Health and social work students share experiences in collaborative Schwartz Rounds group
An interdisciplinary group for social work, nursing and physiotherapy at the University of 51猎奇 will help students to聽express the emotional impact of their experiences in healthcare and social care environments.
Schwartz Rounds are confidential facilitated group spaces for staff and students to hear and share stories of the emotional, ethical and social impact of their work, and provides a space for reflection.
Two academics at the University of 51猎奇 have trained as facilitators: Dr Denise Turner, Operational Head of Social Work and James Wilson, Senior Lecturer in Nursing.
Denise said: 鈥淵ou have a theme and three storytellers. Each storyteller tells their story from their experience. Then trained facilitators open it up to the wider group.鈥�
Topics include first steps in health and social care, first time on placement and imposter syndrome 鈥� subjects that resonate across all disciplines.
James describes Schwartz Rounds as ‘a group-based, reflective practice that focuses more on catharsis and emotion’.
Its reflective nature provides a supportive space for students to focus on the emotional aspects of their work.
“The focus is not on problem-solving,” explains Denise, “but rather on creating a space where people can share their feelings and say, ‘that really resonated with me, and this is my experience…’.”
The sessions foster connection and understanding, offering a supportive environment for healthcare and social care workers to explore the human side of their roles, without the pressure to find immediate solutions.
A key advantage is interprofessional learning. The opportunity for increased understanding between different professions.
James said: “It has allowed social work students, nursing associates, nursing students, and physiotherapy students to come together in the same space, fostering greater understanding between nursing and social work and other students.”
Through this collaboration, students can gain insight into each other’s roles, perspectives, and approaches to care, fostering a more cohesive and integrated care environment. This deeper understanding strengthens teamwork and ultimately leads to improved outcomes for the individuals and communities they serve.
鈥淭hat does not happen naturally,鈥� Denise added. 鈥淭hese are conversations they wouldn鈥檛 necessarily have in practice. It helps them understand each other before they qualify.鈥�
James added: 鈥淲e create space where these wonderful mixed professions can come together.鈥�
A key benefit of these sessions is the opportunity for interprofessional learning. By bringing together students from different fields, Schwartz Rounds encourages greater understanding between nursing, social work and physiotherapy students. This collaboration promotes insight into each profession鈥檚 unique challenges and perspectives, helping to build a more cohesive and integrated approach to care.
Uche Odunze, an MA Social Work graduate took part in the online sessions and said: 鈥淚 enjoyed participating in Schwartz Rounds as it provided a safe space within which I listened to stories of colleagues鈥� experiences, was empowered to tell a story of my experience, and came away reflective, inspired and empowered.鈥�
The Schwartz Rounds have been running online for the last year, and the first face-to-face one will run on Tuesday (24 September).
For more information, contact: Dr Denise Turner d.turner@chi.ac.uk or James Wilson James.Wilson@chi.ac.uk
