Practice Educator Development Programme

The PEDP was developed by the Trust's Learning Academy, which brings together all learning and development opportunities for social workers, both before and after qualification.

About

The Practice Educator Development Programme supports experienced social workers to grow into confident, skilled educators who can nurture the next generation of practitioners.

Through structured learning, reflective supervision and hands-on experience, the programme builds the knowledge, confidence and capability needed to support students in practice. It is a meaningful opportunity to develop professionally while playing a vital role in strengthening learning, development and practice across children’s services.

The PEDP is an accredited combined Stage 1 and 2 Practice Educator programme designed to support social workers to develop the skills needed to teach, guide and assess students in practice. The programme runs over two years and combines formal teaching, reflective supervision and real-world learning through supporting student placements.

The programme is aligned to the national Practice Educator Professional Standards and focuses on creating positive learning environments, supporting professional development and ensuring fair, high-quality assessment in practice.

What to expect

This is a chance to deepen professional knowledge, build confidence in supporting others, and contribute to the future workforce. Participants will:

Attend formal teaching sessions across the programme
Take part in group reflective supervision throughout
Support student placements as part of their development
Build a portfolio demonstrating learning and progress
Receive guidance and support from experienced practice educators

The programme supports participants to develop their teaching, supervision and assessment skills while continuing in their practice roles.

How we support local authorities

Who is it for?

The programme is open to experienced social workers who are ready to take the next step in their professional development and support the learning of others. Applicants should have at least two years’ post-qualifying experience, show a genuine interest in supporting learning and development and be able to commit to the full programme and training sessions.

The commitment

Participants will support student placements as part of the programme and continue to take a student at least every other year to maintain their Practice Educator status. This ensures learning stays current, relevant and grounded in real experience.

Support throughout the journey

You won’t do this alone. Throughout the programme, you’ll receive dedicated supervision and guidance from an experienced Practice Educator Assessor, alongside study days to support your learning, access to helpful resources and materials and ongoing reflective support to help you grow in confidence and capability.

Why it matters

Practice Educators play a vital role in shaping confident, capable social workers. By supporting students in real practice settings, they help build stronger teams, better learning environments and ultimately better experiences for children and families.

How can we help?

If you feel a conversation would be helpful, please contact us, in confidence, via the email address below.

We welcome the opportunity to explore how we could support you.