View in web browser February 2025 Social work briefing Latest updatesWelcome to this edition of our newsletter!In this issue, we bring you key updates and opportunities, including the ASYE Conference 2025, which will focus on the role of supervision and wellbeing in retaining NQSWs. We also share details on the final set of digital skills communities of practice, highlight World Social Work Day, and provide information on upcoming ASYE drop-in sessions.Additionally, we spotlight the GEMS NQSW forum for ethnic minority social workers, updates on child and family ASYE, as well as the latest news from the sector and Skills for Care. Read on to stay informed and get involved! ASYE conference 2025 - The role of supervision and wellbeing in the retention of NQSWsTuesday 18 March I 10:30 - 15:00 I OnlineThe experience of an Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) can significantly impact a newly qualified social worker’s (NQSW) decision to stay in a permanent role or seek opportunities elsewhere. With high turnover rates making retention a pressing issue in social work, this has direct implications for service delivery.We’ll delve into the complexities and challenges surrounding supervision and wellbeing in retaining NQSWs. Through shared experiences, real-world scenarios, and practical solutions—including navigating ‘challenging’ conversations—we’ll explore ways to support and sustain the workforce. Keynote speaker: Jo Finch, Professor of Social Work and Research, Suffolk University. Workshops available on the day:An introduction to focusing: Empowering self-awareness and reflection.Good practice example - NQSW retentionThe importance of well-being, supervision and EDI in the workplace.Intermediary work with NQSWs and assessors: Challenging conversations Register now Final set of digital skills communities of practiceVarious March dates I 10:00 - 12:00 I OnlineThe final set of communities of practice take place during March. The sessions will improve your digital confidence and technology skills. They’ve been designed specifically for social workers, principal social workers, occupational therapists and principal occupational therapists who work in adult social care. Register now Group fror Ethnic Minority Social Workers (GEMS) NQSW forumTuesday 25 March I 10:00 - 12:00 I OnlineThis forum, now in its second year, is specifically designed for NQSWs who self-identify as ethnically diverse. Open to GEMS NQSWs from both adult services and child and family services, it provides a dedicated space to discuss topics relevant to ethnically diverse practitioners. The forum encourages dialogue on working together, experiences within ASYE programmes, and fostering a deeper understanding of anti-racist practice. Register now World Social Work Day World Social Work Day takes place on 18 March 2025. This year’s theme is ‘Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for Enduring Wellbeing’, which emphasises the importance of caring and respecting across generations to build strong societies, sustain the environment, and share wisdom for a better future. You can download the official World Social Work Day poster by visiting the IFSW website. ASYE drop-in sessionWednesday 19 March I 10:00 - 12:00 I OnlineThe drop-in session is for ASYE leads/co-ordinators. We operate on a ‘open door’ basis, you can join whenever you want to and stay for as long as you want to. It’s a space to ask anything you’d like clarification on about the ASYE programme, or you can just listen to what other people are asking and discussing.The final set of communities of practice take place during March. The sessions will improve your digital confidence and technology skills. They’ve been designed specifically for social workers, principal social workers, occupational therapists and principal occupational therapists who work in adult social care.⇨ Register now Child and family ASYE Funding The deadline to submit your action plan and register NQSWs who commenced ASYE between 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025 is fast approaching. Please register your NQSWs on the child and family ASYE platform by the 31 March 2025 to claim funding. Before you can register NQSWs on the platform and claim the Department for Education funding, the primary contact must submit an action plan. This can be found within the ‘My applications’ section of the platform at the bottom of the page. To avoid a last minute rush, submit your action plan as soon as possible. Please email childandfamilyASYE@skillsforcare.org.uk if you have any questions. 2021-22 outstanding completionsAs part of our data retention policy, we’ll soon be deleting the records of all NQSWs who were registered on the Skills for Care platform during 2021-22 financial year. The records will be deleted on 30 April 2025. Please ensure that you claim any outstanding completion payments by 31 March 2025, by submitting a ‘Twelve month review’ form which can be located in the Reporting section. If any NQSWs from 2021-22 cohort are not going to complete ASYE by 31 March 2025, please submit a ‘Change of ASYE Status Form’ instead, providing a valid reason for a deferral, and a new projected end date. Any withdrawals must be reported via a ‘Change of ASYE Status Form’. Submitting forms on the platformPlease ensure that whenever a Twelve month review or a Change of ASYE Status Form is being recorded on the platform, the form is fully submitted. We cannot process it until you have clicked on the ‘submit form’ tab. You can check the status of your form by going into the Reporting section. If your form has not been submitted, the status will say ‘In progress’. Please click on the three dots to complete the form fully. The status will then change to ‘Submitted’. Any forms which have been processed by Skills for Care will say ‘Approved’. Child and family ASYE quality assurance meetingsWe’re currently recruiting colleagues who will form a team of peer reviewers. Peer reviewers work alongside Skills for Care staff to carry out ASYE programme quality assurance review activity. It’s a great CPD opportunity.A grant funding payment will be paid to the peer reviewers’ employer, or directly to the reviewer, if you wish to undertake this work in a self-employed capacity (proper registration with HMRC will be required e.g. a Unique Tax Reference). The deadline for applications is Friday 14 March 2025.Find out more and apply Sector news Calling all social work practice educators Participants wanted for new research into practice education and autism. There is very little research about autistic social workers and even less about how autistic trainee social workers are assessed in placement. This research is part of a doctoral study that will explore practice based assessment and how understanding autism impacts the experiences of autistic trainee social workers and practice educators. You can take part in the research if you’re a UK registered social worker who is a qualified practice educator and have assessed a minimum of two social work students. If you’re interested please email Jennie Guthrie, doctoral student jg22827@essex.ac.uk before 31 March 2025. Free tickets now available for Social Work Week 2025 - Monday 17 March to Friday 21 March Social Work England has gone live with its free programme for Social Work Week 2025. Details of the sessions are available at socialworkweek.org.uk. The online programme has been developed with people with lived and learned experience of social work. The opening session, on the future of social work in England, will be delivered by Sarah Blackmore, Executive Director of Professional Practice and External Engagement, alongside Isabelle Trowler CBE, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families, Sarah McClinton, Chief Social Worker for Adults and Mental Health Social Work and Sally Parker, a member of Social Work England’s National Advisory Forum. Other topics include: supporting and retaining social workers the role of artificial intelligence (AI) childhood trauma safe and effective practice social work and ageing social work education.Early booking for all sessions via the Social Work England website is recommended. Ten public health tips eLearning module A free eLearning module is available for professionals working in adult social care. With a strong focus on prevention, this module is designed to build on your existing expertise while providing practical guidance to align your practice with public health principles. The module covers essential topics such as illness prevention, mental health and wellbeing promotion, and strategies to support healthy aging. By completing this training, you'll gain valuable insights into public health approaches and learn how to integrate them into your daily work. Explore this module today. The official blog of the Chief Social Workers for Adults Although Lyn Romeo has now retired, blogs are still regularly added by those working in the field. Social Work with Adults. Skills for Care news New: Two leadership programmes for aspiring directorsBecoming a Director of Adult Social Services programme is designed specifically for aspiring Director of Adult Social Services (DASSs) - Secure your place todayBecoming a director in social care programme is designed specifically for those aspiring to become a director in an adult social care organisation. - Secure your place today.Both programmes, in partnership with NDTi, are for those who are ready to take the next step in their leadership journey. The programmes are a mixture of face-to-face residential days at Warwick University and live online workshops. Registrations for both programmes close on Friday 14 March if paying by PO, and Wednesday 26 March if paying by credit card. Bookings are on a first come first served basis. Social work data updatedWe’ve updated our ‘Headline social worker information’ report and visualisation. It includes the latest estimated number of social workers employed by local authorities in England, and information about recruitment and retention, demographics and pay rates. The insights included in the report are created using data shared with Skills for Care through the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS). View the report and data visualisation Join us in #CelebratingSocialCareThis April Skills for Care is once again #CelebratingSocialCare, focusing on the amazing people who work in care, and we’d love you to join the celebrations. Since 2022, we’ve dedicated the month of April to #CelebratingSocialCare. Although we celebrate social care year-round, we use this month to celebrate a little bit louder and encourage everyone to join in. We’re looking for good news stories to feature on our website throughout April. These could be: staff members or teams who have gone above and beyond in their roles and the difference it has made the positive impact colleagues have had on the lives of people they support awards your colleagues, the people you support, or your organisation have won personal achievements of care workers, such as training completions or career advancements.Fill in our template and email it to marketing@skillsforcare.org.uk with any photos by 21 March 2025. Creating a positive workplace culture seminar27 March I 10:00 - 15:30 I Online | £250 +VATJoin our interactive seminar to create a workplace culture of inclusivity, compassion, and collaboration. This engaging and interactive seminar offers hands-on learning opportunities to help you build confidence in fostering a positive work environment. The seminar is specifically for those in leadership and management roles. Key highlights include practical exercises using the Culture Iceberg model and positive culture toolkit, methods for challenging and changing workplace norms and negative cultures whilst planning constructive next steps. Register now Creating effective relationships between commissioners and user led organisationsThursday 13 March I 11:00 - 12:30 I OnlineJoin us at our webinar to connect with user led organisations (ULOs) to discover their hidden value in supporting good commissioning practice. This is an opportunity for ULOs and commissioning teams to start connections in their local areas and hear ‘top tips’ on how to establish effective relationships. Register now Care Certificate Standards updateThe Department of Health and Social Care has commissioned Skills for Care and Skills for Health to align the existing Care Certificate Standards with sector developments and the introduction of the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification. There is no action to take now. The current standards will remain available as a tool to support employers provide a robust induction programme and act as a platform to support progression onto the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification. The updated Care Certificate Standards will be available in Spring 2025. Social work in your area East Midlands Social work network The next meeting is to be confirmed. In May, we’ll have a joint session with the West Midlands network via Teams. For more information or to request to join the meeting please email lucy.mcdonald@skillsforcare.org.uk The social work co-ordinator for this area is Lucy McDonald lucy.mcdonald@skillsforcare.org.uk Skills for Care Ltd, West Gate, Grace Street, Leeds, LS1 2RP Registered company no. 3866683. Registered in England Registered charity no. 1079836. Group VAT no 135 5383 15 Unsubscribe or change your email communication preferences
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