Career Pathways
Herefordshire Council is committed to developing the careers of all staff and it recognises that continued professional development (CPD) for qualified social workers is critical in facilitating progression and enabling you to take on increased levels of professional responsibility within your role.
This framework outlines the career pathway from entry into social worker to team manager, and the criteria and processes to be followed. Another way in which the progression pathway can be thought about is to consider it as a roadmap which supports your journey and the career routes you can travel from entry into social work to becoming a social work manager in Herefordshire.
Social Work Pathway
Principles of the Social Work Pathway
- Expertise in working with children and young people builds on skills, knowledge and values that all social workers have, and which are set out in the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) and the Knowledge and Skills Statements (KSS).
- All social workers have a commitment to critical reflection on self in practice, social justice, anti-oppressive practice, human rights, strength-base practice and working in partnership, underpinned by social work values and ethics.
- Learning and development is a professional and personal responsibility. All social workers have a commitment to career-long learning and critical reflection on their practice.
- CPD requires appropriate support from colleagues, educators, academics, researchers, regulators, line-managers leaders, HR and the Social Care Academy.
- CPD should be evidenced. Social work is a profession based on theory and research, and on law and policy, as well as on experience. Social workers need to understand and explain why they want to do what they want to do, as well as how they do it.
- CPD should be focused on impact not on outputs. It should be proportionate and appropriate for the role. It should be diverse and flexible. CPD is not about ticking off each capability in a level but about developing capabilities that make a difference to the lives of children and young people.
- Expertise should be recognised so that it can be maintained and shared.
- Children and young people should be fully involved in development and recognition of social workers’ expertise.
Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) Programme
Introduction
Herefordshire Council provide an Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme for Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) during their first year of practice. This programme is provided by the Social Care Academy and aims to support the NQSW learning and development.
Timescales
The ASYE programme is a 52-week, structured development programme aiming to raise the standard of social work and contribute towards professional development. The ASYE programme follows the Skills for Care Framework, and it’s three main elements: Professional development and support, evidence requirements and assessment and quality assurance.
The programme can be extended based on individual contractual arrangements, such as part-time working hours. If the programme needs to be extended for reasons unrelated to employment terms, it can be paused. This can’t happen due to capability issues but can be paused for reasons including long-term sickness, bereavement or maternity/ paternity/ shared parental leave.
The programme must be completed within 2 years.
Reviews during your ASYE
Formal reviews of progress will be undertaken at 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months and at the end of the ASYE programme and these will be attended by you, your Team Manager and your Practice Assessor. You will be assessed against the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) at NQSW level, and Post-Qualifying Standards: Knowledge and Skills Statements (PQS) for child family and family practitioners. You are required to work on a portfolio of evidence that needs to be submitted at the end of the year to the ASYE Moderation panel.
Support
You will have access to regular and focused support and supervision. A Practice Assessor from the Social Care Academy will support you throughout the year, providing critical reflective supervision and fortnightly development groups with your peers. You will also be supported by your Team Manager, who will be responsible for your day-to-day work.
If you would like to find out more about our ASYE programme, please contact the Social Care Academy via email socialcareacademy@herefordshire.gov.uk
Find Out More
We have put a great deal of thought into how best to support the individuals in our teams.
If you’d like to read our full career pathways plan: