Flat experience

Have you ever thought you could go into a flat within university? Neither did I.

Our skill days involved going into artificial flats created for students. The flats were very realistic and the experience I gained was phenomenal.

In groups we worked on a case study and gave each other roles. We made sure each person got the experience of being a social worker. Within our group we created a script and plan for our performance. However, once we stepped into that flat we realised how we can not follow plans. This is because an individual may say something unexpected, which leads to other questions and topics being raised.

This experience was an amazing opportunity for me to gain 1st hand experience and skills that can not be learnt through teaching or reading. Additionally, it helped me learn and be prepared for a real life situation as I am aware of the approach I would need to take in that environment. For example, if I am going into a family where there is a young carer, I would look at the history of the family and research local services to ensure I can provide some support and information to the family.

The importance of not giving service users promises or false information is extremely important in practice. If there is a situation, where you are unsure of an answer, always tell the service user you will try and find out for them, instead of giving incorrect information.

All the skills and knowledge I gained can be applied to practice on placement. I believe these skills and knowledge have given me a head start, as I feel mentally prepared for the possible circumstances I could be facing on placement.