Taking forward ASYE in adult services

1. Taking forward ASYE in adult services October 2014

2. Context Recommendation 16: Whilst the profession moves towards embracing a Licence to Practise, the current ASYE programme should be extended in scope to include all NQSWs entering practice. The requirements asked of employers engaged in the ASYE programme should be subject to a much more exacting and auditable process than is presently the case. Its assessment methodology should be strengthened and made more open to independent validation. Re-visioning Social Work Education Professor David Croisdale-Appleby, February 2014

3. Context Recommendation 1. Universities are sovereign bodies and it is entirely appropriate and justifiable, not least in terms of student choice, that social work degree courses vary. But there needs to be a concise, single document drafted, drawing on the advice of the College of Social Work, academics and, particularly, employers, which offers in a single publication, a GMC style summary of what a newly qualified children’s social worker needs to understand. Such a document should cover not only factual issues but those which are best described as philosophical or attitudinal. I recommend that the Chief Social Worker For Children take the lead in drafting such a document. To provide a foundation for that work, I suggest she needs first to draft a definition of children’s social work. Making the education of social workers consistently effective Sir Martin Narey, January 2014

4. Intentions for ASYE Consultation on a knowledge and skills statement Developing intentions for ASYE • Consistency • Rigour • All employers The Chief Social Worker for adults

5. Intentions for ASYE Minimum criteria for assessment evidence Assessment process and support recorded through learning agreement, PDP and reviews. Process to confirm, standardise and validate the assessment decision • Internal Assessment Panel • External Standardisation Process • Independent validation and quality assurance of implementation Promoting consistency and rigour with all employers

6. What about? Funding Timing What are the implications of standardisation • e.g. Paperwork Issues and expectations

7. Next steps Partnerships meetings (September 2014) Networks Working groups (October onwards) Steering group Developing and implementing with employers

8. 4 – Direct Observations Two written pieces demonstrating critically reflective practice Work products Three pieces of feedback over the course of the year from people who need care and support, or carers. Three pieces of feedback over the course of the year from other professionals Assessor Report ASYE – Minimum evidence requirements

9. A learning agreement         Professional development plan         Appropriate reviews Context for learning and assessment

10. Increase - Overall requirement to be undertaken by registered social worker - Minimum of 2 completed by Assessor - Template? Assessment criteria Guidance Direct Observations

11. One showing learning outcomes from the reflective process focusing upon professional development One demonstrating reasoned judgement relating to a  practice decision Template? Developing guidance material Assessment criteria Critically reflective practice

12. Report written for external decision making processes (e.g. Mental Health Tribunal, Best Interest Assessment, Assessment of Needs and Care and Support plan, or other equivalent report) Case recording Supervision records Guidance Assessment criteria Work products

13. Three pieces of feedback over the course of the year Templates? Assessment criteria Feedback from People in Need of Care and Support

14. Three pieces of feedback over the course of the year Templates? Assessment criteria Guidance Feedback from other professionals

15. Template? Assessment criteria Assessor Report

16. Holistic assessment against the PCF and Knowledge and Skills statement Evidence of progressive development Centrality of critical reflection based on feedback from people in need of care and support Employer owned Assessment completed by a registered social worker Principles - Given

17. ASYE – assessment evidence, criteria and guidance Summary of Key developmental issues Keep it simple and flexible –avoid bureaucracy Build on current model Support the nature of it being employer owned and don’t raise the burden on employers Standardise templates with core elements that employers can add to All templates linked to the PCF – check they support holistic assessment ie against level descriptor not domains, and show progression - Integrate all the evidence with links between and across with design that supports this.

18. - Integrate critically reflective practice - Is it necessary to include work products? - Feedback from People in need of care and support – move away from questionnaires and integrate Importance of PDP to demonstrate progression – support the sector to understand about outcomes rather than activity - Support the sector to understand the level required at ASYE and how to evidence progressive development.

19. A new ASYE framework….? National validation process Area standardisation process Partnership panels Partnership panels SfC National Partnership meetings and events SfC Area Social Work Networks Internal Assessment Panels

20. Internal assessment processes Purpose/output –final ASYE judgement When - Timing and frequency of meetings, Who - Membership, roles and responsibilities of internal assessment panels (Role of registered social workers, HR, senior management) What - Evidence presented to panel, how is this presented, How – Process for making judgements; providing feedback (templates?); promoting consistency/standardisation within the organisation; reporting specific meetings and identifying short term and longer term themes (positive and negative/areas to address) and tracking actions from previous decisions Building on existing models:

21. Internal assessment processes Role of Principal Social Workers : include, where available, or a social work professional lead within an organisation. Model needs to work and be relevant for all organisations, including small PVI orgs. Timing important, NQSWs shouldn’t wait too long for a final decision Purpose of internal process can be two fold, to track and review progress and recommend remedial action to individuals and to the programme and to confirm the final assessment decision Confirm internal assessment criteria and develop a proforma for assessing evidence (including the number of assessors for each NQSW) and providing feedback to NQSWs and to assessors Standards for assessors are important Messages so far:

22. External/Area standardisation processes Principles given: One validated framework to promote consistency across the country External standardisation: commonalities necessary to promote and develop consistency: • Sampling (size and content) • Membership principles • Providing feedback to panel members? • Frequency of meetings • Reporting Building on existing models and good practice

23. External/Area standardisation processes Need to explore relationship to existing partnership structures and panels, role of national validation body and SfC existing evidence checking Ensuring new framework is practical, pragmatic, lean and adds value to current arrangements Representation across a SfC area, is this feasible? Engagement of independent and voluntary sector critical Governance and authority, consequence of consistently not meeting standards needs to be clear Administration and co-ordination important Messages so far..