Foundation Training for Practice/ASYE Assessors

Part of BASW’s Taught Skills Programmes for Practice Educators & Practice Assessors.

Delivered by BASW’s accredited training partner DCC-i via MS Teams.

This course is aimed at ASYE Assessors of Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSW’s) in both Children and Adult Social Care. 

This course will focus on English learning frameworks but the principles will be relevant to delegates nationwide.

Course Outline:

The course outlines clearly the requirements that NQSW’s and SWIT’s must demonstrate in respect of the Knowledge and Skills Statements and the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) and how the assessor can support them to evidence this effectively in their portfolio’s. The course explores what is expected of the assessor and how to ensure their own evidence is also of the highest standard.

In order to support the highest number of NQSW’s to succeed this session sets out how to assess candidates progressively in order to identify at the earliest possible stage any difficulties that may require extra support, training, development and assessment. However, as gate-keepers to our profession it is also essential that assessors have the confidence to consider failing a candidate if support mechanisms have been unsuccessful and the values, knowledge or skills of the individual are not of the standard needed to serve the most vulnerable in our society.

The session includes consideration of how to achieve holistic and comprehensive assessment via observations of practice, written work, reflection and service user and professional feedback. This ensures the candidate is a well-rounded Social Worker able to work with their own team, other professionals, their primary service user and the service user’s wider network.

Time is also given to exploring the importance of the NQSW/Assessor Relationship, how to achieve effective reflective supervision and the new emphasis by Social Work England on ensuring that Newly Qualified Social Workers are effectively supported in managing their well-being and that their cultural and diversity needs are met.

Learning Methods:

This training is delivered using an online interactive classroom approach and all delegates will be invited to take part to ensure an effective adult learning experience. Using whiteboards and breakout rooms, a combination of learning methods will be used throughout the day, including trainer presentation and group work in the form of case studies and reflection dilemmas to support application to practice. Local templates and expectations will be embedded in the programme where required and appropriate.

Learning Outcomes:

This course will provide participants with the following learning outcomes:

Understand what constitutes effective reflective supervision, the importance of the NQSW/Assessor relationship and how to provide wraparound support.

Understand what a NQSW should be demonstrating in terms of the KSS and PCF and how this looks in practice.

Understand what constitutes good quality evidence from both the candidate and the assessor including matching evidence to the assessment criteria.

Confidence in assessing the progress of the candidate against the stage of their qualifying /post-qualifying journey, analysing what is a proportionate response to any concerns and how to effectively address these.

Understand what constitutes appropriate observations, what to look for, how to record it and how to support the candidate to draw learning from the experience.

Understand how to gain meaningful feedback from the team, other professionals, service users and their families and use this as part of the final assessment.

Understand what is needed from both written work and reflective logs.

Be able to assess values and the candidates’ ability to be culturally sensitive in their practice and be able to respond to the uniqueness of each individual they work with.

Be clear what would constitute reason to fail a candidate and how to manage this.

Resources Required:

All delegates will need a laptop with a functioning mic and camera and a strong stable internet connection to allow effective participation. Laptops should have an up-to-date browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Where possible delegates should be using the MS Teams App, fully updated. Please note – for health and safety reasons it is not appropriate to access these courses from a mobile phone. Whilst tablets can be used; delegates will find a laptop/desktop is easier as functionality on tablets is still limited.

Programme Outline:

9.00 Log-in – Check your connection, camera & mic (the get a cuppa)

9.30 Introduction to the session and the tech

9.45 Understanding and Assessing against the KSS & PCF.

Understanding the KSS and PCF

Why and how assessment should be progressive.

What constitutes effective holistic assessment.

11.10 COFFEE

11.30 Portfolio components

Observations – Consent, Content, Evidence and Learning.

Written Work – Selecting, Analysing, Presenting and Learning.

Service User & Professional Feedback – How, What and Why.

Reflective Logs – Reflecting on the right things & using it as evidence.

Final Reports – Bringing it all together.

12.45 LUNCH

1.30 Effective Supervision for NQSW’s

Managing Power and creating an effective working relationship.

Ensuring supervision is reflective – considering the available models.

Embedding the PCF/KSS and theory.

Promoting emotional intelligence and professional resilience.

Considering diversity needs.

2.30 COFFEE

2.45 Troubleshooting and Decision-making

Assessing values, beliefs and abilities to consider culture.

Responding to concerns about knowledge and skills.

What to do if a NQSW or SWIT may fail.

4.15 Reflection and Review – learning points and next steps

4.30 CLOSE

The Trainer: Soyeb Aswat, Specialist Associate & ASYE Lead.

Soyeb is a Social Worker/BIA/AMHP and has worked in the health and social care sector for 25 Years. Soyeb has experience in working within Voluntary and Public Sector, with Young Carers, Fostering, Leaving Care and primarily in Mental Health. Soyeb is currently a Social Work lead for two large NHS Trusts. Soyeb is passionate about Social Work, its values and ethics and how the profession gives financial gain but most importantly spiritual gain and satisfaction, what could be better! Soyeb's area of expertise is mental health and working with cases where there are issues around culture/religion. Soyeb supervises qualified Social Workers but also supports Newly Qualified Social Workers and organises and facilitates training to support them to maintain their CPD. In addition to being part of the DCC-i training and development crew, Soyeb also delivers sessions his local university and facilitates research projects.