Work experience in social care and early years - quick reference version
Navigate directly to a specific section or topic of the work experience guide using the index below. The tabs represent each one of the guide's four sections and contains a list of the topics covered within each section. Click the topics to access the relevant information. You will need Adobe® Reader® to view the documents. Each document is 80KB or less.
Assistance and frequently asked questions
- Planning for work experience
- Undertaking work experience
- Ending the experience and reflection
- Resources and templates
Section 1 - Planning a work experience opportunity
This section will help plan a work experience opportunity, and will help determine which opportunities are appropriate in different settings in-line with the National Minimum Standards (NMS).
Section 2 - Undertaking work experience
What should happen whilst work experience is being undertaken.
Section 3 - Ending the experience
As the work experience period comes to an end it is important to reflect upon the experience and the learning that has taken place. Participants should be encouraged to think about what they have learnt and how it can be applied to their future working career.
3.1 Final Review:
If the placement is for a substantial time, a final review meeting should be held on the last day, giving the opportunity for both participant and employer to summarise what‘s been learnt, reflect on performance and progress and to evaluate and give feedback about the experience as a whole. This may not be practical for shorter placements, so feedback should be provided as the placement goes forward. The mentor should be involved in this process, as they will have monitored and motivated the participant during the experience. It is recommended that this meeting takes place, even in instances where the experience has not run its full course.
It is also valuable for the employer to seek feedback from the participant to see if there are ways of improving the opportunities offered to future participants.
Resource 14 - Work experience feedback and evaluation (participants)
Resource 15 - Final review meeting record
3.2 What if things don’t go as planned?
In rare instances, the participant or employer may feel that the work experience is not running as successfully as anticipated. If this is the case, a progress meeting can be called to discuss this and actions should be jointly identified on how any difficulties can be resolved. In extreme cases where no appropriate solution can be found, or the responsibilities outlined in the work experience pledge have been seriously breached, it may be necessary to terminate the experience early.
If the participant is uncomfortable with a situation or with something they have encountered in the workplace, it should be discussed with their mentor or employer in the first instance. If this does not feel appropriate or if concerns are not addressed, the coordinator should be informed and they will advise on the relevant course of action.
If termination occurs due to the participant behaving unacceptably, they must be aware that this could impact on qualification attainment or other consequences implemented through their coordinator. Unacceptable behaviour can include inappropriate dress or language or breaching Health and Safety regulations.
3.3 Next steps:
The work experience has come to an end. The anticipated outcome is that the participant has had an opportunity to make a positive difference, gain valuable experience and learn new skills. If the participant wishes to find out the next steps to a job worth caring about, they can contact one of the following organisations for careers advice:
Care Council for Wales Careers Team
END
Section 4 - Resources and templates
This section features useful resources such as templates, contacts and a glossary. Templates have been provided as tools to help make certain processes easier where no prescribed documents exist. They are suggested templates and can be edited to suit individual needs. If coordinators or employers already have set templates, these should be used.
- Applying for work experience
- Workplace information sheet
- Health and safety assessment template
- Risk Assessment template
- Work experience pledge
- First day checklist
- Allocating suitable opportunities
- Devising a timetable and work shadowing schedule
- Participant activity ‘Learning about the workplace’
- ‘Questions to ask mentors’ for participants
- ‘Questions to ask service users in a care setting’ for participants
- Reviewing Progress
- Work experience diary template
- Work experience feedback and evaluation
- Final Review Meeting record
- Contacts directory
- Glossary
Work experience resources and templates for editing
Other useful resources from the guide:
Determining Opportunities table
Checklist 1: Planning for Work Experience