theory of multi attribute utility model.
Reference List (Please adhere to the schools referencing guidance as you may be marked down for poor
referencing):
Lim, M.L., Yong, B.Y.P., Mar, M.Q.M., Ang, S.Y., Chan, M.M., Lam, M., Chong, N.C.J. and Lopez, V., 2018. Caring
for patients on home enteral nutrition: Reported complications by home carers and perspectives of
community nurses. Journal of clinical nursing, 27(13-14), pp.2825-2835.
Manca, R., De Marco, M., Colston, A., Raymont, V., Amin, J., Davies, R., Kumar, P., Russell, G., Blackburn, D.J. and
Venneri, A., 2022. The impact of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with
dementia and caregivers. Acta Neuropsychiatrica, pp.1-6.
McPherson, L., Gatwiri, K., Day, K., Parmenter, N., Mitchell, J. and Macnamara, N., 2022. “The most challenging
aspect of this journey has been dealing with child protection”: Kinship carers’ experiences in
Australia. Children and Youth Services Review, p.106550.
Smith, K.J., George, C. and Ferreira, N., 2018. Factors emerging from the “Zarit Burden Interview” and predictive
variables in a UK sample of caregivers for people with dementia. International Psychogeriatrics, 30(11),
pp.1671-1678.
FEEDBACK FROM Tutors/Module Leader:
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Comment on the appropriateness of the evidence provided for the domains identified, the content and
presentation of the log, student’s professional development particularly their reflective practice, as well as
areas to be developed in future practice/logs. The feedback should demonstrate progression and identify
any learning needs to be taken forward including writing style and referencing.
Signature……………………………………..… Date ……………………………………………………….
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