Memorandum submitted by Foster Care Associates
The FCA group of companies (FCA) are very interested
in the development and supervision of newly qualified social workers.
During the past two years the number of student social
work placements offered by FCA has increased by over 300% (from
15 to over 60 per academic year). FCA offers a variety of placements
including observation, first, but predominately Final Year placements.
This year we have worked with over 30 Universities on both BA
and MA courses. Feedback from both Universities and students have
been very positive, and we will continue to offer high quality
placements to as many Universities as we can.
Many students on placement are of a very high
calibre. Students bring energy and enquiring minds and help to
focus on our practices and consistently bring the challenge of
first principles through their engagement and asking of questions.
Students also bring with them new models and theories that can
be tested in practice with potential to alternative views and
work practices.
Following the success of the students within
the organisation, FCA are developing a "Graduate Learning
Programme". This will be open to newly qualified social workers
employed by the group of companies. The programme begins in September
2009 and will offer 28 days training during the worker's first
year (this is over and above training offered by their regions—typically
20 days for a "new starter") and will consist of the
following:
— Developing knowledge of fostering including
legal framework.
— Supervision of carers including "managing
crisis".
— Child development and attachment.
— Educational needs of children.
— Sanctuary Seeking Children.
— Equality and Diversity.
— Parent and Child placements.
— Role of Family Placement social workers
in relation to professional colleagues.
— Policy and Procedures (including recording
practices).
— Direct work with children.
— Working with children with disabilities.
As well as the training programme, newly qualified
social workers will be offered mentoring and support on both a
regional and national level within the first year. They will also
receive peer support from others on the programme.
During the Induction period, workers are given
time to familiarise themselves with other staff, policy and procedures
as well as expectations of their role. Time will be allocated
to discuss and plan how the worker will gradually fulfil the requirements
of their job description. All social workers receive high quality
supervision, which will occur every four weeks. This will be linked
into a worker's three month interim and six month probationary
review. Subsequently each social worker and their manager agree
a "Personal Development Plan" which is reviewed every
six months.
Ingrid Oldham, FCA's Learning and Development
Officer (Practice Learning) is responsible for developing and
coordinating the Graduate Learning Programme. Ingrid has vast
experience of supervising and managing students and working directly
with newly qualified social workers on the professional development.
She has worked within a Local Authority for 19 years as well as
"tutoring" at various Universities on both the BA and
MA courses. During her time at the Local Authority, Ingrid developed
and coordinated a programme for newly qualified social workers
and ran the scheme for five years until moving to FCA. The programme
produced some excellent practitioners who were equipped both with
the knowledge and practical skills to address many of the ethical/practice
issues raised in social work. The programme also reduced the turnover
of newly qualified staff both while they were on the course, and
through the following years, delivering approximately 90% retention
rates. The programme was also used as a "stepping stone"
for the wider Continued Professional Development, and linked into
social workers undertaking their Post Qualification awards.
FCA are committed to the continuous development
of social work professionals and are expanding learning opportunities
in the field of social work at pre and post qualification level.
We are also committed to developing social work managers who have
the knowledge, skills and experience to develop, support, coach,
mentor and educate the staff that they supervise. As a consequence
the recipients of our service (foster carers and looked after
children) have the best opportunity to have their needs appropriately
addressed.
FCA would be happy to contribute further to
the discussion around this issue should the Select Committee deem
this appropriate.
May 2009
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