How experts by experience are educating the educators

How should we inspire and educate the next generation of social workers? This is a pressing question as we seek to raise standards and ensure social work students are ready for practice when they qualify. Our role as the regulator is to reassure the public that all social work students receive comprehensive initial education and training. We’ve found that change is needed so that all newly qualified social workers begin their careers from a consistent entry point. The public must receive the same high standard of practice from every social worker, irrespective of how, or where they trained.

The independent Education and Training Advisory Forum (ETAF), chaired by Dr Kevin Stone, is working with the sector and Social Work England to develop and introduce a set of knowledge, skills and behaviours for students and apprentices. This will form new guidance on readiness for professional practice and give consistency to how social workers are trained in England.

A huge part of getting social work education right is the involvement of people who have actually experienced social work. Co-production is one of Social Work England’s guiding principles and our education and training standards reinforce this.

The ETAF includes people with lived experience of social work who work within higher education providers. Sally Parker and Gareth Gault, who are also part of our National Advisory Forum, spoke to us about their involvement.

Sally Parker, expert by experience at Birmingham City University said:

“The knowledge, skills and behaviours project has involved people with lived experience of social work to a whole new level. The ETAF includes academics, tutors, social workers, practice educators and managers. Everyone has parked their labels at the door and has a safe space to say what social work education means to them.

“There are 2 experts by experience from education providers on the ETAF, and we wanted to include more voices. We set up focus groups specifically for experts by experience involved in training social workers. I’m proud to say that the two sessions happened as a result of our input and whilst they were modelled on the other sessions, they were facilitated by people with lived experience, which I think was really important for getting the focus right. They brought a real life aspect to how the new guidance should be written and implemented and have given us a foundation for doing more of this work in the future."

“True co-production depends on creating the right tone, environment and culture for everybody to feel comfortable about getting involved. This is a good example of Social Work England bringing about change in the right way. It’s a true partnership to create authentic guidance, which will genuinely benefit social work students, higher education providers and most importantly those of us who have social workers in our lives.”

Gareth Gault, expert by experience at Anglia Ruskin University said:

“The focus groups were the very first time that experts by experience from courses right across the country had come together. Their work alongside academics, tutors and students in all aspects of social work education meant they had a lot of knowledge to filter into the knowledge, skills and behaviours statements. They brought expertise from the interview and admissions stages, to designing and delivering modules and completing assessments.

“The groups represented the first opportunity we had to share ideas and best practice, and find out how education providers are on different rungs of the co-production ladder. For example, some experts by experience were involved in every aspect of a programme, from its inception to its delivery and evaluation. They helped academics and students to understand what really makes a good social worker. Others played a more limited role and would like to be more involved in different aspects of courses.

“There was a real appetite for keeping the conversation going. The focus groups were a catalyst for an idea I have to set up an independent association of experts by experience, in social work education. I want to make sure lived experience of social work is valued by, and integral to, every social work course in the country.”

What are people saying about the proposals?

Social Work England and the ETAF also held focus groups on the proposed knowledge, skills and behaviour statements with practice educators, students and newly qualified social workers. This followed formal consultation. There was consensus amongst the groups on several recommendations:

• introduce the new framework with students on day one, perhaps at interview stage
• move away from tick box exercises. Create one framework that has continuous use and impact throughout the learning and development journey
• set an example with the language. It will influence how social workers recognise the impact of their language on the people they support
• remove duplication, streamline and create consistency. Make things less overwhelming for everyone who comes into contact with the framework
• recognise the diversity of learning styles and needs

So, what’s next?

Dr Kevin Stone, chairman of the ETAF, said:

“We’re on track by starting the process to simplify the multitude of frameworks that students, apprentices and education providers have to navigate. Feedback has shown that whilst the existing frameworks have been valuable, now is the time to consolidate these with new guidance that has a strong focus on readiness for professional practice. Social Work England will eventually regulate higher education providers using the new guidance. This will ensure that all students who graduate have the knowledge, skills and behaviours to meet Social Work England’s professional standards and then apply for registration.

We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this exciting piece of work. We will continue to put co-production at its centre whilst we plan the publication and implementation of the final guidance with the sector over the coming months.”