In this blog, Lauren Strong, Lecturer in Social Work, speaks with Louisa Day, Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Placement and Skills Lead, about what makes Social Work placements at the University of Cumbria so distinctive.
Recently, I’ve been out and about visiting some of our final year students on placement for their midpoint reviews. I really love this part of the job, it’s a magic moment when you see so much fall into place for students, as all their learning and practice start to come together in real life. Inspired by these visits, I decided to catch up with our placement lead, Louisa Day, to find out what really makes Social Work placements at the University of Cumbria so special.
What do students say they value about placements?
One of the themes we hear consistently from students on our BA (Hons) Social Work course is the importance of growing in confidence. Many arrive on placement unsure of their abilities, but by the midpoint review we often see a marked shift. Through real-world practice, reflective supervision and meaningful learning opportunities, students begin to understand how theory connects to practice. This confidence supports increased autonomy, a crucial step in becoming a qualified social worker, while keeping compassion at the centre of decision making.
How do we work with partners to develop high-quality placements?
Our placement ecosystem is built on collaboration. We work closely with Cumberland Council (children’s and adults’ services), NHS partners, and voluntary and independent organisations across the county. These relationships help shape our curriculum, ensuring that students learn the skills employers truly need.
Because Cumbria is a large but interconnected region, we know our partners well. Many of our academic staff previously worked within these services, allowing us to broker high-quality placements that reflect the realities of contemporary social work.
What learning opportunities do students have?
Students in Cumbria gain experience in settings that reflect the full range of human experience, from pre birth work to end of life support. Examples include:
- Direct work with children in schools
- Mental Capacity Act assessments
- Hospital discharge after Mental Health Act interventions
- Community-based independence and reablement work
- Palliative and end-of-life support
- Multi-agency collaboration across health, social care, and community teams
This variety helps students understand the complexity and diversity of social work practice.
How do we prepare students for placement?
Our Social Work Skills Ecosystem provides a suite of immersive and creative learning activities, including:
- Simulation-based home environments
- Infant care training with realistic practice dolls
- Bushcraft activities to develop empathy and relational skills
- Access to interdisciplinary facilities such as OT suites and simulated hospital wards
These experiences help students practise safely, ethically, and reflectively before stepping into placement.
What the final words would you like to add about social work placement at the University of Cumbria?
Placement quality in Cumbria is a shared endeavour. Students, practitioners, experts by experience, and academic staff all contribute to shaping a responsive, inclusive and future-focused programme. We are agile in updating our curriculum, from work on decolonising practice to preparing students for ethical use of artificial intelligence in social work settings.
When asked what makes an excellent placement, we often summarise it in three words: confidence, autonomy, challenge. These capture the learning journey we strive to create. Cumbria is not only a beautiful place to live – it is a beautiful place to learn, grow, and become a social worker who makes a meaningful difference.
Discover Social Work at the University of Cumbria
To find out more about our BA (Hons) Social Work degree—including entry requirements, specialist facilities and placement opportunities—click on the button below.
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