Consolidation Programme for Newly Qualified Social Workers

Introduction/Induction Day

The aim of the introduction day is to enrol you as candidates onto the programme; provide you with an outline of the taught days, the learning outcomes and National Occupational Standards. An explanation of the assessment process will be given from both an academic and practice perspective along with an overview of their portfolio of evidence. An induction to the Institution will also be given, including a library tour, with an overview of the University’s policies and procedures for yourselves. There will then be an opportunity to enrol, obtain ID cards and complete any other administrative tasks.

Day 1: Assessment & Analysis within Practice

The aim of the first day will be risk assessment & risk management and working with complexity. We will explore how we make sense of the information that we are presented with during assessment considering how/what/why we prioritise information making links between theory and practice. We will examine how we assess risk and vulnerability including how we identify risks to ourselves how we identify risks for others, when/how we challenge others perception of risk along with the wider structural understanding of risk and how these impact on practice. Different theoretical models of risk assessment will be explored along with the concept of risk vs. resilience. The day will also look at different levels of responsibility, intervention and how and why we make decisions. Throughout the day, reference will be made to individuals in need of care and support and their carers and carer involvement within the assessment process and underpinning legislation.

Learning Outcomes:

• Applying analysis and assessment to inform interventions.
• Working collaboratively with people in need of care and support and their carers and other professionals.
• Intervention and application of professional judgement in increasingly complex situations.

Day 2: Social Context of Social Work. Legal Frameworks & Social Policy

The aim of the second day will be to give you an overview of international policies relating to Social Work identifying how the international focus influences policy and practice in Wales. We will explore the impact of social justice, social policies & legislation and the differences in the delivery of social service provision between the devolved countries particularly focussing on the Welsh context and candidates will reflect on how their organisation and team have influenced their practice since qualification. The day will assist you to make the links between your team/practice and the delivery of services to the community in Wales.

Learning Outcomes:

• Applying analysis in assessment to inform interventions.
• Intervention and application of professional judgement in increasingly complex situations.
• Understand the relationship between social policy, legislative frameworks and guidance with social services provision in Wales and to use critical reflection in their application.
• Managing and developing self.

Day 3: Critical Reflection in Practice

Within this final session we will consider the different levels of reflection that can be utilised in practice. We will consider how critical reflection assists you in managing complexity and enables you to critically evaluate your own analysis and decision making within Social Work assessments. Drawing on legislation, policy and theoretical perspectives, we will consider how being a critically reflective practitioner increases your knowledge base and further enhances your skills as professionals. The consequences of the interplay between personal and professional values will be explored and ethical decision making through enhanced use of critical thinking skills will be examined.

The final day will also offer a ‘Consolidation’ session where there will be an opportunity to recap on all taught days and explore the nature of assessment of the Consolidation Programme. This session will also recap on the support that is available to yourself around strengthening academic skills and academic processes around requesting extensions and submitting mitigating circumstances claims.

Learning Outcomes:

• Applying analysis and assessment to inform interventions.
• Working collaboratively with people in need of care and support and their carers and other professionals.
• Intervention and application of professional judgement in increasingly complex situations.

The Consolidation Programme at Cardiff Met is taught face-to-face on the Llandaff Campus and consists of three and a half taught days. There are three cohorts for this programme per year.

The Consolidation Programme is a blended learning approach including taught days at University, work-based training opportunities, direct observation of practice and self-directed study and reflection.

The Programme is taught using a myriad of teaching and learning strategies and methods, to aid and support learning of the diverse adult student community, such as lectures, exercises, case studies, videos, discussions, and interactive exercises to promote candidates own learning.

There are two parts to the assessment of this module, an academic summative assessment (3,000 words) and a portfolio of evidence, the latter of which comprises of one direct observation with individuals who use services and their carers (and feedback from this direct work), one peer group exercise and, four supervision minutes from your Consolidation supervision with your Consolidation Practice Assessor. Both elements of the assessment must be passed for the 30-credit module to be awarded.

The criteria for admission on to the programme are that the applicant is:

• A qualified social worker and on the Register of Social Care Wales, or Social Work England, or the Scottish Social Services Council or the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, (and then be required to remain on the Register in order to obtain an award).
• Is currently in practice, (and/or can access practice learning opportunities to meet the learning and assessment needs of the intended modules of study). In most instances this is evidenced by employer and/or line manager support.
• Appropriate academic skills and practice experience for study at Level 6 which would normally, but not exclusively, involve one year’s post qualifying experience.
• Applicants will normally be nominated and supported by their employing agencies, who must give written confirmation that candidates will be released to attend the course, and that they will be provided with adequate support for the module(s) undertaken, e.g., assessor for any direct observations required.
• All applications must be submitted on the appropriate University application forms.
• All applications from independent candidates should come through the Supporting Agency, which tends to be your nearest Local Authority Training Department. Please contact your nearest Local Authority Training Department for more information on how to apply for the Consolidation Programme at Cardiff Met.
• Applicants will normally have completed the First Year in Practice requirements at the point of application.

If you would like to apply for the Consolidation Programme at Cardiff Met, then initially please contact your Agency Workforce Development Team/Manager (or your nearest Local Authority Training Department if you do not work for a local council).

For further information about the course at Cardiff Met, please contact:

Kate Andrews, KAndrews@cardiffmet.ac.uk (Award Administrator)

Jude Badmington-Fowler, JHBadmington-Fowler@cardiffmet.ac.uk (Programme Director for Post Qualifying Social Work and Module Co-ordinator)

We look forward to hearing from you if you have any queries and to help support you in your professional development.