Does ASYE work? Reporting and reflecting on the experience of some newly qualified social workers in the North West

Assessed and Supported Year in Employment, (with us since 2012/13) ASYE?

Remember ASYE is part of a wider programme of social work reform... Supervision practice Front line decision making Pre- qualification selection, training & assessment Bureaucracy & organisational cultures Management practice CPD framework Aim : drive up standards of social work practice

So, if ASYE is the solution, what was the problem? Lack of consistent, appropriate and effective support across the first year of qualified social work practice (SWRB, 2011) often expressed as...

So, if ASYE is a solution, what was the problem?

So, if ASYE is a solution, what was the problem? (2) In particular, NQSWs need to improve ability to analyse information and reflect critically, linking knowledge to practice (Rutter and Brown, 2012; Carpenter, 2011) Surface reflectionPractical reflectionProcess reflectionCritical reflection depth (see below for more)

The ASYE assesses this stage of career development. But many of the habits brought into ASYE are developed with us. Are we doing a good (enough) job?

So, does ASYE work? Any impressions?

The study – Researching the ASYE a) Opt in study across 5 LAs b) Periodic closed question survey ( ) seeking to identify +/- change over time c) In depth interview (by telephone) (2015) Warrington BC Sefton BC Wirral BC St Helens BC Halton BC

The study – Researching the ASYE Important limitations... very small sample size (59 NQSWs approached, of which 26 agreed to participate, of which 11 completed 3 surveys or more, + 8 telephone interviews) variability in experience (dependant on team and employer) limitations!

Consistent understanding of the purpose of the ASYE stage within the PCF Consistent belief that ASYE will develop confident social work practice amongst NQSWs No significant change in views on whether ASYE has developed essential social work knowledge Small positive change in views on... how useful the Personal Development Plan has been a useful tool in monitoring developmental needs whether ASYE has encouraged me to reflect on practice experiences whether ASYE has developed essential social work skills Small negative change in... NQSW confidence that they could clearly identify what constitutes the 10% reduction in workload views on whether supervision has been effective in further developing essential social work confidence Colleagues generally supportive and becoming more positively supportive of NQSW involvement on ASYE Generally consistent increase of 1 scale point in self assessment of capability (scale 1-10) No significant changes across ASYE identified via survey...

Some consistency in themes addressed in interviews (bear in mind, all interviewees achieved pass on ASYE). Development in knowledge & skills down to opportunity to practice but what was specifically attributed to the ASYE programme was … requirement for regular reflection on practice, which was useful; beneficial increase in supervision (but this was not always reflective); onerous and generally unwelcome demands created by portfolio (the beneficial reflection was in the process not the product); an acknowledgement of the value of protected time at this career stage (but workload reduction was experienced as aspirational rather than actual and agency prescription re use of 10% development time was not sufficiently responsive to needs of service)

Valuing of knowledge and use of research evidence Main gains attributed to ASYE… Increased commitment and understanding of reflection

If I could change one thing about ASYE… Implement workload reduction

The study – Researching the ASYE So how representative are these findings? Time to triangulate....

Nationally, we have an evaluation of ASYE in Adult Services social work (Berry- Lound and Rowe, 2013)... and some employer impressions re ASYE in Children’s Services social work (DfE, 2013, cited on Berry-Lound and Rowe, 2013)

Overall, “the ASYE.... helps to develop the NQSW into a competent social worker,... provides a good probationary period, and...provides opportunities for CPD” (Berry-Lound & Rowe, 2013, p.3)

Key findings... ASYE supports reflection but supervision did not (18% respondants) or did not always (27% respondants) meet expectations of NQSWs (see next slide); contrasting views on effectiveness of workload management (50% NQSWs; 75% assessors/ supervisors); ASYE provides support re complex casework; ASYE develops NQSW skills and confidence; ASYE offers opportunities for protected time (but this is often subject to demands of service and needs to enforced!) ASYE offers opportunity to develop good habits in linking practice with theory and research

difference between expectation and experience ≥ -10% difference between expectation and experience ≥ -20% p.38

So, does ASYE work? Yes, but it can work better.

? SOM E Current developments in ASYE... ASYE funding agreed for 2015/16 Skills for Care contracted to develop Adult ASYE Skills for Care currently reviewing Children’s ASYE Funding for employers dependant on adoption of Knowledge and Skills Statements (KSS) (DfE, 2014; DH 2015) as assessment criteria Need for new certification arrangements with demise of The College of Social Work ASYE THIS WAY

? SOM E Current developments in wider reform Increasing emphasis on Standards for Employers (Soc. Work Reform Partners, 2014) in inspections Introduction of Practice Development Educator status (re post qualification professional development; employer assessed) Development of Approved Child and Family Practitioner status (centrally assessed) Plan for new assessed status re practice leadership ASYE THIS WAY

Key themes: practice quality and quality assurance (see PEPS for further example!) What implications may it have for practice education?

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Developing the habit of analysis Social work practice is based on a range of sources of knowledge. How do we ensure we grow a student commitment to and understanding of them all? Sources of social work knowledge Practice evidence from specific case Own and others practice experience Legislation, policy, stat. guidance, procedures Service user/carer views Theory and research

On eclectism and the use of theory... How do/should we respond to this challenge? “In reality, few practitioners have the expertise to be [eclectic]” (Trevethick, 2000, p.19) “Grinker [suggests] biopsychosocial advocates really seek eclectic freedom,...which has come to mean, in practice, being allowed to do whatever one wants to do” (Ghaemi, 2009, p.3)

Different levels of reflection (CWDC, 2009(b), p.84) Most NQSWs develop their understanding of reflection from us. How do we drive down to deeper thought?

Most NQSWs first experience supervision on placement, with you. How do/will you evolve your approach? placements

So, are we doing a good (enough) job? What else would help?

References Berry-Lound, D. and Rowe, V., Evaluation of the Implementation of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (the ASYE) for Skills for Care. Revised Final Report November Horsham: Host Policy Research Carpenter, J., 'Evaluating Social Work Education: A Review of Outcomes, Measures, Research Designs and Practicalities' Social Work Education, 30 (2) pp. 122 – 140 CWDC, NQSW. Guide for Supervisors – Newly Qualified Social Worker Pilot Programme. Leeds: CWDC DfE, Knowledge and Skills Statement for Children and Family Social Work [on line] Available at _skills_for_child_and_family_social_work_-_government_response.pdf Accessed 05/06/ _skills_for_child_and_family_social_work_-_government_response.pdf DH, Knowledge and Skills Statement for Social Workers in Adult Services [on line] Available at Accessed 05/06/ Ghaemi, S. N., ‘The rise and fall of the biopsychosocial model’. The British Journal of Psychiatry,195, pp.3–4. Rutter, L. & Brown, K., Critical thinking and professional judgement for social work (3 rd ed). London: Learning Matters Social Work Reform Board, Narrative [on line] Available at does-the-social-work-reform-board-do Accessed 05/06/ does-the-social-work-reform-board-do Social Work Reform Partners, Standards for Employers of Social Workers in England. London: LGA Trevithick, P., Social Work Skills – a practice handbook. Buckingham: OUP