Introduction

Practical experience is an essential component of the Clinical Social Care degree programme. In preparing for a career as a Clinical Social/Social Worker, it is crucial that students complement their academic studies with practical experience gained through practical placements. Direct contact with clients and professionals will help you to develop a realistic understanding of the responsibilities and day-to-day work of Social Workers and Clinical Social Workers. For this reason, placements are organised in four-week blocks, enabling students to become thoroughly acquainted with the daily operation of the placement setting. 

Duration of Placements

During their studies, students are required to complete a total of five placements (Placement 1 - Placement 5), in accordance with the Recommended Study Plan (hereafter referred to as RSP) during semesters 1 - 5. One placement must be completed in a direct care setting, and at least one placement must be undertaken in a healthcare facility under the supervision of a Social Worker or Clinical Social Worker. The remaining three placements are elective and may be selected according to the student's interests and professional goals.

Each placement comprises 200 teaching hours, corresponding to 150 standard working hours. An exception is Placement 1, which includes compulsory field visits totalling 15 hours; therefore, the practical component of Placement 1 consists of only 135 working hours. Placements are normally completed over a period of 4 weeks (20 working days), based on 7.5 hours of placement activity per day. However, an alternative schedule may be arranged by mutual agreement between the student and the placement provider.

The total required volume of practical placement throughout the degree programme is 1,000 teaching hours, as stipulated for the Clinical Social Care programme by Decree No. 39/2005 Coll.. Meal and rest breaks are not included in the placement hours.

Self-study is not normally considered part of practical placement activities within the Clinical Social Care programme and is therefore not included in placement hours. Self-study may only be approved in exceptional and justified circumstances (e.g. quarantine of a ward or placement setting due to an epidemic, illness of the mentor or unavailability of another person in charge, etc.). Approval of self-study requires a positive recommendation from the placement mentor. Based on this recommendation, the substitution may be approved by the coordinator (Mgr. Novotná for part-time students, Dr. Řezníková for full-time students or Dr. Dubnová - Placement Tutor). The maximum amount of approved self-study is 37.5 hours per semester.