The Tories propose "high flyer" social work scheme

The Tories have published a report that says graduates from top universities should be fast-tracked into social work - have a read on their plans here

This is to boost recruitment and retention problems in the sector - by attracting high calibre people, services will improve, so the theory goes. It has worked in teaching, with the Teach First scheme the Tories are modelling their idea on. The scheme, which began in the UK in 2003 has shown a 50% retention rate.

Good idea?

 

So what is the criteria for Top University and who says that they make the best or most intelligent Social Workers?

For Teach First, its mainly Oxford and Cambridge graduates and others from the top or so 20 institutions - good question on whether they make the best or most intelligent social workers. social work is far trickier than teaching, especially for graduates who have spent too much time with their nose in a book and not living...but that's not to say it couldnt work - I imagine you would have to really give people a lot of hands on experience during the two years of "fast-track" training

 

I can understand the concept of having teacher training but I cant get to grips with why they are being placed above the expertise of pure SW. Shouldnt life experience be given some precidence as well as the indivduals capability to be able to do a very difficult job. Afterall look at alot of senior management who believe they have a better or greater level of educationa than the shopfloor staff usually they lift their heads out of a book to tell us how to do our jobs then realise they are either out of date or reading the wrong page. Sorry to be so cynical but it just feels that again people in politics have no idea what our role is and how hard our jobs are.

 

They tories could introduce stats for SW and get the americans to mark us then we will all get top marks.  

well there is an insinuation in the tories' plan that the current quality of social work recruits is not high enough. isnt it the case that the current quality of training, rather than the recruits, is not high enough? dont you think the money spent on this scheme would be better invested in boosting up the existing workforce to stop people from leaving?

 

Even the new SW degree has been criticised for being too basic or not hitting the mark. SW degrees regardless of where you graduate is a stepping stone and should be seen as much. I totally agree that it is the retention and continous good quality training which will produce good quality SW we need to keep our workers so that their knowledge base grows over a sustained period of time. I am tired of hearing that newly qualified workers are leaving as they are burnt out. Support and promote should be the buzz and stop downgrading experience and knowledge and place where you graduate as a sign of a quality worker. You just have to look at the people that run the country and who want to run the country to know that education does not mean brains. An example of this David Cameron parks his bike and doesnt lock it what happens it gets stolen silly boy even people form poor and deprived areas know not to do that.    

wouldn't they be better off investing in plenty of good quality placements so students can really experience what being a social worker is all about?

 

I do feel that Universities need to take some responsibilty for the placements for students as they do not match the placements to the need learning or otherwise to the students. I am sure that they would say they struggle to get placements but do they actually seek out placements and offer a good enough incentive. For example a reduced caselaod is a joke and unrealistic.

a friend of mine is about to go into her third year and as yet hasn't shadowed a social worker. the uni does have to take some responsibility but if the gov put in better insentives for organisations etc to welcome student social workers surely this would not only benefit the student but also the quality of newly qualified social workers as this would encourage good placements for students.