Abstract

Since the introduction of the three year degree programme in 2003,social work education has undergone a number of significant changes. The timestudents spend on placement has been increased to two hundred days, and therange of placement opportunities and the way in which these placements havebeen configured has significantly diversified. A consistent feature over the years,however, has been the presence of a Practice Educator (PE) who has guided,assessed and taught the student whilst on placement. Unsurprisingly, the role ofthe PE and the pivotal relationship they have with the student has been exploredin the past and features in social work literature.This paper, however, concentrates on a range of other relationships which areof significance in providing support to students on placement. In particular itdraws on research to discuss the role of the university contact tutor, the place ofthe wider team in which the student is sited, and the support offered by family,friends and others.Placements and the work undertaken by PE’s will continue to be integral to thedelivery of social work education. It is, however, essential to recognise and valuethe often over looked role of others in providing support to students on placement.