Roles and responsibilities

Key roles and responsibilities for those involved in a newly qualified social worker's assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE)

Newly qualified social worker

Key responsibilities

  • Be familiar with the contents of the ASYE programme materials, including those issued by Skills for Care and the Hampshire County Council workforce development team
  • Prepare for and participate in supervision sessions, and learn from constructive, critical feedback
  • Complete the critical reflection log (CRL) and send it to the assessor at least two weeks before the planned review meeting
  • Undertake at least three direct observations of practice (one with the supervisor and two with the practice assessor)
  • Gather at least three pieces of feedback from colleagues during the ASYE year
  • Gather at least three pieces of feedback from service users or carers over the year
  • Attend mandatory development sessions
Team manager / Line manager

The primary role of the team manager is to ensure that the ASYE programme is followed correctly in line with the Hampshire County Council ASYE policy and how to guide.

Key responsibilities

  • Make the final decision about whether the NQSW has passed the ASYE (with support from the practice assessor and supervisor)
  • Be familiar with the contents of the ASYE programme materials, including those issued by Skills for Care and the Hampshire County Council workforce development team
  • Ensure the NQSW receives regular, formal supervision in line with the ASYE policy
  • Ensure the NQSW has a reduced caseload, and monitor this regularly throughout the ASYE year
  • Ensure the complexity of the NQSW's workload is appropriate to their development goals
  • Ensure the NQSW has the opportunity for protected development time
  • Attend the agreement meeting and all formal review meetings throughout the ASYE programme
  • Add comments to the Record of Support and Progressive Assessment (RSPA) at each review stage
  • Inform HR Operations and the Workforce Development teams where you have concerns, and decide appropriate actions
  • Keep records, draft and issue letters/documentation with HR support as necessary
  • Write a report for inclusion in the final assessment in the RSPA
Practice assessor

The practice assessor:

  • supports the newly qualified social worker through the formal process of the ASYE programme
  • supports the line manager to determine whether the NQSW has passed the ASYE year

Key responsibilities

  • Ensure the NQSW understands the ASYE programme and their responsibilities
  • Chair the initial agreement meeting
  • Ensure support and assessment requirements are included in the Record of Support and Progressive Assessment (RSPA) in line with the requirements of Skills for Care
  • Support the NQSW to set appropriate learning objectives
  • Provide monthly supervision to the NQSW (alternating between group and individual supervision)
  • Take minutes and share these with the NQSW
  • Submit the minutes at the end of the ASYE year for inclusion in the NQSW's personnel file
  • Offer supervisory support, in agreement with the ASYE coordinator.
  • Provide clear expectations about the submission of written work, and highlight delays to the line manager.
  • Provide constructive feedback to the NQSW on their programme assessment
  • Ensure decisions remain in line with the Professional Capability Framework and Knowledge and Skills Statement
  • Undertake the first and last of the 3 direct observations
  • Offer constructive, critical feedback to the NQSW and gather feedback from the service user/carer.
  • Liaise with the line manager / supervisor, highlighting any issues and agreeing strategies to manage them (e.g. work load / deadlines)
  • Chair the 3 and 6 month review sessions with input from the NQSW, their supervisor and line manager (where appropriate)
  • Escalate unresolved issues to the ASYE coordinator
  • Make a final pass/fail recommendation to the line manager at the end of the ASYE
  • Keep up to date with regional and national Adult Social Care developments, including ASYE
Supervisor (when not the line manager)

The primary role of the supervisor is to provide regular supervision and support to the NQSW and support the Team Manager to make the their decisions about the progress of the NQSW.

Key responsibilities

  • Ensure the NQSW receives regular, formal supervision in line with the ASYE policy.
  • Review, assess and support the NQSW
  • Ensure the NQSW's workload is reduced in line with the programme requirements
  • Undertake the second direct observation, offering the NQSW constructive, critical feedback and gathering feedback from the service user / carer
  • Ensure the complexity of the NQSW's workload is appropriate to their development goals
  • Ensure the NQSW has the opportunity for protected development time
  • Support the NQSW to complete their Critical Reflection Log and provide feedback once it is completed
  • Attend the agreement, review and final meetings
  • Contribute to the assessment of the NQSW