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How to give inductions

It takes time for anyone to adapt to a new organisation, writes Nathalie Towner. Induction programmes help the process along by giving new starters the opportunity to learn about their employer and understand what is expected of them. When done well it will make a new social worker feel they’ve made the right decision and they will start the job committed, enthusiastic and productive.

1 Why is it important?

A good induction will reinforce for someone that they’ve made the right choice. “It’s important for staff to feel welcome to the organisation and for them to find out as much as possible about the role they are going to undertake,” says Sam Hitchcock, senior training officer for children and families at Gloucestershire Council. By the end of their induction they should have the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to do their job.

2 Give it time

In a pressurised working environment it’s tempting to leave the new recruit to get on with it but this won’t benefit anyone in the long-term. “Don’t underestimate the time that should be allocated to new staff,” warns Roberta Hayes, head of service, business support and development for social services and housing at Denbighshire Council. “It is a high risk if staff aren’t fully aware of the organisation’s policy and procedures.”

3 Early days

Denbighshire Council provides the line manager with a checklist of everything to go over in the first two weeks of a new person joining. “This will involve health and safety, showing them round the office and introducing them to the team,” explains Hayes.
They will also be given an induction folder which includes helpful telephone numbers, photos of people at HQ, structures of the organisation and details of their annual leave and other benefits.

4 Communicate

It’s important to introduce new starters to sections outside their group so they can build up contacts and get a feel for the culture of the organisation. As well as running corporate and social services welcome days Gloucestershire Council holds “café style” meetings where service managers speak to small groups about their section’s work. “Many social workers are experienced in their particular area but it is useful for them to know what else the organisation offers,” says Hitchcock. Hayes adds that it’s crucial for a new starter to understand they’re not in an isolated team but working as part of a multi-agency organisation. “If you don’t give someone time to discover networks they won’t know what exists, what resources are available to them and they won’t have the chance to form working relationships with other agencies,” she says.

5 Training needs

Gloucestershire Council is in the process of setting up a social work foundation that will help with the training needs of all new starters. Even experienced social workers will need to attend some courses as if they come from a different authority they will be used to different assessment procedures. Denbighshire also runs a programme of 10 sessions for its newly qualified starters and Canadian recruits. “For the Canadians it concentrates on the way things are done in Britain and for the newly qualifieds it makes them aware of policies, procedures and forms they need to be familiar with,” says Hayes. For those that want it there is also the opportunity to be linked to a mentor for the first six months.

6 Feeling valued

The first six months are the crucial time for the new starter. If the induction is a success they will feel valued and properly prepared for when the pressure really starts. “We’re very conscious of retention so we want to address any gaps and meet any needs,” says Hitchcock. “Basically we want the social workers to be happy here as we know there is competition out there.”

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