Responding to the latest Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) annual report, Nicola Curley, Chair of the ADCS Workforce Policy Committee, said: 

“This report provides helpful insights for employers. It is positive that more people enrolled onto the ASYE programme in 2023-24 than in previous years, and that the proportion of unsuccessful completions has decreased for all newly qualified social workers compared to previous years. At a time when need in our communities is growing, so too is our need for more people to choose social work as a career and to stay in the profession. Further work is needed to understand why some groups are more likely to be unsuccessful in completing the ASYE than their peers. This includes people from Black and global majority communities, males and those who have deferred their ASYE.

 “The report highlights how equity, equality, diversity and inclusion (EEDI) is being strongly promoted by employers and that more newly qualified social workers are comfortable disclosing any additional support needs they have during their ASYE, which can only be a good thing. However, the report also acknowledges that there is more to do here and in other areas, such as ensuring that caseloads are manageable, individuals have appropriate protected time for development and feel able to raise any concerns they may have with their managers. As employers, we are committed to doing all we can to support our staff across all stages of the workforce, from newly qualified social workers on their ASYE through to senior leadership. We cannot make a difference to the children and families we work with without a well supported social work workforce.”

 ENDS