social work section heading

Supporting and assessing practice

This page provides links to a range of information, resources and materials for supporting and assessing social work practice. These include guidance from Skills for Care on supporting ASYE assessors and supervisors, information on Skills for Care programme to embed Action Learning within Adult Social Work organisations and standards for practice learning developed in partnership with The College of Social Work and other national bodies.

Short development programmes for ASYE assessors and supervisors

Guidance for a short development programme for line managers undertaking an ASYE assessor and/or supervisor role was produced following a national workshop for Employer Transition Fund partnerships in August 2012. The workshop was arranged in response to employers and partnerships stating that line managers did not have the capacity to undertake academically accredited programmes and needed a short yet robust programme as preparation for an ASYE assessor/supervisor role. The guidance includes suggested learning outcomes, assessment methods, content and delivery models. Programmes developed in line with this guidance will be eligible for the development fund within the Employer transition fund (ETF).

Case studies of short programmes for ASYE assessors and supervisors are currently being developed.

Quality Assurance in Practice Learning (QAPL)

Click here for information on Quality Assurance in Practice Learning (QAPL)

Practice Educator Professional Standards for Social Work

These standards set out requirements at two stages, commensurate with the different levels of complexity and responsibility in teaching, assessing and supervising social work degree students. The standards are also relevant for those supporting and assessing PQ candidates, newly qualified social workers or others engaging in formal or informal learning and development activities.

From October 2015 all practice educators of social work students must be registered social workers. These are minimum expectations. Employers and HEIs are free to develop requirements at a higher level individually or collaboratively. The standards will be phased in from October 2012 through transitional arrangements.

Social Work Reform Board

Practice educator professional standards for social work - College of Social Work

Supporting and assessing dual registered Learning Disability Practitioners

A conference to look at supporting people with Learning Disabilities through practitioners with a dual Nursing and Social Work qualification was held on September 18 2012 at Sheffield Hallam University.

Dr Ben Thomas, Director of Mental Health & Learning Disability Nursing Professional Leadership Team, Department of Health, was the key note speaker and the conference provided an opportunity to share key findings from a recent project commissioned by Skills for Care on building capacity within the third sector to support Newly Qualified Social Workers. It specifically considered the benefits of employing professionals with a dual qualification and how they can be supported to maintain both nursing and social work registrations and meet professional standards over their first year in employment as qualified practitioners.