INTO THE WORKFORCEINTO THE WORKFORCE

A study of new social work A study of new social work graduatesgraduates

Funded under the Department of HealthFunded under the Department of HealthSocial Care Workforce Research Social Care Workforce Research

InitiativeInitiativePublished 2011Published 2011

-6 intake -6 intake

DATA SOURCESDATA SOURCES

Online surveysOnline surveys

302 first-year graduates in 2008/9 302 first-year graduates in 2008/9

(of whom 133 responded again in 2009/10)(of whom 133 responded again in 2009/10)

162 first-year graduates in 2009/10162 first-year graduates in 2009/10

56 Directors of Children’s or Adult services56 Directors of Children’s or Adult services

(compared against responses from 47 Directors (compared against responses from 47 Directors in 2006)in 2006)

Face-to-faceFace-to-face

23 interviews with line managers of new social work 23 interviews with line managers of new social work graduatesgraduates

Five focus groups with senior educatorsFive focus groups with senior educators

Two focus groups with service users and carersTwo focus groups with service users and carers

Analytical abilitiesAnalytical abilities

THE GOOD NEWSTHE GOOD NEWS Almost all NQSWs enjoying their jobsAlmost all NQSWs enjoying their jobs

Two-thirds believe they are Two-thirds believe they are ‘making a real difference to the wellbeing of service users’‘making a real difference to the wellbeing of service users’

rising over timerising over time

Self-evaluation improving over timeSelf-evaluation improving over time

Three-quarters overall feel well-prepared by their degree studiesThree-quarters overall feel well-prepared by their degree studies

depends on workplace!depends on workplace!

Strong, persistent altruistic motivations generally fulfilled by social work practiceStrong, persistent altruistic motivations generally fulfilled by social work practice

Stimulating and varied work day-to-day also key benefitsStimulating and varied work day-to-day also key benefits

a worthwhile joba worthwhile job

APPLYING FOR A JOB:APPLYING FOR A JOB:SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FORSIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Supportive line managerSupportive line manager

Friendly team Friendly team

Respect for social work valuesRespect for social work values opinions and wishes of service users and carersopinions and wishes of service users and carers

Contact timeContact time building constructive relationshipsbuilding constructive relationships

Organisational culture that encourages sharing of Organisational culture that encourages sharing of knowledge and expertiseknowledge and expertise

APPLYING FOR A JOB:APPLYING FOR A JOB:QUESTIONS TO ASKQUESTIONS TO ASK

Supervision policySupervision policy minimum monthly for experienced workersminimum monthly for experienced workers

more frequently for NQSWsmore frequently for NQSWs

opportunity for reflectionopportunity for reflection

Employer Induction programme for all new social care workers Employer Induction programme for all new social care workers processes and proceduresprocesses and procedures

ITIT

Personal Development PlanPersonal Development Plan

Effective inter-agency liaisonEffective inter-agency liaison

Information about local services and resourcesInformation about local services and resources

Few unfilled vacanciesFew unfilled vacancies

SUPPORT FOR NQSWsSUPPORT FOR NQSWs

Reflective supervision (possibly additional sessions)Reflective supervision (possibly additional sessions) Reduced caseload, less complex casesReduced caseload, less complex cases

Protected development timeProtected development time

ShadowingShadowing more experienced SWsmore experienced SWs other professionalsother professionals

Joint-working with more experienced colleagues on more Joint-working with more experienced colleagues on more complex, high-risk casescomplex, high-risk cases

Peer supervisionPeer supervision

Practice observationPractice observation

GAPS IN NSQW KNOWLEDGEGAPS IN NSQW KNOWLEDGE

““Wish you knew more about?”Wish you knew more about?” dealing with hostility, aggression or conflictdealing with hostility, aggression or conflict assessing riskassessing risk

““Expected to know more than you did?”Expected to know more than you did?” preparing reports for legal proceedingspreparing reports for legal proceedings child protectionchild protection

adult protection/safeguardingadult protection/safeguarding mental health conditions and their likely progressmental health conditions and their likely progress refugees and asylum seekersrefugees and asylum seekers

TENSIONS ABOUT QUALIFICATIONSTENSIONS ABOUT QUALIFICATIONS

READINESS TO PRACTISEREADINESS TO PRACTISE

NQSWs

WHAT YOU SHOULD OFFERWHAT YOU SHOULD OFFER

Personal resiliencePersonal resilience

Keenness to learn, develop and improveKeenness to learn, develop and improve

Reflectiveness and self-awareness Reflectiveness and self-awareness

Responsive to service users, especially in times of crisisResponsive to service users, especially in times of crisis

EmpathyEmpathy

Up-to-date knowledge of legislation and policyUp-to-date knowledge of legislation and policy

your legal remit as a social workeryour legal remit as a social worker

Good writing skillsGood writing skills

Analytical abilitiesAnalytical abilities

FINALFINAL THOUGHTSTHOUGHTS

Creating relationships depends on good communicationsCreating relationships depends on good communications

Remember the theory you learned at universityRemember the theory you learned at university how are you putting theory into practice?how are you putting theory into practice? what help can you find?what help can you find? understanding situations from a theoretical perspectiveunderstanding situations from a theoretical perspective

Respect the skills, expertise and responsibilities of other Respect the skills, expertise and responsibilities of other professionalsprofessionals

You are entitled to look for opportunities to increase and You are entitled to look for opportunities to increase and develop your knowledge and skillsdevelop your knowledge and skills a gradual and never-ending processa gradual and never-ending process