England's new assessment framework risks disadvantaging neurodivergent
Neurodivergent social workers could face systemic discrimination early in their career, a researcher has warned.
Sarah Hill said frameworks used to assess newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) risk reproducing structural inequality because they favour the neuronormative.
Hill is seeking to interview neurodivergent newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) and assessors for a study exploring ways to promote early career inclusivity.
It comes as the Department for Education (DfE) prepares to rollout a new two-year assessment framework – the Early Career Development Programme (ECDP) – to replace the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) in England from September 2027.
“The DfE talk about being flexible in the assessment process but what does that mean?” said Hill.
“If you look at the new standards, it privileges the neuronormative. How does this assist the social worker who is amazing with families but finds eye contact difficult? Or makes loads of spelling errors in their reports?
“There is no understanding about the lived experience of a newly qualified social worker who is neurodivergent. There is no guidance for assessors to ensure a neuro-affirming assessment process.
“The only piece of legislation and statutory employment guidance for employers is the Equality Act, but that’s about physical impairment and mental health. It doesn’t cater for neuro-variation in thinking.”
Hill said it was concerning that a profession committed to social justice, anti-oppressive practice and diversity was potentially systematically reproducing “a form of structural disadvantage”.
An absence of regulation and guidance for assessors means there is no national oversight to guard against this for neurodivergent learners, Hill said, adding: “We know they are more likely to have challenges. We know there is a still a stigma in the workplace toward neurodivergence even though social work is supposed to embrace this. People don’t mention it for fear of what that means in terms of the success of their career.”
Hill suggested there could be a link between figures showing a quarter of social workers in England left the profession in 2021/2022 less than a year after registration and neurodivergency.
“This data is not disaggregated by neurodivergent status. The profession, in other words, cannot currently quantify the harm it is doing.”
The study is looking to speak to social workers who have or have had responsibility for assessing NQSW as well as NQSWs who have been diagnosed or suspect they are neurodivergent and are going through or have been through the early career assessment.
Hill, who was diagnosed with dyslexia aged 19, added: “I am doing this for recruitment and retention. If you can instil these models sooner you will build the confidence for people to stay.
“Also, if we increase awareness among ourselves [of neurodivergence] we increase awareness among families and how comfortable they feel when they themselves are being assessed.”
To take part in the research or find out more email Sarah at hils1_21@uni.worc.ac.uk