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04 Feb 2022

Your learning

NQSW Supported Year progress update

Some newly qualified social workers (NQSW) have now started their supported year at early implementation sites around Scotland.

Early implementation sites

All early implementation sites are considering what is involved with the supported year and identifying what tasks and processes are needed to enable NQSWs to start the supported year. This includes identifying the NQSWs in the organisation, as well supporting managers and supervisors with their understanding and what is required of them.

Some organisations have used the implementation grant to establish a full or part time post to lead or coordinate the supported year, which has proved beneficial in driving the process.

Support for supervisors and newly qualified social workers

Supervision is a core element of the NQSW Supported Year. We are delivering supervision training sessions for managers involved in supervising NQSWs who are part of the supported year. The training is based on the supervision resources available on the NQSW website. To date 30 managers have engaged in these sessions and we’ve received positive feedback from them, saying the sessions helped their learning on supporting and supervising a NQSW.

Learning together

The SSSC NQSW project team meet bimonthly with the key people involved and representatives from the early implementation sites. This forum has two functions.

To provide an opportunity for those involved to share information and experiences.

To learn together and share ideas about how to implement the supported year.

The early implementation sites have found this a valuable resource and are sharing information and learning to support recommendations to Scottish Government on the way forward.

More information

The early implementation of the NQSW Supported Year is still in the early stages. We are currently developing the early implementation section of the NQSW website to share further information, tools and resources to support awareness raising and implementation. We aim to complete this section by the end of March.

Visit the NQSW website for information about the NQSW Supported Year, as well as materials to support social work practice www.nqsw.sssc.uk.com

The project team are happy to respond to any questions or comments about the NQSW Supported Year. You can get in touch with us at nqswproject@sssc.uk.com

Background

The NQSW Supported Year outlines the minimum support and learning opportunities required to make sure NQSW can evidence consolidation and development of their social work professional practice in line with their responsibilities as an employee and as a registered social worker. Professional supervision and professional development are central to the approach.

Working with others, we have refined the approach and created resources to support NQSWs, supervisors and employers. The programme of work is overseen by a stakeholder Implementation Group.

The following areas are involved in the early implementation of the NQSW Supported Year.

  • Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership 
  • North Lanarkshire Council 
  • Perth and Kinross Council 
  • South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership 
  • Dundee City Council 
  • East Dunbartonshire Council 
  • Edinburgh City Council 
  • Fife Council 
  • SWIIS Foster Care Scotland 
  • Shetland Islands Council, Orkney Islands Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Argyll and Bute Council, Highland Council and Moray Council  

Contact

You can get in touch with us at nqswproject@sssc.uk.com

Contact information

Lorraine Wakefield
Communications Manager
Scottish Social Services Council
media@sssc.uk.com