Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Co-produced by the organisations on the Social Work Reform Board, including
the Department of Health (DH) and the Department for Education (DfE).
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
This tool-kit is for prospective, new and continuing social work students.
You are joining the social work profession at a time of great change and opportunity for improving the
quality and status of the profession.
A suite of reforms are now being implemented across England based on the recommendations made by the Social
Work Task (SWTF) Force in December 2009 and further developed by the Social Work Reform Board (SWRB).
These reforms affect all areas of social work, including social work education, and have been developed by
listening to and working with employers, higher education institutions (HEIs), practitioners, service users and
carers, students and researchers over a two year period. This inclusive approach reflects the importance of a
range of different people and organisations working together and taking a shared responsibility for making
the reforms happen.
Reforms in social work education are being introduced to improve the quality and consistency of courses
in preparing students to become competent, effective and confident social workers.
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Background to the reformS
Taskforce
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Recommendations
Taking the
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED NOTES
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Reform of social work education
As a social work student you have a key role to play:
embracing the opportunities that reform presents, to bring about
positive change for social work;
taking responsibility for learning and self- development to become
a competent and confident social worker and improve outcomes
for people who use services.
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Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
The new landscape
Public Protection
Independent regulator.
Sets and requires minimum
threshold standards of practice,
conduct and competence.
Sets standards of education
and training.
Protects public from poor
practice and conduct.
Statutory registration.
Strong profession
Health and Care
Professions Council
(HCPC)
The College of
Social Work
(TCSW)
Championing
social work
Champion of best practice
and high standards.
Representing the profession
to media and public.
Driver of excellence.
Endorser of CPD
training programmes.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED NOTES
Compulsory registration
practice and conduct
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
and training programmes
A Shared Responsibility
for SOCIAL WORK education
Service users
and carers
HEIs
TCSW
Students
Employers
and practice
educators
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Competent and confident
social workers
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED NOTES
Practitioners,
people who
use services
and carer
TCSW
Partnerships
Social work
degree courses
preparing
competent
AND confident
practitioners
Government
funding
Local
authorities,
primary care
trusts (PCTs)
and voluntary
sector.
The regulator
(HCPC)
Students
Approved
programmes
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Social work students
key information the TCSW
Support
Support
TCSW’s communities of interest provide
a gateway to professional discussion and
development opportunities and resources
for specialist areas of social work.
TCSW will support you in working to the
highest possible professional standards,
and support you to record your CPD in line
with the regulator’s requirements via its
e-portfolio service (coming soon).
Knowledge @ The College practice helpdesk
supports you with your practice dilemmas.
TCSW’s endorsement scheme for CPD
providers and provision enables you to find
and use training providers that you can trust.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED NOTES
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Social work students
key information - the HCPC
HCPC and SW education
Regulation and registration
HCPC approves programmes that meet it’s
standards of education and training.
Social worker is a protected title. You will need
to register with HCPC in order to practice in
England.
Students must meet the HCPC Standards of
proficiency when they complete an approved
programme.
The HCPC do not register students, they run
a student suitability scheme which includes
support for education providers and maintaining
a prohibited list of those who cannot undertake
social work education.
The registration of social workers passed to the
HCPC on 01 August 2012.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED NOTES
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Social work students
key information Partnerships
Partnerships
Partnerships
HEIs and employers are expected to develop
partnerships to effectively design and deliver
social work qualifying courses.
Working in partnership is the key to effective
social work and the values that underpin
professional practice.
A key element of partnerships is to ensure
provision of high quality placements to support
an agreed intake of students.
While you are on your qualifying course, you will
find yourself working in partnership with a range
of groups and individuals. These will include
principally your tutors and practice educators,
but also service users and carers.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED NOTES
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Tools for social work students taking the reform forward
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CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED NOTES
The PCF forms the basis of design and delivery of the social work degree, and informs the CPD learning needs throughout a social worker’s career.
CPD Key Information
ASYE
CPD
- When you finish your qualifying course, your
first year of practice will be an assessed and
supported year of employment.
- IA new CPD approach
- This will help you to further develop the skills
and knowledge you developed during your
degree and prove to your current and future
employers that you are ready for a career in
social work. - TCSW will support you to work to the
highest possible professional standards, and
support you to record your CPD in line with
the regulators requirements via its e-portfolio
service (members only)
- TCSW’s endorsement scheme for CPD
providers and provision enables you to find
and use training providers that you can trust.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED NOTES
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Assessed and Supported Year
in Employment (ASYE)
SUPPORT
Assessed
YEAR
- for newly qualified social workers.
- through capability statements at
ASYE level in the Professional
Capabilities Framework (PCF).
- approximately twelve months of
ongoing growth and development.
- for employers.
SUPPORT
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED NOTES
Assessed
YEAR
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Thank you - any questions?
Get in touch with us via the ‘Contact us’
page on the TCSW website
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
DETAILED NOTES
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Background to THE reformS
DETAILED NOTES
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Setting the stage
What happened to the Social Work Task Force
recommendations and who owns them now?
Task force recommendations
Taking the recommendations forward
• 15 recommendations.
• Delivered in December 2009.
• Accepted by then government, who set up The Social Work Reform
Board to develop and implement recommendations.
• The College of Social Work, an independent body, is being established
to hold the professional standards for social work and promote
the profession.
• Also supported by the new coalition government in May 2010
and supplemented by the Munro review.
The College of Social Work
The Local Government Group
• Education reforms.
• CPD.
• Partnership.
• PCF.
• Standards for employers.
• Centre for Workforce Intelligence.
• Workforce model.
For further information about how the reforms were developed see:
https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/
Page1/DFE-00067-2012
or
http://www.collegeofsocialwork.org/pressrelease.aspx?id=6442451330.
SWRB work
• Reforms to qualifying education.
• Improving partnership work.
• Improving continued professional development (CPD)
• The Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF)
• Standards for employers.
• Workforce planning models.
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Reform of social work education
DETAILED NOTES
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Professional social work training is based on an agreed knowledge and skills base and a set of professional ethics
and values. This includes responsibility for the development of self and the profession in order to improve outcomes
for people who use social work services.
A time of transition
During the next three years, universities will be reviewing their programmes
and planning for change based on the agreed reforms, held by TCSW (the
professional body) and the requirements of the Health and Care Professions
Council (HCPC) – the new regulator for social work. This will include changes
in both the content and delivery of the degree and closer integration
between theory and practice.
Your university will provide clear information for you about what you are
expected to achieve in order to successfully complete your training.
Timescales for developing and implementing change will vary from university
to university. However, it is expected that the majority will begin to offer
revised courses for students starting in September 2013. The changes build
on the good quality courses which are already being delivered. Individual
higher education institutions construct their courses differently, but all will
help you to develop skills and knowledge essential for practising as a social
worker in terms of the academic curriculum and high quality placements.
For a full report on education reforms see:
http://www.collegeofsocialwork.org/uploadedFiles/TheCollege/_
CollegeLibrary/Reform_resources/ReformingSWQualifyingEducation(e
dref1)(1).pdf
Courses may be at different stages in implementing the reforms. However,
as long as they remain approved by the HCPC, successful completion will
give you eligibility to enter the HCPC register and work as a social worker.
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
The new landscape
DETAILED NOTES
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Social work has a new regulator, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and a new professional body,
The College of Social Work (TCSW), who will work together to support social work.
HCPC became the new regulator on 1 August 2012.
The role of The College of Social Work
This means that the HCPC is now responsible for:
TCSW, on behalf of the profession, will promote good practice, provide
information and guidance, and disseminate research to support
improvement in social work initial qualifying education.
• approving social work qualifying courses;
• registering social workers once they have successfully completed an
approved social work course and have met HCPC requirements;
• ensuring that registered social workers continue to meet the HCPC
standards of proficiency (SOPs) and standards of conduct,
performance and ethics (SCPEs), through monitoring and auditing
continuing professional development;
• investigating complaints about social workers.
See http://www.hpc-uk.org/ for further detail.
The practice based faculties and communities of interest and the
education and development community, will enable practitioners and
other stakeholders to contribute to the overall enhancement of social work
education which continues to meet practice knowledge, skills and values.
(http://www.collegeofsocialwork.org/about-us/governance).
TCSW is developing an endorsement scheme for social work degree courses
which will provide a kite-mark of quality. This will operate alongside the
regulatory function of approval carried out by HCPC and is designed to support
and supplement the HCPC requirements, not duplicate them. Endorsement will
confirm that the HEI is delivering courses which have incorporated the social
work reforms agreed by the sector.
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Competent and confident
social workers DETAILED NOTES
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Social work education is one part of the whole reform agenda which affects and is affected by other parts
of the system. Success in implementing reform at this time will be achieved through the commitment
of a range of organisations and individuals working together sharing expertise and resources.
HCPC threshold standards, together with the Professional Capability Framework,
(PCF), and the adoption of reforms agreed by the sector and held by TCSW
should effectively work together to improve consistency and quality of courses.
Government funding
The Department of Health (DH) currently provides financial support in
the form of student bursaries and incentives, such as grants for practice
learning and to support the involvement of service users and carers in
designing and delivering social work education. Government (DH and DfE)
also makes policy decisions about social work and social work education.
The DH has recently consulted on student bursaries to consider different
options for the future. Bursary provision for all students currently enrolled on
courses (including the 2012 intake) will not change.
Approved programmes
These will provide infrastructure and resources to support course delivery,
including skilled and knowledgeable lecturers, tutors and researchers.
Local authority, PCTs and voluntary sector
Employers are key partners in the initial education process – they provide
the placement opportunities needed, and ensure sufficient numbers of
experienced practice educators are available to meet the needs of students.
New standards for practice educators have been developed to ensure high
quality teaching, supervision and assessment of all placements.
Practitioners, service users and carers
Practitioners, service users and carers should be involved in the selection
of students, skills development, teaching and assessment, and make a
contribution to course delivery which is highly valued by students. Service
users and carers provide important feedback to students.
The regulator – HCPC
HCPC will approve and monitor courses against standards of proficiency and
standards of education and training.
TCSW
TCSW holds the PCF and practice educator standards, sets criteria and
endorses courses. TCSW’s faculties and communities of interest feed into
course design and delivery.
Students
Students contribute a commitment to learning and to providing evaluation
and feedback on all aspects of the course.
Partnerships
Partnerships between HEIs, employers, service users, carers, etc. help inform
the design and delivery of courses, and have a key role in provision of high
quality placements.
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Social work students
key information - the TCSW
DETAILED NOTES
Students can join TCSW for £10 a year. Joining us will ensure that you are
part of your chosen profession and keep you up to date with all the issues
affecting the profession.
This includes access to communities of interests, a monthly e-magazine,
‘Social Work Matters’, and access to academic journals and e-books.
These all provide information and tools to support good practice, and an
opportunity to network and exchange ideas with other social workers across
the country. For full details of membership benefits see
http://www.collegeofsocialwork.org/membership/
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For a summary of the TCSW’s role relating to social work education please see:
http://www.collegeofsocialwork.org/professional-development/students/
Once you have qualified, TCSW will continue to support you to continue to
develop your learning and skills through endorsement of CPD training and an
e-portfolio for you to record your learning activities and outcomes.
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Social work students
key information - the HCPC
DETAILED NOTES
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Successful completion of your qualifying course provides eligibility for you to apply to enter the Health and Care
Professions Council register of social workers from the summer of 2012. You must be registered in order to work
as a social worker.
Students
HCPC does not require social work students to register with it, unlike the
previous regulator the General Social Care Council (GSCC). However, as
prospective registrants, students will need to be aware of and understand the
implications of the standards required of them when they are on the HCPC
register. More can be found out about the Standards of Conduct, Performance
and Ethics’ with ‘standards of conduct, performance and ethics at
http://www.hpc-uk.org/assets/documents/10003B08Standardsofprofici
ency-SocialworkersinEngland.pdf
HCPC has announced interim arrangements for assuring social
work students fitness to practise.
HCPC has introduced transitional arrangements to ensure that where
students have been removed from a programme of study following concerns
about their character and conduct, HCPC will consider whether this means
that they are unfit to participate in all social work programmes in England
and therefore need to be placed on the ‘prohibited’ record list.
See http://www.hpc-uk.org/mediaandevents/news/index.asp?id=480.
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Social work students
key information Partnerships
DETAILED NOTES
HEIs, employers and service users and carers are expected to work together to
design and deliver course provision, based on agreed partnership principles.
The Social Work Reform Board and TCSW have developed guidance on partnership
working which is essential for the delivery of high quality programmes.
CLICK HERE TO GO BACK
Students and partnerships
Students will be expected to take responsibility for learning with, and from,
service users and carers, tutors, practice educators, practitioners and other
professionals and to contribute to programme improvement through
providing open and honest feedback on course provision.
Partnerships will take responsibility for:
• providing sufficient high quality placements to ensure that all students are
able to benefit from learning and assessment in practice;
• designing, delivering, monitoring and evaluating courses to ensure
provision is up to date with relevant knowledge, policy, research and practice;
• building on existing effective arrangements and ensuring participation of
voluntary and independent organisations and people who use services
and carers.
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
The Professional Capabilities
Framework DETAILED NOTES
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The Professional Capabilities Framework (The PCF)
A time of transition
A key outcome of the reform work has been the development of the
Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) by SWRB and social workers.
This is now owned by The College of Social Work.
Some HEIs will use the PCF as a framework for their courses from September
2012. The majority, however, plan to start offering revised courses for
students starting in September 2013. Your university will provide clear
information for you about what you are expected to achieve in order to
successfully complete your training.
Students currently on qualifying programmes may first formally encounter
the PCF when they qualify and start their Assessed and Supported Year in
Employment (ASYE).
The PCF will guide your learning through your initial qualifying education,
your assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE) and continuing
professional development throughout your career. The PCF sets capability
statements for all stages of a social worker’s career from entry into training
to the most advanced levels of social work practice. The PCF will inform the
design and delivery of the social work degree and form the basis for selection
of students, the design of the curriculum, and thresholds for assessment of
readiness for direct practice and first and last placement.
Find out more about the PCF.
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Social work students
after qualification DETAILED NOTES
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Completing your degree is not the end of your study.
CPD
The next slide provides a brief introduction to ASYE.
Once you have graduated you will be expected to continue to keep your skills
and knowledge up to date and relevant to the work you are undertaking, e.g.
as you take on more specialist and complex work. In order to remain registered
as a social worker you will have to show that you have kept up to date by
undertaking (CPD) which meets HCPC standards for re-registration.
See http://www.hpc-uk.org/registrants/cpd/
For further information about ASYE there is a short introduction intended
for social work students.
Standards for continuing professional development (http://www.hcpc-uk.
org/publications/standards/index.asp?id=101) – the standards which
describe how registrants record and update their knowledge and skills
throughout their career. They require social workers to maintain a record
of their CPD, learn in a variety of ways (not just formal learning) and
demonstrate benefits to their practice and service users. HCPC randomly
audits 2.5% of each profession it regulates every two years. The first audit
of social workers will take place from September­­–November 2014.
TCSW has developed a new approach to continuing professional
development, based on the reforms agreed by the sector which seek to
support CPD to encourage knowledge and skills development to the higher
level set by the PCF.
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students
Assessed and Supported Year
in Employment (ASYE) DETAILED NOTES
Introduce the ASYE through
these three key themes - further
information is available at
www.skillsforcare.org.uk/asye
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Support – for newly qualified social workers:
Assessed
• is provided by their employer.
• There is an ASYE level within the PCF against
which the ASYE assessment is undertaken.
• is summarised later in the NQSW toolkit.
Support - for employers:
• is provided by Skills for Care (SfC) for employers in adult services, and the Department for
Education for employers in services for children
and families.
• includes information supported by case studies
at www.skillsforcare.org.uk/asye
• funding support of £2,000 per NQSW
for 2012/13.
• There is information for employers about
the principles of holistic assessment and the
PCF provided by TCSW and SfC.
Year
• The support and assessment should normally
take place over the first year of professional
social work practice.
• Employers can decide to vary this, for example
if the NQSW works part-time or goes on
maternity leave or has an extended period
of ill health.
Social Work Reform: A shared responsibility
A toolkit for social work students