POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR PROGRAMME CONSULTATION

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR PROGRAMME CONSULTATION

The IASSW programme consultation process is a peer-review and consultative process that is grounded in the IASSW Global Standards for Social Work Education and Training.

While IASSW does not serve as an accrediting or regulatory body, it views the Global Standards for Social Work Education and Training as a useful and valuable framework for curricular and programme development and draws on these standards in its programme peer consultation process.  Many local, regional, and national programs/institutions/organizations have benefited from engaging in the Programme Consultation program to develop or revise social work curricula in its educational programs.

IASSW Programme Consultation process brings

• Solid grounding in the Global Standards for Social Work Education.
• A globally diverse and seasoned team of consultants representing different approaches and educational institutions.
• Extensive experience in delivering and promoting high quality social work education.
• Deep respect for the culture, language, history, and context of the host institution.
• A collaborative partnership with the host institution and its relevant Regional Association.

Procedure:

1. Submit a formal request for a Programme Consultation to the President of IASSW, outlining the reasons and aims. In this request, please identify the lead person who will take responsibility for coordinating communication with IASSW.
2. Upon receipt of the request, the President of IASSW will share it with the chair of the IASSW Capacity Building Committee, who will schedule a meeting with the lead person (and members of their team, if desired), to discuss the request and process.
   1. The program requesting the consultation may consider building its team (subsequently referred to as the “Local Team”) at this time, which might include management, teaching staff, administrators, students, field instructors, service agency representatives, service users, and caregivers and any others identified by the university or social work organization. In addition, the program must engage its respective Regional Association to be involved in the process.  A Chair for the Local Team will be identified and communicated to IASSW.
3. The program engages its Local Team in conducting a Self-Appraisal.
4. The program submits this Self-Appraisal to the chair of the IASSW Capacity Building Committee. Upon receipt of this Self-Appraisal, the Chair will develop an IASSW Consultation Team of at least 3 members, aligned with the identified needs/requests articulated in the Self-Appraisal, naming one of the three members the Chair of the Consultation Team.
5. The IASSW Consultation Team will conduct a site visit no sooner than 30 days and no later than 120 days upon receipt of the Self-Appraisal.
6. The site visit details will be coordinated between one or two persons at the host institution and one or two persons at IASSW.

Site visit:

1. The Local Team will create a schedule for the IASSW Consultation Team, providing an opportunity for the Consultation Team to meet with representative from all stakeholder groups.
2. The site visit will culminate in a meeting between the Local Team and the IASSW Consultation Team to formally review the process and recommendations.

Following the Site visit:

1. The IASSW Consultation Team Chair and the Local Team Chair will write and exchange reports, based on the joint review meeting. (If discussion is needed, this will take place before the final report is produced.)
2. The Chair of the IASSW Consultation Team will write the final report, which will consist of accounts from both the IASSW Consultation Team and the Local Team.
3. The conclusions of the final report will be disseminated to the members of the IASSW Board of Directors as part of the Capacity Building Committee report.
4. The host institution/program will provide an Update to the Chair of the Capacity Building Committee after six months.

Fees

• IASSW will charge a fee for the Consultation (as indicated in the Table below).
• In addition, the program will assume all expenses for the visiting IASSW Consultation Team (to include expenses such as air travel, accommodation, meals and local transport).

Table 1: Fees (revised January 2022).

See full Operational Guidelines for Peer Consultation here.

SELF APPRAISAL
The programmatic self-appraisal has been designed to identify strengths and areas of improvement through the application of the Global Standards.  Please adhere to the outline below, and modify it to fit the program’s local context:

1. INTRODUCTION
   1. Name of the University
   2. The Programs to be included in the Consultation
   3. Reason for the consultation
   4. Composition of the Local Team (names, roles)
   5. Staff of institution involved in the self-appraisal and/or the consultation; share the nature of their involvement

1. THE SCHOOL
   1. PROGRAM OVERVIEW
      1. Brief history of the program
      2. Vision and Mission

• Program goals, objectives, and outcomes

1. STRUCTURE, ADMINISTRATION AND RESOURCES
   1. Structure of program administration
   2. Relationship of program to institutional structure, other programs within the institution

• Resourcing, including non-academic staff and budget; stability of resourcing

1. Fees and financial assistance for students

1. CURRICULUM
   1. Core curriculum
   2. Electives (if any)

• Program resources (library, hard copy, soft copy, other resources)

1. Teaching support
2. Responsiveness to national/regional environments

1. FIELD EDUCATION
   1. Field Curriculum
   2. Nature, number and duration (days) of placements

• Range of field placements

1. Training, orientation and support for field educators
2. Supervision requirements for students in placement

• THE PEOPLE
  1. Educators
     1. Number of educators, qualifications, nationally registered (if applicable),
     2. Areas of expertise, practice, and/or research

• Research and publication records

1. National and/or international engagement

1. STUDENTS
   1. Recruitment and admissions processes
   2. Number and types (local or national, diversity) of students

• Staff/student ratios

1. Student retention and completion statistics
2. Student support and engagement (including student aid, scholarships)
3. Data gathered on graduate employment/further education
4. THE PROFESSION
   1. DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
      1. The mission statement for the program with regards diversity (race, class, gender, gender identity, etc.).
      2. The measures are taken in all aspects of the program to ensure that diversity is respected, promoted, and monitored

1. VALUES AND ETHICAL CODES OF CONDUCT
   1. The Values and Ethical Codes of Conduct (national, local, university and departmental)
   2. Promotion of Values and Ethics in all aspects of the program

1. CONCLUSION
   1. LOOKING FORWARD
      1. Assessment of Program’s own goals for future
      2. Plans for development or changes in program/qualifications

1. AREAS OF COMMENDATION, CONCERN AND RECOMMENDATIONS
   1. Commendations
   2. Concerns

• Recommendations

Updated on November 2022