Good Idea: Academy for newly qualified social workers

Provider Hertfordshire County Council
Name Social Work Academy
Summary Hertfordshire County Council’s Social Work Academy provides support and training to newly qualified social workers during their first year in the field. Now in its third year, the course is becoming increasingly popular among workers starting out in the children’s social care sector.

Following Lord Laming’s review into child protection in which he recommended that social workers must have "guaranteed support and supervision" during their first year, Hertfordshire County Council launched an academy for newly qualified social workers in 2009.

Rather than being placed within existing children’s social work teams and shouldering a full caseload, trainees work in small groups during a year-long programme of intensive support and training.

The academy attracted a record number of candidates for the October 2011 intake, with more than 190 applicants for the 30 places on offer.  

The academy provides the social workers with frequent supervision, reduced caseloads and other mentoring opportunities. During the course, workers are inducted to the procedures for working with children in need, child protection, looked-after children and care proceedings.

Caroline Tapster, chief executive of Hertfordshire County Council, says: "We want to make sure that social workers can go out into what can be a difficult and challenging environment feeling competent and confident in their role."

Gemma Flood, who joined the academy’s first intake of social workers in 2009, has now been working with a full caseload for a year. She says: "Although I studied all the theory at university, once I started at the academy, I learnt all about working as part of a team and gaining practical experience.

"Once I started working with a full caseload, I realised how much knowledge I gained in my first year. If it wasn’t for the academy, I’m not sure how I would have got on as a new social worker."

The academy has also helped the council with its recruitment and retention strategy for children’s social care, reducing its reliance on agency workers.

Councillor Richard Roberts, executive member for children’s services in Hertfordshire, says: "The academy can build resilience and strength and puts our services in an excellent position to deal with any frontline situation."