Reflective sessions that allow social workers to put the local into national discussions

Reflective sessions that encourage social workers to take national research and apply it to their local settings and the families and children they support, is one of a number of strategies Dorset Council is pushing to enhance the learning experience for its workforce.

Launched at the end of 2020, these bi-monthly sessions are open to seasoned and newly qualified social workers.

“What we do in these reflective sessions is give social workers the space to discuss national research, such as research in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) for example, in their locality teams. The aim is to look at this national research through the lens of a child and their family, in say Weymouth, and bring it to life,” says Jack Corrigan, Dorset’s principal social worker (PSW), who leads on this work alongside the workforce development team.

Understanding local needs

In 2019, Dorset transitioned to a unitary authority and with it, the need for greater emphasis on understanding local needs across its six localities: Dorchester, Weymouth, Wareham, Ferndown, Bridport, and Blandford and Sturminster Newton.

Each locality has slightly different population needs. Having social workers that are able to understand these nuances is why the council is keen on emphasising the need for a local focus in the training that is delivered.

Jack collaborates with Dorset’s workforce development team to identify research areas that would be suitable for social workers to reflect on. The sessions include safe sleeping, impact chronologies and adverse childhood experiences. Although the sessions are in their infancy, Jack believes this reflective time will help social workers to think more locally and build deeper relationships with local partner agencies.

sourced from Dorset Council

Strong partnership links

Dorset already has strong links with local community services in mental health, local drug and alcohol, and child exploitation but is keen to see these partnerships deepen. These partner agencies already participate in the council’s targeted learning workshop sessions, which support people on Dorset’s ASYE programme and are run throughout the year.

“These local community organisations are really important because not only can they give ASYEs greater insight into the subject matter – ie child exploitation – but they give local solutions too,” says Jack. “That can be really important to a new learner because otherwise, the learning can seem quite nebulous. So in the case of a topic such as county lines, our aim is to link learning with local experience and with local resource.”

Helping social workers to think more locally and build deeper relationships with local partner agencies

Jack’s appointment in May 2020, to the PSW post and the recruitment of a dedicated coordinator that supports ASYEs, are further examples of how the council is working to create more structure around learning.

“Continuous learning and development is part of our culture here in Dorset,” says Jack. “This focus comes all the way up from leadership who appreciate the importance of these sessions, the need for ASYEs to have protected time and for social workers to have the opportunity to have time to reflect.”

Monthly drop-in sessions

Other learning opportunities Dorset offers staff include monthly two-hour drop-in sessions for newly-qualified social workers with practitioners who share their learning and experiences with social workers.

“I think there is a real optimism in Dorset about effective team learning and there is an openness to new ideas and coming up with new solutions. These drop-in sessions for newly-qualified social workers are a really good example of that,” says Jack. “So instead of these learners hearing from me constantly, these sessions draw on the expertise of experts from across the community, including from Bournemouth University and the community adolescent mental health service (CAMHS).”

“This CAMHS training opportunity actually came as a request from staff,” says Jack. “We went out and found this training and because we have good networks with other agencies, it was possible to do that.

“Learners were able to ask questions about local provisions and services as well as asking direct questions about the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.”

Driving digital

There’s also a drive towards using more digital, using electronic resources which has been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Dorset stages all-day virtual workshops every other month that gather research from CCInform and Research in Practice publications allowing social workers to learn together and speak about research and practice. With the launch of Dorset’s social work academy in 2020, they have launched an information portal designed to be a resource-rich information tool for staff.

Jack says: “We are really optimistic about the work we are doing in this area and believe that is going some way to showcasing Dorset as a great place to work.”

Jack believes that colleague, Catherine Rundle, a newly qualified social worker in Dorset Children’s Services, is a leading example of how being creative, and outward-looking, helps to improve students’ learning experience.

If you’re interested in working at Dorset and being part of its improvement journey, check out the job opportunities. and learn more here about working life from others at the council.