Children’s Social Care
Social Work Career Progression Framework
Introduction
This framework outlines the progression routes and application process available to all social workers in Children’s social care. Progression and the competences required should be identified and discussed in individual Performance and Development Review’s (PDR’s). Associated documents can be found in the appendix and include:
- Professional Capabilities Framework: Social Worker to Experienced Social Worker Level (Senior Social Worker)
- Professional Capabilities Framework, Experienced Social Worker (Senior Social Worker) to Advanced Level (Advanced Practitioner)
- Application for Career progression- Critically reflective statement
- Career Progression Feedback Form
ProgressionRoutes
The table below details the available progression routes and application process.
Existing Grade / Progression to / Evidence Requirements / Application ProcessNQSW - 9 / Social Worker - 10 / Successful completion of probation and ASYE / Automatic Progression
Social Worker - 10 / Senior Social Worker - 11 /
- Significant post qualifying experience
- Meets PCF capabilities for Senior Social Worker (Reflective account)
- Service User feedback
Senior Social Worker - 11 / Advanced Practitioner- 12 /
- Substantial post qualifying experience
- Meets PCF capabilities for Advanced Social Work Practitioner/Professional Educator (Reflective account)
- Service User feedback
Advanced Practitioner -12 / Team Manager / Vacancy led -Meets essential job description person specification requirements / Normal recruitment procedure
Application and Evidence
Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW)Grade 9– Social Worker Grade 10
On successful completion of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE), NQSW’s will automatically progress to Grade 10. Managers will need to complete a Post Change Form and a Payroll Change Form for Social Workers and forward to .
Social Worker Grade 10 – Senior Social Worker Grade 11
Progression to Senior Social Worker is via an application to the Career Progression Panel, attendance is not required. Applicants are requested to complete a critically reflective statement of no more than 3 sides of A4 (Approximately 1500 words) stating why they feel they should progress and demonstrating through the use of case examples and direct work that they broadly meet or have the potential to meet the PCF Capability Statements for Senior Social Worker. This should be accompanied by a minimum of 2 pieces of Service User feedback and endorsed by the Team Manager. If the Team Manager feels that they cannot endorse the application they should discuss this with the Head of Service.
Senior Social Worker Grade 11- Advanced Practitioner Grade 12
Progression to Advanced Practitioner is via application to and attendance at the Career Progression Panel. Applicants are required to complete a critically reflective statement of no more than 3 sides of A4 (Approximately 1500 words) stating why they feel they should progress and demonstrating through the use of case examples and direct work that they broadly meet or have the potential to meet the PCF Capability Statements for Advanced Social Work Practitioner/Professional Educator. This should be accompanied by a minimum of 2 pieces of Service User feedback and endorsed by the Team Manager. If the Team Manager feels that they cannot endorse the application they should discuss this with the Head of Service.
Applicants will also be required to give a 5 minute presentation, the topic of which will be advised prior to the Panel. Following this there will be a professional discussion based on the presentation given.
Advanced Practitioner Grade 12 –Team Manager
Progression to Team Manager is via the normal recruitment procedures and is vacancy led. As part of succession planning Advanced Practitioners who show the potential to progress to Team Manager will be supported via the Supervision and PDR process to identify the competences required.
Career Progression Panel
All Heads of Service will sit on Career Progression Panels to review applications. Panels will be held approximately 3 times a year to meet the requests identified through PDR’s. The decision made at panel will be final and there will be no appeal process.
The nominated chair of the Panel will provide written feedback to all applicants and their Team Manager within 1 week of the Panel providing details of the decision. If the decision is made to turn down the application for progression, applicants will be advised on areas they need to develop prior to making a further application. This should form part of a personal development plan to be reviewed in supervision and through the PDR process.
On receipt of the decisionwhere applications are successful, Team Managers will need to complete a Post Change Form and a Payroll Change Form for Social Workers and forward to . The date of the change should be the date of the Career Progression Panel.
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