Reflections from the ‘frontline’: social workers ' experiences of post-qualifying child care training and their current work practices in the new children ' s services
| Date | 04 May 2008 |
| Pages | 54-64 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/17466660200800018 |
| Published date | 04 May 2008 |
| Author | Helen Masson,Nick Frost,Nigel Parton |
54 Journal of Children’s Services
Volume 3 Issue 3 November 2008
© Pavilion Journals (Brighton) Ltd
1 Professor of Social
Work (Children and
Young People),
University of
Huddersfield
2Professor of Social
Work (Children,
Childhood and
Families), Leeds
Metropolitan
University
3NSPCC Professor of
Applied Childhood
Studies, University of
Huddersfield
Introduction
In the light of current developments in children’s
services in the UK and an increasing emphasis on
workforce reform and development (see Department
for Children, Schools and Families, 2008), it is pertinent
to consider the significance and role of PQ training in
supporting competent and reflective social work practice
with children and families. It is in this context that the
study, on which this article is based, was undertaken.
Post-qualifying training in children and
families’ social work
General post qualif ying training opportunities for
social workers had existed for a number of years,
but it was not until 1999 that the Dep artment
of Health introduce d a part-time award route
specifically targeted at social workers experienced
in children and families’ work, funded through
the Social Services Training Support Programme.
The new award w as to be delivered via university
Abstract
In the con text of current developments in ch ildren’s services in the UK and increased emphasis on
workforce de velopment, the aut hors describe a survey of successf ul completers of a Post-qualifying
(PQ) Child Care Award Progra mme, one of 18 such programmes i n England that r an between 2001 and
2006/7. The survey’s aims we re twofold: first, to gather the respondents’ overal l evaluations of their
PQ training and information about their past and current work circumstances; and second, to expl ore
their knowle dge and opinions on the latest d evelopments in chi ldren’s services i n relation to th eir own
work practic es. The findings from the survey are outlined unde r four themes, w hich are then di scussed
in relation to other relevan t studies, reviews on the role a nd tasks of soci al workers and c urrent
developments associated with t he Every Child M atters agenda and the integrated w orkforce. Concerns
are raised about whether soc ial work professio nalism is being effectively utilised within the curr ent
children’s s ervices arrangements .
Key words
Children’s services; social workers; post-qualifying (PQ) training
Helen Masson1, Nick Frost2 and Nigel Parton3
Reflections from the ‘frontline’:
social workers’ experiences
of post-qualifying child care
training and their current
work practices in the new
children’s services
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