We have two main projects supporting newly qualified social workers (NQSWs).

Five-year study

We’ve commissioned a five-year longitudinal study exploring the experiences of NQSWs as they progress in their careers.

The study aims to provide a broad view of NQSW professional development across Scotland. Researchers from Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Dundee are leading the study. It seeks to capture professional experiences, report on observed practice and trace the professional journey of NQSWs over their first five years to develop a national picture.

The research will consider how NQSWs:

• experience and manage a complex, contested and dynamic professional landscape, in relation to professional roles, tasks, structures and settings
• are supported, trained and developed across diverse practice settings
• identify their ongoing professional development needs as they progress their careers.

NQSW supported year

We’re developing recommendations for a national approach to a supported year for NQSWs in Scotland that is viable and sustainable and will provide effective and consistent support to NQSWs.

In phase one, we supported three sites to pilot different approaches with an independent evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of the approaches. The evaluation findings along with additional data and feedback have informed the next phase of the project.

During the next year we will continue to collaborate with partners to fully develop a national approach to a NQSW supported year and a complementary web-based learning resource.

A small-scale early implementation of the approach with identified partners will begin in April 2021, with a view to wider implementation in autumn 2022 if recommendations are accepted by the Scottish Government.

You can read the reports from phase one here.

• Learning from the NQSW pilots and next steps in developing a supported year
• Evaluation of a Pilot Project for Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) in Scotland.

NQSW supported year pilot project video

The video below features the lead officers from Angus, Aberdeenshire and Learning Network West discussing their experiences of taking part in the newly qualified social workers (NQSW) pilot project for a supported and assessed first year.

We’d like to hear your views on our resources and if they have supported your professional development. Please click here to answer some short questions.