Working together to implement SWTF recommendations on social work education and training

Refining and implementing the SWTF recommendations Social Work Reform Board  Chaired by Moira Gibb  20 representatives of stakeholder organisations (4 HEI reps)  Will support government in developing the Government Implementation plan ( early March) which will set out a clear “route map” for the reform, (short, medium and long term milestones)  Will receive reports from member organisation to confirm to Ministers the continuing commitment and action from all sectors and work being undertaken to develop and implement the recommendations.  Will ensure voices of service users, front line practitioners and social work students are heard.  Will devlop and recommend specific ways to take forward key recommendations through the detailed work of subgroups  Education  Career progression  Employers standards  College development group (SCIE) ( see chart)

Phased work Initial phase of work - To maintain momentum, and continue communication with all sectors - To give government, employers, educators and the profession a clear and shared route map for reform and establish the partnership approach - Produce and publicise the Government Implementation plan What is already happening; what will be happening during 2010/2011 financial year; longer term ambitions/milestones Post GIP - Work of SWRB and groups will continue to work on implementation details for recommendation to government

Key issues – systems  Time-scales  Inter-dependencies, risks, challenges, unintended consequences  Funding  Legislation /SoS agreement  How to build partnerships, national and local  Supply, quality and different arrangements, e.g. “centres of excellence”  Communication – valuing current arrangements/measures to avoid destabilisation and planning blight.

Key Issues for SW Education Recs  Clarifying standards, inputs /outputs, existing standards; regulatory standards - who and what? Clarity.  Calibre of entrants – technicalities of equivalence, tension with WP and BIS agenda  Content and delivery of degree courses; impact of reduced placement days and AYE  High Quality practice learning. What can change now?  Regulation; funding levers, timescales for change  CPD - Accreditation framework - PQ and the Masters in Social Work Practice, communication and promotion

The SW education and training recommendations - Starting out 1 Calibre of entrants  Proposals for clarifying thresholds for UCAS points and confirming competence in maths and English  Regulation to ensure criteria are applied consistently and in line with Government widening participation policy  Revised criteria for entry, including written test and interview; 2 Overhaul of content and delivery of degree courses  Consistent curriculum based on jointly agreed standards which are explicitly tied to robust assessment processes  Course providers up to date with current knowledge, policy, practice 3 High quality practice placements  Sharing of accountability and responsibility  Advanced teaching organisations  Revised criteria and funding  Definitive standards for those who teach and assess students  The Task Force has suggested a reduction in the number of required placement days

Starting out (cont.) 4 Assessed and supported year in employment  To be completed before licence to practise first awarded, as the final stage in becoming a social worker  The Task Force suggests:  Fixed entitlements to time for study, supervision, training, ICT etc.  Assessment carried out jointly by employers and HEI 5 Regulation of social work education  Courses properly inspected against new set of standards, consistent across country  Ensure that courses and teachers up to date with current policy and practice and that expert practitioners, service users and other professionals are consistently and substantially involved  Ensure that suitability for entry into workforce is being assessed effectively

Professional development and career progression 9 National framework for continuing professional development  Enabling social workers to continue to develop specialist skills, and to develop as leaders and managers  Standardised, consistent outcomes that are accepted as valid across the country, while allowing choice and flexibility  Binding together research, education and frontline practice  Encouraging a shift in culture – responsibility, entitlement  Building on best parts of current PQ framework, Masters  Link to renewal of registration and career structure Eleven other recommendations - There will be links and dependencies across all the recommendations to achieve effective reform