Newsletter
News
From University to Frontline: Social Work Placements at Extern
Extern is proud to be the leading provider of social work placements in the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland, playing a significant role in helping university students take their first steps into this challenging but deeply rewarding career.
This month, we welcomed 11 social work students who joined us for induction to their Level 2 Practice Learning Opportunities on 17th and 18th August. The students have come from Queen's University Belfast, Ulster University, Belfast Met and South West College, and will be placed across Extern Services as well as with several of our valued partner agencies.
Supporting the Next Generation of Social Workers
Central to Extern's work in this area is our Practice Development Team (PDT), which provides training services to staff across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Extern's Practice Learning Centre is contracted by NISCC (the Northern Ireland Social Care Council) to provide Practice Learning Opportunities for students completing the Degree in Social Work across a range of higher education providers in Northern Ireland.
The Practice Development Team all bring frontline social work and social care practice experience from across the sector. The team is responsible for co-ordinating and delivering all mandatory staff training, as well as advising on policy and practice across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Within Extern Northern Ireland specifically, the Practice Development Team co-ordinates and delivers all mandatory staff training, while HR Learning and Development training is co-ordinated and delivered on an all-Ireland basis.
Investing in the Future of Social Work
By offering high-quality, structured Practice Learning Opportunities, Extern helps ensure that social work students gain the real-world experience, skills and confidence they need to thrive in their careers - while also strengthening the wider social work and social care workforce across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
We wish all our current students the very best of luck as they begin this important stage of their professional journey.