Our people are important to us so we've developed a range of excellent training and career progression options. When you join us you can expect plenty of opportunities for development, as well as a choice of great benefits.
A clear professional development framework is in place for newly qualified social workers during their assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE), and for staff in their second and third years after qualification, including sponsored qualifications.
Plymouth Children, Young People and Families Service has been very supportive during my ASYE year. Professional Development ran a series of courses that were relevant to my role as a children's social worker and I was able to develop my ability to critically reflect upon my work. I was able to build supportive and professional relationships with my ASYE colleagues and I was delighted on passing as I realised that the ASYE year had helped to increase not only my knowledge but more importantly my confidence as a children's social worker. I am now looking forward to gaining further experience in working with more complex situations and I will continue my professional development by studying to be an Advanced Practitioner.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my ASYE year. Working in Plymouth Children, Young People and Families Service is an amazing experience with fantastic support. SL, 2015
Successful newly qualified social worker (NQSW) programmes have a long history in Plymouth and the latest assessed and supported year in employment is no exception. Bournemouth University researched and evaluated the our programme in 2014 and concluded the following:
The taught programme was effective in building on the NQSWs level of knowledge post-qualification, and NQSWs valued the opportunity it gave to consolidate their knowledge.
Plymouth's ASYE process met the national requirements set out for ASYE including ring fenced time for learning and development activities, protected caseloads and supervision.
Supervision was recognised by both managers and NQSWs as being the cornerstone of good practice, and the majority of NQSWs rated the support they received as good or excellent.
Our managers are also encouraged to train and achieve leadership and management awards, not only to develop their social work skills and keep their practice knowledge up to speed, but to develop the right management skills needed to support their team.
I have worked for this Local Authority for 28 years and within this time I have been given many opportunities to progress within my career. I have worked as a community care worker where I was then given the opportunity to go off to Plymouth University to complete my social work degree. Following this I have continued with my professional development with the support of both time and funding. I have completed several post qualification courses and I have progressed to a Team Manager and am currently completing my Management and Leadership qualification. Team Manager, 2015
We've developed strong links with Plymouth University and Bournemouth University. This way, we not only attract newly qualified social workers, we provide all our staff with highly valued development opportunities. Our post qualification training opportunities are part of our commitment to lifelong learning.
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? At fifty-six years old and having been around the block a few times, I did initially question my decision to complete the Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Management; what would I actually get from it? Well, I was pleasantly surprised; quite a lot actually, which goes to show, there was still life in the old dog yet! K - Independent Reviewing Officer, 2015
Your career path with us
In Plymouth, we're proud of providing a clear career path for our social workers. You'll be employed on a carer graded role profile so your role will alway be challenging, rewarding and varied throughout your career with us.
Newly qualified social worker
As a newly qualified social worker you'll be supported to undertake the assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE). Our ASYE programme is an example of excellence in development, training and preparation for final assessment against the national criteria. We have an outstanding record of achievement in ensuring newly qualified workers achieve the ASYE year and develop the confidence and skills to be resilient practitioners.
I think most newly qualified workers have some anxieties about starting their first post in Social Work – the ASYE programme at Plymouth has been invaluable for me during this time. Being a frontline children's social worker has been a challenging and rewarding experience; I have been impressed at the high level of training and development opportunities the ASYE has provided, helping to develop my skills, knowledge and confidence which are required to meet the needs of the children and provide families with the best possible service. M - midway through Assessed and Supported Year in Employment, 2015
Experienced social worker
As an experienced social worker you'll continue to receive training to support your development. Our staff moves policy allows you to move around teams without having to reapply for positions, and there's a progression pathway from this level to Advanced Practitioner.
I started working with Plymouth City Council as a newly qualified social worker, since then I have been supported to develop my knowledge and skills accessing the high calibre of training and development available. I have been privileged to be part of a pilot team trialling a new way of working which is now being spread out across the department. Achieving the best outcomes for children, young people and their families is at the heart of our work and requires social workers to have up to date knowledge on matters affecting them. I am wholly committed to continuing my professional development and am proud to have recently moved from 'experienced social worker' to 'advanced social work practitioner'. J - Advanced Practitioner, 2015
Advanced practitioner
Advanced practitioners act as a point of contact for advice and support within the service, handle more complex cases and help to develop others. The advanced practitioner grade is attached to you, not the post, recognising and valuing commitment and excellence. You'll progress to this grade through an agreed assessment process or you can be recruited at this grade if you meet the requirements and essential criteria. Speak with the Service Manager for Professional Development when applying if you think this might be you and refer to the grade I criteria on the role profile attached to the job advert.
Social work manager
As a social work manager you'll support other social workers and oversee their work. You'll also provide management, guidance and advice to teams, and ultimately take responsibility for decisions made by staff.
Assessed and supported year in employment case study
We work with Skills for Care, a registered charity that helps organisations develop and lead their workforce. We wrote a case study for them to use, that looked at the impact our ASYE had on increasing the number of our social workers that wanted to keep working for us.
Case study: ASYE and the impact on increased social worker retention [PDF, 1MB]