- Build confidence in supervising and assessing learner
- Apply learning directly in your work with children
- Gain a recognised PEPS qualification
- Learn alongside other social workers through facilitated practice reflection groups and coaching
Practice Educator programme
Develop the skills and confidence to supervise and assess learners in practice. Trainee practice educators complete 70 hours of learning, including direct teaching, supervision and self-directed study.
Programme overview
The Frontline Practice Educator programme supports experienced social workers to develop the skills and confidence to supervise and assess learners in practice, in line with Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS 1 and 2).
The programme is fully online and designed to fit alongside your role, with all learning directly linked to your work with children.
It includes:
- Six teaching days
- Practice reflection groups
- Core learning of around 60 hours (70 hours including optional CPD and coaching)
- Portfolio-based assessment
- Optional group coaching and CPD opportunities
The programme runs from September 2026 to August 2027, with two start windows available (September–June or January–June).
Programme benefits
Eligibility
To join the programme, you must:
- Be a registered, experienced, and skilled social worker demonstrating the values of the profession (SWE 2019, BASW 2021)
- Have a minimum of two years post qualifying experience at the start of the programme (this may include Assessed and Support Year in Employment)
- Be working in a practice setting where you are supervising or assessing a learner during the programme
- Have a practice assessor in place for the duration of the programme
Learners may include
- Social work students on their first placement (70 days)
- Social work students on their final placement (100 days)
- Newly qualified social workers completing their assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE)
- Social workers undertaking best interests assessor (BIA) training
Practice assessors will
- Assess you against the Values Statements and PEPS Domains
- Carry out direct observations
- Write assessments to support your progression
- Verify your portfolio of evidence
Your practice assessor must be a registered social worker qualified to PEPS 2.
How the programme works
The programme combines structured teaching with applied learning in your practice setting, supported by reflection, coaching and self-directed study.
You will complete
PEPS teaching days
Six online sessions covering supervision, assessment and the core principles of practice education.
Practice reflection groups
Six facilitated sessions focused on reflecting on real practice and strengthening professional judgement.
Self-directed learning
Access to resources and guided learning through Frontline Learn, a virtual learning platform.
Portfolio assessments
Participants complete one or two portfolio assessments, depending on their route, based on real practice experience.
Continuing professional development
Up to four optional sessions covering areas such as reflective practice, neuroinclusive practice and current topics in social work.
Group coaching
Up to three optional sessions with a coach, providing a structured format in which to be reflective, enhance leadership skills and engage with and manage the emotional aspects of the role
Development and leadership framework
Access to our development and leadership framework. A 360-feedback tool that helps trainees track how their skills grow from start to finish of the programme, using feedback from themselves, their manager and peers
Flexible programme routes
We have routes available for PEPS 1 and 2, or completing both stages together. All routes are designed for immediate and practical application in practice.
| Route | Teaching days | Practice reflection groups | CPD | Group coaching | Portfolio one | Portfolio two | Frame work* |
| Combined PEPS 1 and 2 | Six | Six | Four | Three | Included | Included | Included |
| PEPS 1 | Six | – | Four | – | Included | – | Included |
| PEPS 2 | Six | Three | Four | – | – | Included | Included |
The programme runs from September 2026 to August 2027. You can choose one of two windows in which to start, depending on your needs.
Please note teaching dates are fixed; they cannot be changed and are not interchangeable between windows.
*Learning and development framework.
Teaching dates
First window
- 16 September 2026
- 24 September 2026
- 8 October 2026
- 17 November 2026
- 25 November 2026
- 2 December 2026
Second window
- 20 January 2027
- 11 February 2027
- 24 February 2027
- 3 March 2027
- 17 March 2027
- 7 April 2027
Practice groups, CPD sessions and group coaching run from January 2027 to June 2027.
Pricing
| Qualification | Price |
| PEPS 1 | £895 |
| PEPS 2 | £995 |
| PEPS 1 and 2 | £1,795 |
Apply now
Applications are now open to start in September 2026.
FAQs
Do I need a learner in place before applying?
Yes. By the time you start the programme, you must be assessing a social work student, ASYE candidate or another relevant learner.
This could include:
- Social work students on their first placement (70 days)
- Social work students on their final placement (100 days)
- Newly qualified social workers completing their assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE)
- Social workers undertaking best interests assessor (BIA) training
- Social workers undertaking approved mental health professional (AMHP) training
Do I need an assessor in place before applying?
Yes. You must have a practice assessor in place for the duration of the programme.
Your assessor must be a registered social worker, qualified to PEPS 2. They will:
- Assess you against the Values Statements and PEPS Domains
- Carry out direct observations
- Write assessments to support your progression
- Verify your portfolio of evidence
Who will be delivering the teaching days?
Siobhan Maclean is an experienced social worker, industry expert and practice educator who will deliver much of the teaching across the Practice Educator programme.
She has worked across statutory and voluntary social work settings and has extensive experience supporting students and qualified social workers in practice learning.
Siobhan brings a strong focus on reflective practice, supervision and developing confident practice educators. She contributes to several of the programme’s teaching days and supports participants to apply learning directly to their work with children.
All other training will be delivered by Frontline staff.
How does the assessment work?
There are two assessment points to achieve PEPS 1 and PEPS 2, depending on your route.
You will submit a portfolio of evidence at the relevant stage. If you are on the combined PEPS 1 and 2 route, you can choose to submit once at the PEPS 2 assessment point.