At ATWC we strive to provide the best service to our clients at all times, we also want to encourage quality professional development and build a great working environment for our staff.
Essential to these goals is our Newly Qualified Social Workers Framework, developed by our Special Projects and Practice Development Coordinator.
The Framework is focused on getting Social Workers ready to practice, once they have completed their degrees.
ATWC wants our Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSW) to feel fully supported and nurtured in their roles. Through this framework, staff feel valued for their knowledge and are encouraged to explore new learning. They are able to build their confidence and competence as practitioners, and therefore we can then offer the best service possible to our clients.
This rolling 10 month programme has been running since June 2018 and covers the 10 Social Worker registration competencies. We look at what the NQSWs have learnt in their studies and how this relates to their practice for the organisation and for their clients. We want our Social Workers to understand completely what they are doing and why they are doing it, not just to get stuck in the day to day mechanics of their roles. This Framework encourages them to expand their thinking and apply this to their practice.
We have 28 on the framework at the moment and a waiting list of 7. All of these social workers are employed here at ATWC. Most come straight from University, mostly from Unitec, Auckland University, Massey and MIT.
The dropout rate has been very low and the Framework continues to make us an attractive place for new graduates to come and work. It also ensures that ATWC continues to be a learning environment.
The topics we cover include:
- Theories and Practice,
- Self-Awareness,
- Risk,
- Protective Factors.
It is a completely reflective environment and a great place to get to know fellow Social Workers from all across ATWC’s services: YWiSS, SWiS and Family Start.
If you are interested in working at ATWC please keep an eye on our Careers page and if you would like to find out more about the NQSW Framework, please email [email protected].