From education to employment

Social work post-qualifying standards: knowledge and skills statements

DfE today (21 May) updated their, post-qualifying assessment and accreditation criteria for social workers supporting vulnerable children and families. 

The knowledge and skills statements are the foundation for the introduction of a post-qualification specialist career pathway for child and family social workers.

They’re crucial for child and family social work:

  • education
  • recruitment
  • career development
  • performance appraisal

These statements will form the basis of the National Assessment and Accreditation System (NAAS) for child and family social workers.

They’re for:

  • frontline practitioners (staff)
  • practice supervisors
  • practice leaders

Practice supervisors are qualified social workers responsible for:

  • supervising child and family practitioners
  • developing the skills of teams and individuals involved in child and family social work services

Practice leaders are qualified social workers responsible for:

  • making sure the whole local system for child and family social work practice operates correctly
  • overseeing child and family frontline practitioners and practice supervisors

For frontline practitioners and practice supervisors, these statements have been determined as the post-qualifying improvement standards as set out under Section 42 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017, which means a professional standard, the attainment of which demonstrates particular expertise or specialisation.


Related Articles

Responses