skip to main content

Our workforce development strategy

The Children and Learning Directorate aims to develop a skilled and stable workforce and foster a culture of learning that underpins excellent practice.

Our workforce development strategy 2025-2027 sets out our goals and priorities and how we will achieve them so that our workforce is able to deliver high standards of practice and services to children and families and how they will be supported in this mission.

All newly qualified social workers joining Camden will be supported for the first 2  years under the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme that has been devised in partnership with the North Central London Social Work Education Partnership

 

The aim of the programme is to provide support and learning opportunities to newly qualified social workers so that they can gain knowledge and skills and build their confidence during the first two years of their employment in a safe and supportive work environment.  We aim to help you meet the standards for this level under the Professional Capabilities Framework as set out in the BASW guidance.

 

The programme is delivered by Practice Development Officers based in the Academy who are experienced practitioners;  each newly qualified social worker will be allocated a Practice Development Officer who will provide support and  assess the social worker's progress over the 12 months of the programme.

The ASYE handbook sets out the programme structure, providing information for newly qualified social workers and Practice Assessors.

ASYE workshops 2025-26 

Social workers with 3 years post-qualification experience can apply to becoming Practice Educators; experienced social workers who have been trained to supervise, teach and assess students in placement.

 

Becoming a practice educator is one of the steps you can take towards management as it demonstrates an ability to manage staff workloads and oversee case decision-making.

 

There are 2 stages to PEPS training:

  • At stage 1, practice educators will supervise  students, providing learning opportunities and assessing their practice against the PCF.
  • At stage 2, practice educators will supervise students, newly qualified social workers in the ASYE programme and other learners, providing learning opportunities and assessing their practice against the PCF.

It is possible to undertake the combined course covering both stages.

To train as a practice educator, individuals must:

  • be a registered social worker
  • have two years relevant work experience for stage 1 and 3-years relevant work experience for stage 2
  • demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills required to meet the practice educator professional standards

Practice educators are supported by the Professional Social Work Educator in line with the BASW Practice Educator Standards. Camden is a member of the North London Social Work Teaching Partnership (NLSWTP) and the North Central London Social Work Education Network (NCL-SWEN) that delivers the practice educator programme.

For more details contact the Academy team manager Jay Fente and look out for the information session held 6 monthly for staff who are interested in pursuing this training.