Looking for someone to finally explain what you should know about the ASYE?
Don’t worry, I have got you covered when it comes to the key aspects of ASYE you should know.
The Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) is a programme designed for Newly Qualified Social Workers and led by the employer.
It lasts for 12 months where you will receive regular support and guidance on your caseload and personal development.
You will be assessed against the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) domains and the Knowledge and Skills Statement (KSS) for social workers in adults or children services.
Professional development is a key aspect of social work, and the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) provides a framework for social workers to review their capabilities throughout their career.
The capability statements laid out in the PCF enables social workers, supervisors and managers to identify existing skills and improve other areas of their knowledge in order to meet existing skills and expectations in their role.
With an improved knowledge and skills, career progression may not be in the distant future.
After your Bachelors or Master’s degree in social work, you may be offered your first social work position in an organisation.
As part of your role, you may be presented with the opportunity to enrol on the ASYE programme.
The ASYE is not mandatory however, most local authorities would require that you enrol on the programme once you are employed as a NQSW.
It helps to develop national uniformity in the knowledge and skills of a social worker.
The programme is also recognised by the Social Work Reform Board (SWRB) which is set up to improve social work training and practice by carrying out the recommendations of the Social Work Task Force.
During your ASYE, you will have ongoing supervision and review.
As a result, it is likely that any issues around your learning, development and capabilities will be discussed and resolved as soon as possible.
Failing that, some local authorities will offer you the opportunity to redo certain parts of your portfolio that do not meet standards set.
Sometimes, you will not be given another opportunity. At all times, decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. If in doubt, consult with the learning and development team within your organisation.
As a Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW), you would have completed your social work degree within the last 2 years and would have accepted your first social work role.
As with all social workers, a NQSW is responsible for their own professional development, however, they can enrol on courses or a programme to support their first year of work.
The programme a NQSW can enrol on within an organisation is called an Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE)
Newly qualified social workers who work in adult or children services are required to know and incorporate the key skills as detailed in the Knowledge and Skills Statement (KSS) in their practice by the end of their first year.
There is a separate KSS for social workers in adult services and children services.
The KSS is not mandatory, however; it is expected that all social workers are able to show knowledge of all aspects of the statement, as these apply to their day to day practice.
The KSS serves as a national guidance for assessment for a NQSW at the end of their first year in practice.
It helps supervisors, practice educator and managers build on requirements to design an induction, supervision and the continuing professional development of social workers.
There is a host of social work jobs available if you are a NQSW.
You will have the opportunity to join a particular ASYE cohort once you start your role.
Jobs for NQSW to enable them to enrol on the ASYE can be found at the following sites
Although social work agencies are much keener on recruiting experienced social workers, they receive job openings for NQSW as well.
You can also register with social work recruitment agencies such as
Remember to read my article on How to Ace Your First Social Work Job Interview for insight into how to get noticed at a job interview.
Below is a Checklist for Preparing for a Social Work Job Interview
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References
Online
British Association of Social Workers (BASW). Available at https://www.basw.co.uk/
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