Stakeholder views about social work programme curricula: One university's experiences of consulting stakeholders in the re-validation of qualifying social work programmes

Abstract

Summary: This article describes the way in which consultations with stakeholders contributed to the re-validation of two UK qualifying social work programmes at a London University. The aim was to better position the new curricula in current practice realities. Consultations with service-users, employers, present and past students facilitated substantial revisions of the taught programme, with social work skills in particular receiving a much higher priority. The data generated by this study illustrates how the tensions inherent in the incorporation of differing standpoints can be reconciled through careful consideration and reflection.