Welcome to LeaRNS
LeaRNS is the web-based national information system supporting the professional development of social workers at pre and post-qualifying levels. The information on this page gives a brief overview of what LeaRNS is and how it will support work based learning for the social work profession.
LeaRNS has been developed over the last three years by Skills for Care with employers of social workers and social work education providers. The initiative is funded by the Department of Health.
LeaRNS will help coordinate information about practice placements for social work students and tracks post-qualifying training done by social workers. LeaRNS will also enable management of the Daily Placement Fee (DPF), distributed by the General Social Care Council (GSCC), that supports employers who offer placements and management of the Quality Assurance for Practice Learning (QAPL) information. LeaRNS will also enable employers who have successfully bid for funding for the Newly Qualified Social Workers' (NQSW) framework in adults' services to track progression of their NQSWs though this framework. Currently universities and employers are not obliged to use the system which is free at the point of use. Free training and a helpdesk to support users are available.
As illustrated in the diagram below LeaRNS has four main modules that can operate independently of each other or in an integrated fashion depending on the needs of its users:
piloting
LeaRNS was piloted by five universities with a linked employer partner from November 2008 to April 2009 to ensure that the processes in the system worked. A number of improvements were made to the software as a result of feedback from the pilot sites. The pilot was independently evaluated and was seen to be fit for purpose.
future potential of LeaRNS
The present development of LeaRNS is restricted to pre and post degree social work education. The scope of the system was determined by urgent need in the social work area, and by the necessity to prove the LeaRNS concept in a well defined context, before any potential expansion to other areas.
LeaRNS has the potential to deliver significant benefits to the wider social care sector.
It will provide a valuable platform that could be extended to support wider work based learning in social care and beyond.
Initial users of LeaRNS
Skills for Care will initially be supporting 8 universities and their partners to bring LeaRNS into operational use. This work will be independently evaluated to ensure that LeaRNS is a useful operational tool.
Communications
We are developing a series of briefing documents (see below) to inform of our progress with LeaRNS.
If you would like further information please contact: learns@skillsforcare.org.uk
LeaRNS Briefing 4
LeaRNS Briefing 5
LeaRNS Briefing 6
LeaRNS FAQs
LeaRNS
