Post Appointed

Once a NQSW has been appointed a Social Work post in Falkirk Council they should contact the SSSC and change their registration with the SSSC to Social Worker, following guidance on Applying for Registration with the SSSC on the Practitioner’s Pages.

NQSWs should provide a copy of their Individual Learning Plan that is produced with them and their Tutor at University.

Hiring managers can access the Pre-Employment Checklist and Induction Template to ensure they have an ID badge, necessary equipment and systems access etc. There is also links to the Induction Planning and Tracking Record in this document, and a 2-week induction plan that can be tailored to suit the NQSW.

First 6 weeks

The Supported Year will begin from the date that an NQSW is registered with the SSSC as a Social Worker.

Within an NQSWs first 6 weeks they will be matched with a Supervisor who would typically be their Assistant Team Manager or Team Manager. The Supervisor would support to create a tailored Induction Plan and begin supporting the NQSW to progress through their Induction Planning and Tracking Record.

NQSWs and Supervisors would plan out their electronic diaries for the Supported Year, including recording these in the Individual Development Plan – mapping out the times and dates for Supervisions, Development Discussions, Protected Learning Time, Mandatory Learning Activities, NQSW Forums, Mentoring with their Advanced Practitioner, and any other learning and development needs.

At the end of the first 6 weeks the Supervisor and NQSW would hold an Initial Development Discussion using the CPL Review Template.

6 Weeks to 6 Months (6 weeks to 9 months for part time colleagues)

NQSWs should be making progress through their Mandatory Learning Activities during this time and should be planning these out in Supervisions with their Supervisor. It is important to use the Individual Development Plan as a working document to record continuous professional learning.

NQSWs and Supervisors should arrange a Mid-Point Development Discussion.

It is very important that Feedback is sought from Professionals and people accessing services, their family and carers. We would recommend at least one piece of feedback from each. The SSSC have provided forms to gather feedback but these may not be suitable for everyone and NQSWs should use their professional judgment on how to collect feedback.

6 months to 12 months (9 months to 18 months for part time colleagues)

NQSWs should be progressing through their Mandatory Learning Activities and concluding them as they reach the end of their Supported Year. NQSWs will then begin preparing their Portfolios for submission to their Supervisor so these can be Validated and Endorsed, then submitted to the SSSC.

NQSWs and Supervisors should arrange an End of Year Development Discussion.

Further Feedback from Professionals and people accessing services, their family and carers should also be collected. A minimum of one more from each is essential.

Validation & Endorsement

NQSWs will produce a Portfolio of their progress through the Supported Year. The SSSC will notify NQSWs when their Portfolios have to be submitted to them but it is typically 2 months after the Supported Year ends. This will consist of their CPL Review Template, their Individual Development Plan, and their Mandatory Learning Activities. Once the Supervisor has reviewed the Portfolio they will sign the Validation and Endorsement Form.

NQSWs will then share a copy of their Portfolio to Workforce Development at socialservices.training@falkirk.gov.uk where it will then be reviewed and Endorsed if there is sufficient evidence.

The NQSW will then submit their Portfolio to the SSSC through their MySSSC account.

Extension Requests

Occasionally things happen that prevent us doing the things we planned to do, and NQSWs should keep in contact with their Supervisors how they best manage this. Things like absence, sickness, service demands etc. can affect our progress through the Supported Year so please consider requesting an Extension where necessary.

NQSWs can do this by completing an Extension Request Form and submitting to Registration@sssc.uk.com.

Change of Employer or Supervisor

There are times where staffing may change, and this may affect the NQSWs Supported Year so it is important to plan for these accordingly. There is a Change of Supervisor or Employer Checklist that the NQSW must share with the relevant parties (Team Managers, Assistant Team Managers, Hiring Managers etc.) to ensure there is a good transition.

After the Supported Year

Once NQSWs have concluded their Supported Year they will move on to Falkirk Council’s annual Good Conversations framework and 6-month review.

Supervisions should be reviewed and may change to 4-6 weekly.