Two students from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) have just completed hugely rewarding placements at Leicestershire’s largest refuge for victims of domestic abuse.
Ella Matlock and Lydia Baker, both third year Social Work students, spent 100 days from January to June this year working at Women’s Aid Leicestershire, a charity that helps women and children fleeing domestic violence.
Ella said: “At the beginning of my course I was completely convinced I wanted to work with children, but after working at Women’s Aid it has completely changed where I want to be as it was so rewarding.
“I completed a child protection placement last year but I was not aware of how much work there is that goes into helping women and children fleeing domestic violence, and I went in not knowing anything about benefits.
“I was working with about three or four cases at a time, and provided emotional support to both women and children as well as putting into place action plans to make sure their benefits were all together and just bringing them back to how they should be.”
The placement was allocated to both students by DMU through their course. As part of their studies, students spend 70 days in their second year and 100 days in their final year on placements to help prepare them for social work.
Lydia, who is now working at Women’s Aid as a part-time employee, said: “I loved the placement, and I have been very fortunate to be given the opportunity to work here.
“It has given me the experience of being a social worker as you are helping support real people and using all the skills you need. I found it really valuable.”
Both students are grateful for the skills their tutors teach them for use in the real world.
Lydia said: “The course has given me the skills and the knowledge that I needed to put into practice, and particularly the theory to apply.”
Ella said: “The communication skills [students are taught] are massive for working with women and especially children.
“The aspects of the law and policies are also valuable, as is knowing the personal and professional values which we are taught. You are thrown in at the deep end but it is the best way to learn.”
Pamela Richardson, chief executive of Women’s Aid Leicestershire, said: “We have had students come to us for placements before and it is something we are keen to continue with as we can learn from them and they can learn from us.
“They bring the theoretical knowledge from other placements and their studies and as we always want to improve our services, they bring a fresh pair of eyes to help us do that.
“Ella and Lydia have been very enthusiastic and have shown such commitment to the work that we do and I have seen their confidence improve through their time here.
“They have also gained skills in terms of practical things like housing and welfare and housing benefits. They have become altogether more rounded.”
Posted on Friday 3 July 2015