Workshop that identifies challenges, best practice, and support and supervision in the first year of employment. The profession loses new social workers, who are not able to make the transition, or are not enabled to do so, at great personal cost, but also at a significant cost to society. The session will take the form of a short introduction followed by discussion with participating social workers.

1. Becoming a ProfessionalBecoming a Professional
and Staying Professionaland Staying Professional
What Do YouWhat Do You
Need?Need?

2. Definitions “ProfessionalDefinitions “Professional””
 1.1. “Professional”“Professional” PersonPerson formallyformally certifiedcertified by aby a
professional bodyprofessional body of belonging to a specificof belonging to a specific
professionprofession by virtue of havingby virtue of having completedcompleted aa requiredrequired
course of studies and/or practice. And whosecourse of studies and/or practice. And whose
competence can usually becompetence can usually be measuredmeasured against anagainst an
established set of standards.established set of standards.
 2. “Profession”an occupation requiring special2. “Profession”an occupation requiring special
training in the liberal arts or sciences, esp one of thetraining in the liberal arts or sciences, esp one of the
three learned professions, law, theology, or medicinethree learned professions, law, theology, or medicine
2. the body of people in such an occupation 3. the2. the body of people in such an occupation 3. the
act of professing; avowal; declarationact of professing; avowal; declaration

3. Social Worker; ProfessionalSocial Worker; Professional
SpecificationsSpecifications
 Honours degree qualificationHonours degree qualification
 RegistrationRegistration
 Disciplinary ProcessDisciplinary Process
 International recognitionInternational recognition
 Personal accountability for performing to standardsPersonal accountability for performing to standards
 Personal accountability for maintaining andPersonal accountability for maintaining and
developing professional knowledge and competencedeveloping professional knowledge and competence
 Ok: so how does this translate in practice?Ok: so how does this translate in practice?

4. Social workerSocial worker

5. The first six monthsThe first six months
““ Is this what youIs this what you
thought it would be?thought it would be?
What are the positives,What are the positives,
what are the challengeswhat are the challenges
and what can you doand what can you do
about it?”about it?”

6. The TeamThe Team

7. As an individual SWAs an individual SW
 Support and supervision geared to a SW professionalSupport and supervision geared to a SW professional
 An environment which facilitates and is conducive toAn environment which facilitates and is conducive to
professional practice, and where the agency holds itselfprofessional practice, and where the agency holds itself
accountable for this.accountable for this.
 A structured, transparent and equitable caseloadA structured, transparent and equitable caseload
management system.management system.
 Built-in time for post-intervention reflection and evaluation ofBuilt-in time for post-intervention reflection and evaluation of
cases.cases.
 A structured and agreed CPD planA structured and agreed CPD plan
 A “practitioners forum” of some descriptA “practitioners forum” of some descriptionion

8. Looking after yourselfLooking after yourself
 Keep it realKeep it real
 Take time to reflectTake time to reflect
 Ask ! Be assertiveAsk ! Be assertive
 Consider a mentorConsider a mentor
 Model best behaviourModel best behaviour
 Don’t give upDon’t give up
 Mindfulness at workMindfulness at work

9. Mindfulness Scotland Vision andMindfulness Scotland Vision and
AimsAims
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=lPuTqDl99qM&feature=youtu.bev=lPuTqDl99qM&feature=youtu.be
Mindfulness is both a skill and a way of living. It isMindfulness is both a skill and a way of living. It is
about living in the here and now rather than beingabout living in the here and now rather than being
caught in the past or worrying all the time about thecaught in the past or worrying all the time about the
future. Increasingly, research is showing thefuture. Increasingly, research is showing the
profoundly beneficial effects that mindfulness canprofoundly beneficial effects that mindfulness can
have on the mind and body, on our sense ofhave on the mind and body, on our sense of
wellbeing and on our relationships with ourselveswellbeing and on our relationships with ourselves
and others.and others.

10. Professional Body: SASWProfessional Body: SASW
 Run and governed by membersRun and governed by members
 Purpose to safeguard, maintain, develop andPurpose to safeguard, maintain, develop and
promote the profession.promote the profession.
 Not compromised by party political agendaNot compromised by party political agenda
 Not compromised by business objectives andNot compromised by business objectives and
constraints of delivery agenciesconstraints of delivery agencies
 Independent of any other Social Work EstablishmentIndependent of any other Social Work Establishment
stakeholdersstakeholders…therefore able to deal squarely and…therefore able to deal squarely and
honestly with all of them on behalf of members andhonestly with all of them on behalf of members and
in the sole interest of the professionin the sole interest of the profession

11. Influence Policy& ProfessionInfluence Policy& Profession
 Independent Social Workers ForumIndependent Social Workers Forum
 Mental Health ForumMental Health Forum
 Criminal Justice ForumCriminal Justice Forum
 Students ForumStudents Forum
 CPD SeminarsCPD Seminars
 National Local Practitioners forumsNational Local Practitioners forums
 Consultations, Briefings and Cross PartyConsultations, Briefings and Cross Party
GroupsGroups
 National Social Work ForumNational Social Work Forum

12. BenefitsBenefits
 A&R Service + SWUA&R Service + SWU
 £5 million Professional Indemnity Insurance£5 million Professional Indemnity Insurance
 National Journal (PSW) Monthly (ditto)National Journal (PSW) Monthly (ditto)
 PRTL and CPD qualifying eventsPRTL and CPD qualifying events
 Research Literature and ResourcesResearch Literature and Resources
 Specialist Forums and Support networksSpecialist Forums and Support networks
 Your voice conduit to Govt. & PolicyYour voice conduit to Govt. & Policy
 Maintaining and Developing your ProfessionMaintaining and Developing your Profession

13. Want to be part of it?Want to be part of it?
 Individual professionals are as strong as theirIndividual professionals are as strong as their
Professional AssociationProfessional Association
 Professional Associations are as strong as theProfessional Associations are as strong as the
membershipmembership
 SASW will continue growing over the next years, butSASW will continue growing over the next years, but
the more it grows, the more it can do for you andthe more it grows, the more it can do for you and
how you feel about the Profession in which youhow you feel about the Profession in which you
practice; the character of the organisation you workpractice; the character of the organisation you work
in; and how you feel about yourself.in; and how you feel about yourself.
 www.basw.co.uk/scotlandwww.basw.co.uk/scotland