This page is co-published by Skills for Care and the Department for Education

What is the Assessed & Supported Year in Employment (ASYE)?

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The assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE) is designed to help newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) to develop their skills, knowledge and capability and strengthen their professional confidence. It provides them with access to regular and focused support during their first year of employment. The Social Work Reform Board (SWRB) has agreed that the ASYE should supersede former arrangements for newly qualified social workers from September 2012. The the letter from Dame Moira Gibb of the SWRB confirming this refers to a briefing on the ASYE arrangements; the briefing is now the web material which is outlined on this page, and its linked information on partner bodies' sites.

Many of the features of the ASYE build on the strengths of the former NQSW programmes for the children and families and for the adults' areas of social work. However, the ASYE is a common programme for all of social work, and is open to the private and voluntary sectors, as well as the statutory sector. It is based on the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) for social work and includes the possibility of certification by the College of Social Work.

Click here for a two-page downloadable introduction to ASYE. 

There is also a short introduction intended for social work students from the Social Work Reform Board and a one-page outline of a typical NQSW journey through the ASYE (published with the then Children's Workforce Development Council).

In due course, Skills for Care's introduction for employers in adults' social work will be accessible here too.

This site's information about the ASYE

There are five sections on this site, labelled ASYE 1, ASYE 2, etc. The page from which all five sections are accessible can be easily reached with the short URL: www.skillsforcare.org.uk/asye

ASYE1 is what you are reading now.

ASYE 2 is about registration and funding,including information from the Department for Education about funding in children and families social work, and from Skills for Care about funding in work with adults. It includes a link to a page which employers can register their NQSWs for ASYE.

ASYE 3 describes how the ASYE is to be assessed, and the learning agreement  expected between the NQSW and the employer. It links to a page with blank templates to help with assessment, with direct observation of NQSWs' practice, and for the learning agreement, and some example completed assessments of NQSWs' assessed years (both passes and fails).

ASYE 4 is the case studies showing fictional but realistic examples of NQSWs' progress through the year and how evidence was used to assess them.

ASYE 5 is about informing judgements and processes for the ASYE, including how the year links to induction and staff performance management, and to TCSW's certification processes. There are links to actual case studies that illustrate good quality implementation of first year support.

Questions about ASYE

The pages here give comprehensive information. But if there is anything that is not covered here, please check the FAQs. You can also email us at asye@skillsforcare.org.uk or ASYE.SG@education.gsi.gov.uk for queries relating to children's social work.

Sources of information about social work

Numerous bodies are involved in the development of social work. Click here for a page of links to useful websites.

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