TY - JOUR
T1 - An examination of support and development mechanisms for newly qualified social workers across the UK
T2 - Implications for Australian social work
AU - Moorhead, Bernadette
AU - Manthorpe, Jill
AU - Baginsky, Mary
PY - 2020/4
Y1 - 2020/4
N2 - This paper examines support and development mechanisms in national graduate qualifying programmes in social work in the United Kingdom (UK), to identify possible implications for policy, research and consultation for Australia. Notwithstanding the Australian Association of Social Work’s Supervision Standards, the Association has not made specific provisions for new graduates within its policies relating to professional standards or continuing professional development. Using a document analysis method, the different mechanisms in place across the UK indicate the potential value of exploring these countries’ systems to inform debate within the Australian Association on the possible creation of national standards. The UK experience suggests that any new standards or policy might be effective if they are underpinned by a developmental perspective on new graduates and acceptance of the shared responsibility for support between professional stakeholders. Possible pathways for research and consultation are outlined to develop a better understanding of career profiles, retention, and graduate needs that are contextual to Australia.
AB - This paper examines support and development mechanisms in national graduate qualifying programmes in social work in the United Kingdom (UK), to identify possible implications for policy, research and consultation for Australia. Notwithstanding the Australian Association of Social Work’s Supervision Standards, the Association has not made specific provisions for new graduates within its policies relating to professional standards or continuing professional development. Using a document analysis method, the different mechanisms in place across the UK indicate the potential value of exploring these countries’ systems to inform debate within the Australian Association on the possible creation of national standards. The UK experience suggests that any new standards or policy might be effective if they are underpinned by a developmental perspective on new graduates and acceptance of the shared responsibility for support between professional stakeholders. Possible pathways for research and consultation are outlined to develop a better understanding of career profiles, retention, and graduate needs that are contextual to Australia.
KW - Newly Qualified Social Worker
KW - graduate support
KW - professional development
KW - international comparisons
U2 - 10.1080/09503153.2019.1660314
DO - 10.1080/09503153.2019.1660314
M3 - Article
VL - 32
SP - 145
EP - 159
JO - Practice (UK)
JF - Practice (UK)
SN - 0950-3153
IS - 2
ER -