Only one-third of newly qualified children's social workers believe their degree courses prepared them fully or largely for their job, according to government research. Read story on this here  Does the degree need an overhaul?

 

Oh  my goodness does it need an overhaul. These poor newly qualified Social Workers are like lambs to the slaughter (apologies to veggies). they have no idea what is happening in the work place and I do feel hearterly sorry for them .The courses are set up to give students an overview of what is happening in Social Work and my opinion is that you dont actually start learning until after you qualify. I have had students who have mixed experinece but have found that those wh oworked for the LA unqualified in SW have a clearer understanding than those who decide to take up the profession without any background. There needs to be a more indepth understanding regarding expectations and the role that we play in todays society then maybe SW's would not feel so isolated and deskilled.   

Hi All

As only 2 years post qualifying myself, I speak from experience.  I view my degree a bit like a 'driving licence' and like driving, you become more compitent and confident as a social worker the longer you practice.  In fact, you never stop learning and developing (plus accomodating policy and law changes) - it just slows down over time. Hence, having to evidence continual professional development to remain registered with the GSCC. 

Take Care

Shellie

I love the way that Shellie described it. I don't believe any professional degree can effectively produce newly qualified people who are expected to know everything from day one, that is unrealistic especially for a profession as wide as social work and the generic nature of the degree.

I am a second year student and have just finished a six month statutory placement from which I learnt a vast amount. It was in a residential family assessment centre and although it was a charitable organisation was classed as a statutory placement due to the nature of the work. I am one of the lucky ones as there is a huge shortage of good quality statutory placements. In fact the criteria for what constitutes a statutory placement has been relaxed due to lack of suitable places meaning that most students won't experience a placement within a local authority.

Placements are a large element of the degree course. Without experienced social work professionals (and managers) who are willing to be part of the education process and offer good quality placements an overhaul of the degree is pointless. Most people learn by doing things, not merely reading about them and if social work professionals are not willing to invest time and effort in students then it is only natural that the knowledge and experience of newly qualified social workers will suffer as a result.

I think it depends on previous experiences as well as the quality of the teaching. For me I have more than 20 years experience in social care work and think I understand the realities of the workplace. But I know that there is still a lot to learn as there is for qualified practitioners too.

One real bugbear in my uni is the dreadful levels of attendance of some students - how can they prepare for anything if they don't go? This is not checked up on sufficiently, and it worries me that these people will be in the workplace soon.

At my university we had to sign a register and non-attendance meant we would have to do extra work to prove we had caught up. This was definitely checked as one of my friends got stung!

I think you are very protected as a student-given easier cases and a lot of supervision. I think I am relatively lucky in my first post (CP long-term work) as I have had supervision every 6 weeks, however when you were used to it every week or every two weeks as I had in my placements (both statutory one CP and one learning disabilities) this seems an age and it is packed into a few hours. Managers are also really busy and I feel I am asking lots of questions(even though Im sure Im not). CP is something I had little direct experience of as I did not hold these as student- I co-worked. The reality of never-ending core groups, CP reviews and stat visits with no one to help me type them up has been a bit of a shock!  

However perhaps I am feeling negative as I have have a lot on this week and feel tired already... I am enjoying the work-I think, but when speaking to my peers who also recently graduated there is a collective sense of 'what have we done' and I felt we were fairly realistic prior to qualifying about how hard it would be. I definitely agree with posts on other topics that we need to expose the realities of Social Work to those who are ignorant of the pressures but feel they are qualified to comment.

I also think a post qualifying year for newly qualified social workers would be welcomed by most as training and the opportunity to shadow colleagues in the induction period seems to have been non-existent for some of my friends who were basically just handed their cases. Not ideal. I think more regular supervision would also be welcomed-perhaps every three/four weeks initially then lengthening so that you have a chance to adjust from student mode. (Not that managers would have time of course!)

It is also definitely easier for you if you choose to work somewhere you were a student. I didnt and have found the change of IT system and ways of working (even the geography) quite an adjustment!

Just a few thoughts..

 

Hello

I understand what Jasmine is saying about the realities of practicing as a newly qualified worker.  I think the policy and procedures around this vary local authority to local authority.  In my LA in Yorkshire, newly qualified workers carry a protected work load and are not aloud to chair cin meetings or core group (still attend and take minutes, write the reports and speak at the meetings etc) and this has proved invaluable.  Initially workers would have supervision fortnighly, then move to monthly supervision.  Monthly is the maximum supervsion given. 

It would be interesting to see what occurs in other authorities?  

Take Care

Shellie

As a part-time student in my final year, I have to say that if the intention of the degree is to disseminate confusion and misinformation, to disillusion students, to bully and intimidate, and to generally introduce students to the concept of 'burnout', then it is more than successful. I am actually very nervous of entering the profession as my confidence has been shattered by my experience at university, and, despite meeting many committed and talented social workers in practice, seeing the bureaucracy and bad practice in the workplace has depressed me utterly. Having spoken to students from different universities and practice teachers supporting a range of students, it has become clear that different establishments have very different standards - some very practice-oriented, some attempting a more academic approach. Shouldn't the process be standardised, and approved?

I qualified last year from the undergraduate degree, but didn't start work until after the summer. When I was a student, I did not do any statutory placements, and as I have not come from a social work background, I had no experience of childcare social work at all.

I have to say, I have had a really positive experience since starting work. In our team, supervision is every 4 weeks (at least), and as a newly qualified worker I also have mentoring with our deputy. Though I have to say I also have lots of 'unofficial' support from team members.

My manager has also kept me on a protected caseload and I dont have any CP only child in need. This is not a reflection of my ability, but more a reflection that my manager beleives that newly qualified workers should be protected for at least the first year.

I know I am really lucky, because I appreciate this is not the norm. I am so glad that I have this time though, as it is giving me the opportunity to fully appreciate the job and all it entails. Hopefully this means I will be better suited to a long career in social work and not be quickly burnt out as I know others have been.

As an overseas educated and trained social worker I find this discussion interesting.  Our degree program is very similar just a year longer.  It is generally a generic degree that covers a wide range of topics that eventually leads to determine which population that we wish to work with once we have graduated.  From there, we can take additional courses or we rely on our employer to train us for the specific tasks that they have hired us for.  It seems to work and no one has asked if our degree is preparing us for practice.

I have 12 years of post graduating experience including two years of CP work here in the UK.  From what I see, it is not the degree or the education....it is the system that we work in.  As a CP worker in Ontario, I was given a three month training program at the beginning of my employment which included 2-3 three days a week in class and a very small protected caseload.  I also had mentor which was a senior worker who had a great deal of experience and knowledge.  To work as a CP worker in Ontario, this course must be completed (certificate provided upon completion) and our employer must pay for the course and make the time available for us to complete it.  This training was invaluable as it gave me an introduction to CP work and it's history in Ontario.  I was also informed on the laws and policies regarding our practice and given practical support such as how to write an affidavit (statement), time manage my caseload and complete my paperwork demands. Once finished this course, we are then offered, on a regular basis, training so that we continue to inform our practice.  We also have legislated case caps which really helps.  The work is still demanding, chaotic and unfortunately children have died but like I said before, no one is asking if our universities are educating social workers fit for practice.

I think that even if the degree was separated and different streams where introduced such as children services vs adult services, then this would take away from learning about other aspects of the work that we do. I believe that it is not the education alone that makes us good practitioners but the support the we receive from our employers that enables us to continue to grow and develop good practice.  Even with all of my own experience and training prior to coming to the UK, I still have found that I become overwhelmed by the work and frustrated by the system of red tape that we have to navigate, never mind the high caseload numbers and extensive paperwork demands.  

I qualified last year on the MA program which is 2 years.  Attendance on my course was by some students was very bad and out of 27 students we regularly had only between 5 and 10 attending in our final year. This was not addressed and how they learnt enough to qualify is a mystery to me. 

 The stuff we learnt on our course was very interesting but as a part time, newly qualified worker in a first response team I feel I have very little time to use some of what I learnt.  I have no case load protection and as a consequence have no space to think and develop my skills. I don't think it is what I was taught (though some of the teaching was appalling), more than it's very difficult to prepare someone for the realities of social work.

I think that a one year scheme for newly qualified social workers such as teachers have, would help with the transition from student to qualified social worker.

First of all - it's practise - the verb. Practice is the noun. A small point but I am so tired of students and colleagues who can't spell! How do we expect to be taken seriously as professionals if degree educated social workers don't know the difference between, for example, aloud and allowed - as per this blog?Got that off my chest!It's only 5 years since the social work qualification WAS overhauled and what a process that was - a load of preconceived ideas masquerading as consultation. It was changed from a 2 year diploma to a 3 year degree; practice learning days increased from 130 days to 200 days (half of the course); intended to be led by practice, rather than academia. Those of who have been around for a bit still refer to it as the 'new' degree.I don’t have an instant solution but the following thoughts have occurred to me:Many social workers appear reluctant to take themselves seriously as members of a professionMany would be social work students, don’t appear to understand the role and seem to have a vague idea about ‘helping’ peopleDoes anyone want to change the world anymore?This government has promoted higher education. If a young person expects to go to university, isn’t it sensible that they would be attracted to a degree that is paid for and that attracts a bursary?The degree is genericMy experience is that academia ‘owns’ the training, with a level of tension between the HEI and the agenciesAcademic teaching does not reflect the increasingly managerial role of statutory social workWhat does the government want from ‘social workers’?What is social work?Not sure that any of the above helps but I am someone who cares about my profession and worries about where it is going  

 

Hello mad old bat

I think we all understand what the original poster meant and it is not useful or productive to get pedantic about peoples incorrect use of grammar or feel justified in dishing out admonishment to folk.

As for my spelling mistake, I realised as soon as I wrote it ......... but hey I have better things to concern myself about ....... like planning for the following day's interventions, meetings and report writing.  Yes I do take more care where it counts!!!! 

There! I have got that of my CHEST!! ;)

Take Care

Shellie

There are a couple of us from North America on here, madoldbat. The spelling of the word practice with a "c" is correct in US English, for both the noun and the verb. What is not correct, however, on either side of the pond, is capitalization after the use or misuse of a colon. We all make mistakes, after all, don't we?

Thanks Nadine.  Well said.

Hi I qualified 2007 from Derby uni,at the age of 36. Before this I spent 5 years informally caring for my baby who had cancer. Derby University did not at my first application accept me for interview, as they would not take informal care as experience in health or social care (this I feel is wrong). At the time this angered me. I began an open university degree and did k100, k260; k269 I did vey well and soon discovered I was an academoic genious. This was a shock as I had only 1 o'level and 2 a levels.

I dedicated the next 3 years to my degree, forsaking my kids which cant be right on any level,  I chaired Home start for 18months,first PLO family group conferencing (I love this model) No body else seems to though , low level support.  2nd PLO Home for Older people (no role for a social work student) 3rd PLO excellent disabled childrens team, disability fostering team.  All very positive and specific to need.

Since qualifying I have worked in residential child care on a relief and prolonged temporeary contract for one local authority, I love this job,but despite my qualification I am the lowest paid member of staff despite any contractual qualification bar. I also work for another local authority in the children and families team as a qualified social worker. (there is 7000.00 per year difference in wages pro rata).

 This local autority grows their own social workers, were my experience provides me with much legal and theoretical knowlege far reaching in a theoretical and very value based capacity I feel procedurally and practically for the job in hand  the trainnees are better prepared and so much more experienced. I also find it difficult to understand how they may study totally different subjects to what we did yet get the same (well deserved)qualifcation. 

 

Lins:

I have had students who have mixed experinece but have found that those who worked for the LA unqualified in SW have a clearer understanding than those who decide to take up the profession without any background. There needs to be a more indepth understanding regarding expectations and the role that we play in todays society then maybe SW's would not feel so isolated and deskilled.   

 

This has been my route into the area and I feel incredibly sorry for those on my course who have come to the degree with no prior experience.  I've found I've only managed to grasp new concepts and theories due to being able to relate them my experience, my placement is far less daunting and I know what I'm letting myself in for.  When the course is finished and I'm off practising I'm in for no surprises, I know what I'm in for - the politics, the lack of resources etc.  I agree with Lins in that what I'm learning right now over these 3 years is the foundation, I will know very little when I'm done, only that I need to learn more.

I'm not saying that the course should only be open to those who have previously been unqualified SW but the courses have reuirequirements for getting in that include relevant experience, perhaps they should be a little tighter.

The only thing I'd change about the degree is the pathway choices, how useful is a children's and families social worker who has no understanding of the issues that impact on the parents! So why separate the degree like this and not educate the children and families pathway students on key issues such as mental health etc.? 

 Popeye,

 I agree that - obviously enough -pre-qualifying experience is extremely important (although sometimes an 'unlearning' process can be important for some people too!) - although I think there is a tendency to exaggerate the continuities between statutotory social work and more family support type roles; they are - in practice, radically different.

 

BUT

 

when feeling "sorry" for people - beware of the phrase "unqualified social worker". No one should be using that term any more. There's no such thing. Either your a social worker or you're not. It also offends against Registration of Title Registration. 

if you don't agree, imagine yourself in hospital, a jolly nice chap comes along in a white coat and says hello ... ."I'm your unqualified heart surgeon" . There you go......

Having just qualified and having started work straight away in my placement workplace, I believe that the social work degree course cannot fully prepare you for all the individuals and families that are encountered.  The degree course cannot prepare for the personalities, the histories or the traits of individuals, but what it does prepare you for is an understanding of human growth and development, some understanding of the numbers of families effected by parent's drug and alcohol use, use of language and body language and how individuals can be marginalised and discriminated against in society.  I am sure there are many other aspects of the course I carry forward, but social work is an on-the-job profession (that I am sure all those experience social workers know)  that is rich with everyday experiences of individual and family lives and from which I take my learning from.

Eastend - I was lucky (?) to be able to work as an unqualified worker with an indistinguishable case load to that of a newly qualified (a decade ago), one of the reasons I'm now studying is that secondment was cancelled due to lack of money and my role became a family support worker which I did not enjoy.

You are right about the job title no longer existing however I can't deny that the opportunities and experience I gained were amazing in terms of my readiness for the degree and it must be must harder to go into the degree with no experience what so ever. 

Hi, you've made me laugh (in a nice way), thank you I've had a krap day.

The GSCC has just released an audit of the five years of the degree to date. Interesting findings - it seems to locate a lot of the problems in relation to the degree - placement quality, lack of support for newly-qualifieds - in the relationship between employers and universities. In particular, it says universities need to build more effective partnerships with employers, for instance by inviting managers to lead teaching sessions.

Does anyone know of why things don't work so well between employers and universities in some cases?

 

 

Mine certainly hasn't prepared me!  I am in my final year (100 days) placement.  In my first year I spent two placements observing, 1 in a drop in centre for the unemployed (mainly older people), and the other in a fostering placement, where there were 5 other students and no work.  My second  year placement was in an older persons voluntary placement, again unfortunately not enough work.  This years placement is within a secondary school , which is pilot scheme, so no defined role as to what a social worker is to do.  II haven't as yet, held a case load of any sort, have not done any assessments, haven't worked in statutory setting or worked with a social worker (both my placements, I have had a long armed tutor).  The only thing I have going for me is that I was a SENCO, so am aware of ASPIRE works from that angle.  Unless this year picks up big time, I can't see myself going anywhere or being useful to anyone.

i had a second year placement within a school setting and as like yourself it was a pilot scheme.  initially, roles were blurred and there was no defined idea as to my role within the school setting, however, what the school setting did support was time to research and locate local services for signposting parents and children to; work with parents in a support/counselling capacity; look at how other agencies viewed social services and an understanding of how frustrating, at times, it could be for other agencies not to have cases referred taken on within the social services arena, either CP or CHIN; and an understanding of the roles of other agencies (for example, schools, ed pshycs, counsellors) and how those agencies can also support children.  However, like nan1 there were no statutory assessments and no social workers to seek support from, but whatever work I did do was evidenced which supported any future social services intervention.  Given more time within the role, I am sure I could have carried out a better job because, as mentioned before, there was no clear understanding as to my role. 

It may be a good idea to seek ideas from social workers who are placed within schools. 

Hello,

I know this thread topic has been around for a while but I have read it with interest and felt compelled to reply.

I agree that attendance is a huge issue on the degree programme. I am in my second year and was amazed at some students who repeatedly failed to attend lectures. Unfortuanelty many found the law module very hard going, so guess what? They wouldn't attend. Some lectures had a quarter of the class, if not less present. This to me was totally shocking, I have 5 years pre-degree experience in residential and have come across the good, the bad and the ugly of social workers! I say this jokingly but on a serious note and I feel awful for saying this,  but I can fully understand why social workers get given a poor reputation.

I am on placement at present and I can safely say that, as yet, I haven't had to work at a higher level than in my previous job where I was team leader of a chidren's home. This has been immensley difficult for me to get my head around but unfortunately level 2 placements are set at a certain bar and my experience counts for very little when they have to find 30 places for the other students who have no experience. I sometimes wish there was a more condensed degree option for those with experience to 'fast track' but then I suppose this would under value the whole point of 'out with the DipSw, in with the Degree!'

Some of my peers and I discuss at times concerns we have with some of the other students and what they will be like as social workers and to be honest the thought horrifeis us. One particular lecturer who is only just out of the field, constantly hammers into the gorup about professionalism and best practice....however, those who are there with excellent attendance aren't the ones who really need to hear this message are they! Even as a student group,  attendance has been raised as an issue as the University doesn't have an attendance percentage to attain for the course. Some other Universities do and those frustrated by the poor attendance advocated for the Uni bringing in an attendance criteria or to set extra work if key lectures are missed but they won't.

I am sincerely hoping that having been in the field, those with little experience will have a new way of thinking and will have picked up the importance of the role of social worker or else I sadly foresee a whole ream of poorly prepared social workers hitting the streets in July 2010.

Squirrel.

 

No!!

Sadly squirrel your observations on attendance is actually a very long standing problems.  Some uni's appear to handle it better than others, but obviously not all!

emm when i was at uni like many others i noticed a 'lack of students'   many of the students were support workers with the LA and they felt they didnt need to attend the law module

guess what they failed.i came from nowwhere and was eager to understand every think

guess what i passed.

i had 3 great placements- one in adoption one in residental and the final one in a LA 16 plus team.

i now have a good job in the front line side of social work ( admit it a spec team- UASC)

my message is you need to go to classes, however it doe'nt prepair you for the ' real' side of social work but it gives you a dam realalistic view of it.