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The Professional in Practice (PiP) Framework is the
CPD Framework for all social workers in Northern
Ireland and offers professional development
opportunities following completion of the AYE
(Assessed Year in Employment) right through the
social work career. There are 4 awards ranging from
those suitable for recently qualified social workers
through to those aimed at more experienced staff
including those who have completed PhDs or are
working at a commensurate level.
There are 4 routes to achievement within the
Framework, one of which is the Approved
Programme Route which offers opportunities for
formal learning at postgraduate level in partnership
with universities and other providers. The most
recent programme to be approved within this route is
the Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders
Programme at QUB. Completion of this 2 year
programme will give participants a full Specialist
Award within the PiP Framework. For information on
the latest addition to the PiP menu of options, click
here:
https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-taught/
substance-use-substance-use-disorders-pgdip/
Project ECHO
Project ECHO (Extension of Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a not-for-profit
movement to improve care by gathering a community of practice together for
learning and support with the goal of improving decision-making by collaborative
problem solving The ultimate aim of Project ECHO is to change service delivery
models so that decision making leads to better and more timely care.
The Northern Ireland Social Care Council ECHO Knowledge Network is a virtual
community of learning network targeted to support Care at Home Managers and
Supervisors across all sectors in NI.
This Social Care ECHO was established as part of Transformation of Health &
Social Care in NI and was the first Social Care ECHO in Europe. The licence for
ECHO is held by Hospice UK/NI and the Hub is representative of the HSCB, NI
Social Care Council and Health & Social Care Trust/s and RQIA. Content of the
monthly sessions (normally lasting 1.5 hours) is reflective of the needs of the
workforce - these presentations and any associated case studies are uploaded to
a 'moodle' repository for future reference. Discussions also take place around
issues pertinent to the Care at Home workforce.
More information about this ECHO and the themes covered in 2020/21 can be
accessed via the following link:
https://echonorthernireland.co.uk/northern-ireland-social-care-council/