Centre For Post Qualifying Social Work
Evaluation of Courses
The Centre for Post Qualifying Social Work at Bournemouth University evaluates all courses using standard university feedback forms. This form is administered at the end of a unit or programme.
Our objective is to evaluate the impact of our awards and to assess whether they have a positive influence upon social work practice. We believe our evaluation shows that former students who have successfully completed our awards at the Centre for Post Qualification Social Work at Bournemouth University do see an benefit within practice, and on the service offered to people who use services and carers.
In addition it is possible to purchase a more in-depth evaluative procedure to include pre and post impact assessment followed up by telephone interviews.
Why Evaluate?
The following are key reasons for evaluating our programmes:
- To prove the value of the courses i.e. improvement of performance, benefits to service users, return on investment, organisational learning.
- To ensure that knowledge is useful for the individual's practice and overall service.
- To provide evidence that the programme has or hasn't achieved the intended learning, as well as providing important information and proof of impact. This is useful information for internal and external audits, and inspections from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission.
- To improve modules/units as a part of a continuous systematic review and test the assumptions about the programmes' value and impact.
- To provide an evidence base for purchasing future development programmes.
How or what would be evaluated?
The University provides an independent and expert research team of individuals who can provide tailored programmes of evaluation to meet local and unique requirements.
We can ensure that:
- Ethical considerations are discharged correctly
- Appropriate design and tools will be employed
- Data analysis, interpretation and presentation will be suitable and able to withstand scrutiny.
Typical examples of evaluation could include:
- Pre and post comparisons written questionnaires
- Telephone surveys
- An evaluation of the assignments written
- Line manager, peer and team observations
- Service user observations (where appropriate)
- Testimonial and case study review
- Focus groups
- Pre and post comparisons in terms of specific performance targets and objectives.
These are a sample only of the potential focus and available approaches.
In addition individual councils can be supported to carry out their own evaluation if this is deemed part of the organisations learning and key skills development.
Course Evaluation Documents
