At Mildmay Hospital, we are dedicated to providing exceptional care to our patients, and that includes nurturing the next generation of social workers.
We are fortunate to partner with universities to offer placement opportunities for students, giving them invaluable hands-on experience in a supportive environment.
Recently, Ramona, a final-year Social Work student at the University of East London, completed their 100-day placement at Mildmay. We were delighted to hear about their positive experience and the knowledge and experience they gained during their time with us:
"I have completed my 100-day placement at Mildmay, and I can say I have undoubtedly learnt so much! I have had the opportunity to be a part of a multi-disciplinary team and recognise and acknowledge each professional's role. The team at Mildmay have been fantastic no questions ever went unanswered, and the support was unwavering."
Ramona highlights the collaborative and supportive environment we strive to cultivate at Mildmay. We believe that fostering open communication and valuing everyone's contributions is essential for delivering the best possible care to our service users.
"My input and opinions were valued, and I was not made to feel like I simply was a student. The same professional courtesy that was extended to the other professionals was given to me. I met people from all walks of life, and I always took a person-centred approach as I strongly believe in working with and not on service users. The hardest part of this placement for me was building relationships with the staff and service users and then either they were discharged, or my placement ended."
We are impressed by Ramona's commitment to a person-centred approach to social work. Building relationships with service users is fundamental to understanding their needs and providing effective support.
Ramona goes on to detail the valuable skills they developed during their placement, including:
“I have been able to use the Care Act 2014 to ascertain the needs of care and support of the adults who were admitted to Mildmay to ensure that those needs would be met once they were discharged. I have also conducted Mental Capacity assessments in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to determine if service users lacked capacity. I have supported patients in applying for benefits and accompanied them to the job centre for appointments. I have also assisted a patient in fleeing domestic abuse and supported external professionals in her move across the country.”
These experiences demonstrate Ramona's dedication to social work and their ability to make a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals.
"I have also worked in collaboration with external professionals to promote the safety and well-being of the service user once discharged back to the community. This has enhanced my knowledge of multiagency working and the vital role each professional plays. Every member of staff at Mildmay has been fantastic and I was very sad to leave. Thank you Mildmay Hospital staff you all have prepared me very well for the world of Social Work and I am forever grateful for every one of you!"
We are incredibly proud to have played a role in Ramona’s continuing development. The entire Mildmay team wishes her all the best in their future endeavours. We have no doubt they will make a significant difference in the profession.
Investing in student placements is an investment in the future of society. We are committed to providing a nurturing environment where students can gain valuable experience and develop the skills they need to become compassionate and effective practitioners.