Where you get the support, you need when you need it….. because “We value you and invest in you” so that you flourish and have the tools, experiences, and support to do your job well!
The Children’s Social Care Academy supports continuing professional development opportunities for our children’s social workers and social care practitioners. It is led by the Children’s Principal Social Worker and the Academy Team Manager.
The aim of the academy is to support a highly skilled and motivated workforce who have a secure physical and psychological base from which to be the best practitioners they can be.
We foster a culture of learning that's ambitious and celebrates success. We are proud of our connected and inclusive culture, with a strong focus on wellbeing.
The Newly Qualified Social Workers group of 2024.
Routes into social work
Undergraduate (BA/BSc) and postgraduate (MA/MSc) degrees
Undergraduate degrees are 3 years and postgraduate degrees are 2 years. As part of both courses, students complete 2 or 3 placements.
We work with higher education establishments to provide 70 and 100-day practice based placements for students who are undertaking their social work qualification. We welcome placement requests from universities.
Step up to social work
We accept trainee social workers through the Step Up to Social Work programme. This is a postgraduate diploma that runs over 14 months.
Newly qualified social workers
The academy has a strong commitment to offering newly qualified social workers the best start in their social work career. You will benefit from being part of our in house Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (AYSE) programme, which is overseen by our Academy Team Manager and Principal Social Worker. This will provide you with strong support and the opportunities you need to grow and develop.
ASYE is a 12-month programme. It is set out by Skills for Care and is mapped against:
- the knowledge and skills statement for social workers
- professional capabilities framework
The support we offer newly qualified social workers during the AYSE includes:
- a structured academy and shadowing induction which includes a buddy
- monthly reflective practice groups
- targeted learning workshops
- regular one to ones facilitated by our inhouse experienced humanistic counsellor
- an inhouse Practice Educator Level 2 qualified assessor
- an experienced worked based supervisor
- regular reflective, personal and group supervision
- using collaborative conversations to allocate work
- a supported and steady transition to child protection work
- personalised professional development plans
- time for protected development activity
Consolidation year 2
We recognise that it's important to continue to support your development after the ASYE. Therefore, we have developed an offer for all our early career social workers to consolidate their learning.
Through our academy you will have access to:
- a continuation of individual and group support
- continued support from our inhouse experienced humanistic counsellor
- regular reflective sessions using principles of action learning
- one to ones with the academy manager to oversee and review your professional development plan
- targeted learning workshops
Practice education
We support trainee practice educators to achieve practice education awards in partnership with higher education establishments and in line with the Practice Educator Professional Standards.
We also support qualified practice educators to continue to consolidate their practice through access to:
- action learning reflective sessions
- one-to-ones
- up to date and relevant resources
Progressing your social work career
Whatever stage you are in your social work career, we will invest in you and offer you growth and development opportunities.
You will continue to have opportunities to develop your skills and broaden your knowledge and experience.
You will also be able to support the learning and development of less experienced colleagues.
You will have a professional development plan, with the opportunity to:
- reflect on your practice
- consider your knowledge, skills and behaviour
- collaboratively identify learning objectives
Learning platforms
Our membership with Research in Practice and Making Research Count means you always have access to a rich source of practice related resources.
"I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to complete my ASYE in the Family Safeguarding Team 3. Cheryl and Lauren have supported me throughout my assessed year, they have allocated work with increasing complexity at just the right pace to allow me to absorb the learning at each stage. I have been provided with rich learning opportunities throughout the year including the completion of single assessments, delivering Child In Need support, attending Initial Child Protection Conferences and Review Child Protection Conferences, seeking legal support and attending Legal Advice Meeting, Public Law Outline, court proceedings and now looking towards the adoption process."
"Additionally, the emotional support throughout this journey has provided space for me to reflect on more challenging experiences, created perspective and practical support planning. The belief that Cheryl and Lauren have shown in me as a newly qualified social worker has helped me develop the confidence and resilience to overcome the challenges and grow from the learning opportunities that each situation has provided."
"I have found that as an organisation Bracknell Forest Children's Social Care (CSC) have adopted a supportive approach. I have enjoyed the opportunities to come together with other newly qualified social workers to reflect on our learning and resilience, I have enjoyed the practice learning session provided by Julia which informed my thinking when working with families and inspired my reflective presentation. I have felt listened to and seen positive change in practice and I am looking forward to my future with Bracknell Forest CSC."
"The jump from student to newly qualified social worker is such a huge learning curve for anyone, and I knew it would be both challenging and rewarding. When considering where I wanted to start my journey, I knew I wanted it to in an environment that aligned with my values. Bracknell Forest has been supportive and invested in my personal and professional development."
"Since joining my team at the council, I have been supported to develop my skills that I have learnt from university and apply it to my practice. The team has provided me with lots of encouragement and guidance to support me to achieve better outcomes for the children I am working with. I am glad that I have had such a positive start to my career and I feel privileged to be working in a role that is so impactful."
"The ASYE programme was extremely helpful in reinforcing the academic knowledge I acquired before qualifying. It enabled me to place that learning into context and apply it effectively when working with clients."
"The refresher sessions were especially useful, offering continuous support and assisting me in translating theoretical knowledge into practical, real-world experience as I continue to learn on the job."
"As a newly qualified social worker who recently joined the Children's Specialist Support team, I was initially nervous due to this being my first time working in a statutory setting. However, since joining, my experience of the team has been positive."
"My induction to the team was thoughtful and my manager oversaw that I had sufficient learning and development opportunities to prepare me for undertaking independent work. The team members have been happy to answer questions for me and help with tasks I wasn’t sure about."
"Supervision has also been a great asset to helping me feel confident in my practice and my manager is always happy to offer additional support when I feel I need more guidance on specific tasks. There have also been many opportunities for internal training which has helped me to grow knowledge relevant to my team."
"I have worked very hard this year to make sure I have taken full advantage of the support on offer from my employer. Supervision has been taken very seriously with the right level of experienced practitioners and opportunities for learning and development have been plentiful and meaningful. I have also felt the appropriate level of oversight on the type of cases and level of risk I have been given."
"It has been a very good year for me and my social work practice. I really enjoy working here with my colleagues and the wider team and feel vindicated in my choice to work for this local authority who have not let me down. Receiving a recommended PASS is a testament not only to my efforts but to that of everyone involved in supporting me."
"My first placement as a student social worker provided multiple opportunities for professional and personal development, allowing me to gain invaluable experience that will support my future practice."