Newly-Qualified Social Workers
A Practice Guide to the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment
- Steven Keen - Bournemouth University, UK
- Jonathan Parker - Bournemouth University, UK, University of Stavanger, Norway
- Keith Brown - Bournemouth University, UK
- Di Galpin - Plymouth University, UK
The first year of practice can be a particularly daunting and challenging time for newly-qualified social workers (NQSWs). This fully revised and updated book directly addresses the crucial transition period between finishing off the social work degree and managing the first years of practice. It offers down to earth, practical guidance on applying for your first post and managing your work load in the first few years. From useful sections on the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE), supervision, dealing with conflict, court skills, report writing, and team work to what professionalism actually looks like in practice, this book will throw a life belt to not only NQSWs entering the workplace but for students on qualifying programmes who wish to develop their skills beyond graduation.
This publication gives a fuller introduction to the ASYE, brings together some of the best current thinking about how we can support NQSWs and also offers practical support to new graduates coming into the social work profession, setting them on a course of continuing professional development that we trust will become an integral aspect of their career progression.
A distinguishing feature is the range of contributors, including service users, carers, managers, academics and NQSWs. Vignettes that include the voice of service users and carers are poignant, helping to link theory to practice, and serve as reminders of the importance of effective social work. The practice guide has been written in such a way that readers can dip into areas of interest as needed. It covers a broad range of areas, and readers are encouraged to follow further reading suggestions to gain a depth of understanding on specific topics.
Not needed at this time
This book fills a gap in the market by being not ony a basic manual to get social workers through their first year of practice but by also being referenced to the ASYE framework should be of great help to workers completing a portfolio. The inights from service users are expecially valuable.