Supporting Black and Brown Social Care Students on Professional Practice Placement

Black and Brown females, particularly as mature students enter care roles, this includes social care within the Technical University sector. The aim of this project was to directly support and improve the experience of black and brown female student who are registered on the Level 7 and level 8 programmes in professional social care practice. Specifically, the project wished to support their experiences on mandatory work placement and the modules that support this placement. The project sought to acknowledge and recognise how the intersection of race and gender can impact on the educational and placement experience. In doing so the project sought to identify opportunities to build a more inclusive curriculum and a more targeted support structure within our degree programme and preparation for professional practice, and placement experience. It also engaged with our community partners (the practice placement tutors) in promoting a diverse and inclusive learning environment. Racism needs to be addressed within the context of social care education and professional practice placement. As a starting point to explore this issue an application for funding was made to the N- Tutorr National Project for a student led partnership initiative. A call went out to all black and brown Social Care students and a number registered their interest in developing and working on a project and the relevant funding was secured. As a result, a cohort of back and brown students have met to discuss some of the issues which they have identified as issues which can impact on them both in the classroom setting, while on professional practice placement and in their places of employment as Social Care Workers.

Th objective of the project was to provide:

· A space for Black and Brown women to feel safe to discuss race and care roles. 

· An opportunity for Black and Brown women to identify their needs on professional placement practice. 


The completion of this project had benefits for the Black and Brown female Social Care students both in the classroom and while on placement. It also benefited the University at an organisation level as it fosters an inclusive work and study environment, where previously thought of as taboo or subjects to be avoided can be discussed with empathy, respect and openness while also facilitating a conversation within SETU and with Social Care settings around race and gender discrimination. This project and its outcomes have the potential to encourage open communication around race, gender, discrimination which are often considered as uncomfortable to discuss and are often openly avoided both, in the classroom, at an organisational level and with our community partners who provide Professional Practice Placements. It promotes an EDI culture where everyone within the social care education community regardless of their gender, race or ethnicity can thrive, have a sense of belonging, feel understood, listen to and supported through the inclusive practices of the organisation. approaches used in practice, educational approaches, and the groups of service users they work with.