ASYE - Meeting the requirements of the Knowledge and Skills Statements

Assessment against the Knowledge and Skills statement child and family social work

Morning Session

Introduction

• Skills for Care – our remit

• The College of Social Work

• The Knowledge and Skills Statement (KSS)

• Approved Child and Family Practitioner (ACFP) assessment and accreditation

Setting the Scene – ASYE child and family services

Introduction

If you’re an employer providing the ASYE in Child and Family services*•You’re here today!•We will be in regular contact with you

• Briefings• Networks

•Workshop opportunities•Identifying good practice – employer group

Skills for Care – our remit

Introduction

• The ASYE is assessed against this

• The PCF is an overarching standards framework • The KSS provides more detail on what a child and family social worker

should be able to do

• Approved Child and Family Practitioner (ACFP) assessment and accreditation.

The Knowledge and Skills Statement (KSS) child and family

Assessment and accreditation for child and family social workers

ASYE summer workshop

1 July 2015

• The Narey Review February 2014

• The statement of knowledge and skills for child and family social work November 2014

Background

• Assessment and accreditation for Approved Child and Family Practitioner status

• Two further statuses - practice supervision and practice leadership.

• A recognised career pathway for social workers to progress and retain a focus on frontline practice.

• In the next 12 months, up until March 2016, a KPMG-led consortium, will be working closely with the Chief Social Worker and the DfE’s Social Work Reform Unit to design and test this system.

Assessment and Accreditation system

The KPMG consortium

The main players:

Also working with:

…and many others

Engaging stakeholders

Programme to March 2016 – proof of concept phase

Knowledge and skills statements for Practice Supervisor (PS) and Practice Leaders (PL) to supplement published one for ACFP

Development of trial of online assessment system

Research into practice observation methods

Trialling with volunteer local authorities and other employers

Analysis, feedback and refinement

• For PL and PS

• Consult with Children & Families, C&FSWs and Leadership

• Government consultation

• With C&FSW input design realistic scenarios for the on-line test

•LEO Learning building a digital platform

Develop Knowledge and Skills Statements

• Voluntary participation from local authorities

Develop scenarios to match K&SS

Design online environment Proof of concept

Programme Plan

Ongoing consultation and engagement

Consideration of practice observation methods to complement online environment

Knowledge and skills statements

Working drafts prepared for PS and PL

Engagement with care leavers (Who Cares Trust), families (Family Rights Group), and three focus groups of managers and practitioners

Shared with College of Social Work, BASW and HCPC

Government / public consultation scheduled to start mid/late July

The emerging assessment system

Assessment

Practice Observation? Digital / Online

Knowledge based – in situational

context

Complex scenarios –

decision making

Intermediate

questions – situation analysis

Direct observatio

n

Audio / visual

OSCE equivalent

Employer sampling strategy

Invites sent to 26 local authorities and 3 other employers

Broadly representative of authority type, size (both children and social worker headcount), and performance (using Ofsted rating as a proxy)

Ensuring geographical balance – urban/rural split and by region

Map of LAs

London•Hackney •Kingston upon Thames / Richmond•Lambeth•Greenwich•Westminster•Wandsworth

South •Buckinghamshire •Kent •Reading •Southampton•Wokingham •North Somerset

North •Doncaster •Durham•Hartlepool•Leeds•North East Lincolnshire •Sunderland •Manchester•Wakefield

Midlands •Northamptonshire •Nottinghamshire •Birmingham•Dudley•Bedford Borough•Luton

Other employers

•CAFCASS •Sanctuary•NSPCC

What are the benefits for employers?

Opportunity to help shape the assessment and accreditation system

Early and first-hand experience of the assessment in the event of the assessment being introduced nationally

Data and information about the level of attainment of your workforce against the published and proposed knowledge and skills statements

o Employee level, mapped against each section of the knowledge and skills statements

o Employer level, with anonymised comparative data

Social worker sampling strategy

Approximately 1,000 practitioners – sample size driven by need to accurately predict national position and to enable in-depth analysis (25,000 estimated total population)

250 practice supervisors – potentially includes IROs and child protection chairs (6,200 estimated total population)

25 practice leaders (152+ estimated total population)

Employers’ discretion for allocating social workers to levels, guided by the definitions

Any questions?

What support you told us you need

•Employers want greater certainty on the requirements for the assessment and standardised templates •Vast majority of employers are using a version of the 2012 ASYE guidance + KSS audit•Guidance on how assessment against the KSS and the PCF can be managed•Difficulty of managing 2 different frameworks for Adults and Children•Agreeing the level required for the assessment and moderating assessments•Information on the ACFP

E - Survey

–

How we are responding

• 3 DIFFERENT examples of audit against the KSS

• Revised Skills for Care documentation for use with KSS ( child and family social work )

• Opportunity to discuss ways in which external partnership moderation can be available for child and family employers

• Case studies to follow

Identification of good practice

How are we responding

- Inclusion of updates in social work briefing

- Regular meetings - information passed to you through Area Networks

- Invitations to Child and Family workshops

- Updates on website

ACFP assessment and accreditation

Area Networks agenda

• Discussion of requirements for assessment – evidence, level, process

• Opportunity to think about standardisation and moderation

How we are responding

• Invite to all Child and Family employers

• Employer working group members, collecting examples of good practice and informing local discussions

• Agenda items to continue the discussion on local assessment arrangements and moderation and standardisation.

Area Networks

Discussion groups

• The role of the employer working group

• Principles for assessment

• Showcasing examples of good practice

Managing assessment against the KSS

Review of the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF)

Review of the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF)

Early findings from consultation events and online survey

June 2015

Consultation events (4)

• Approximately 170 attended (backgrounds not yet analysed)

• Overall, there was a message of strong support for the PCF. It brings many benefits to the profession and there was no doubt that it should remain in the future

Summary of key points

• The PCF is not yet embedded so there could be a case for delaying change• However, more clarity is needed about the status of the PCF, especially in relationship to other statements, standards and expectations• The PCF should be used better in CPD• The purpose and functions of the PCF are not fully understood in all parts of the profession

Summary of key points

• Better demarcation is needed between different level descriptors to support career progression• The language of the PCF can lack clarity• The PCF should be streamlined and simplified, with improved visual presentation of its connections with other documents/bodies

Online survey

• Closed 24th June• 522 respondents• 92% of these had not attended other events• 25% from Adults statutory setting• 31% from Child and Family Statutory setting• Prior knowledge of the PCF 22% = ‘excellent’

and 51% = ‘good’

Online survey

• In what ways to you think the PCF might be improved – top responses:

• Provide more clarity about the status of the PCF re other standards, statements and expectations (64%)

• Make better use of PCF in CPD, especially after ASYE (59%)

Online survey

• What would be most helpful in making PCF fit for purpose in the future– top responses:

• Provide clearer explanations of how the PCF works in specific situations (e.g. Assessment, CPD, career progression, performance) (51%)

• Give clearer distinction between PCF as overarching framework and how it is applied in practice (48%)

Meeting the requirements of the Knowledge and Skills Statement (child and family social work)

Managing assessment against the KSS

Employer working group – “Champions of good practice”

• Representative from each Skills for Care Area• Commitment to March 2016• Liaison with area colleagues to identify examples of practice• Deliberate on and agree examples for posting on the website• With area colleagues develop case study material• Provide a leadership role for Area colleagues linking into the Area

networks • Collect local issue to inform the on-going work of the group• Rehearse the discussion and debate to inform local problem solving

Terms of Reference

Principles for assessment

• Minimises bureaucracy• Robust enough to stand challenge• Includes an initial KSS self assessment• KSS self assessment asks for evidence• Self assessment verified by Assessor discussed in supervision • Identified learning needs inform the PDP and the Learning Agreement• PDP regularly reviewed and updated with reference to the learning

needs identified through the KSS and the PCF• Process supports holistic progressive development• Critical reflection as central

Examples - assessment against the KSS and PCF

- Staffordshire - Mapping document

- TCSW – Mapping slide

- KSS and PCF Holistic Assessment outcomes

PCF Domains

Complete Partial Tangential

1 Professionalism KSS 9 SupervisionKSS 10 Org Context

2 Values and Ethics

3 Diversity

4 Rights and Justice

5 Knowledge KSS 8 LawKSS 3 Child Devt.KSS 4 Adult MHKSS 5 Abuse/neglect

6 Critical Reflection KSS 7 Analysis and decision-making

7 Intervention and Skills KSS 2 CommunicationKSS 1 RelationshipsKSS 6 Assessment

8 Contexts and Organisations

KSS 10 Org Context

9 Professional Leadership

Discussion question 1

How could you use these examples of mapping documents to support the assessment ?

Examples of Evidence

•Merton – KSS baseline

•Enfield – KSS baseline

•Revised adult paperwork

•Wandsworth - Written case study

Enfield

• Example of simple self assessment against the main statements• Facilitates identification of learning needs• Populated real life example

Comment:- Include evaluation/ verification by the Assessor- Include requirement to identify learning objective

KSS initial audit

Merton

• Highly detailed - statements broken down into series of sub statements• Requires the Assessor to also scale the NQSW• Identifies learning needs and links to the PDP • Requires evidence of capability over the year

Comment• Time intensive for both NQSW and Assessor• Effectively a second assessment running alongside the PCF

           

KSS initial audit

Merton revised adult documentation

• Streamlines assessment• Contains all the evidence requirements (excepting the KSS initial audit)

in one place• Allows for the same framework to be managed across adult and child

and family• Supports standardisation and moderation

Revised Skills for Care adult documentation

Wandsworth – initial KSS audit, case study format

• Innovative case study example• Assessing and supporting critical reflection• Assessing across the KSS • Flexible use • May support the ACFP assessment

Comment • May be time consuming and requires skilled Assessor

Discussion Question 2

Bearing in mind the principles identified by the Good Practice Working group, what aspects of the examples presented would you find helpful to incorporate in your assessment?

Ensuring standards are consistently applied, external partnership and national moderation

Afternoon session

Introduction

• Skills for Care – supporting the adults ASYE framework

• The College of Social Work

• The Knowledge and Skills Statement

• Moderation and Partnerships

Setting the scene – ASYE adults services

Introduction

• The basis for ASYE in adults services• a national system of quality assurance so that the profession can have

confidence that employers’ judgements are consistent • standardised arrangements for assessment and moderation • Aligns with the PCF – key learning outcomes

• Moderation• internal and external processes

The Knowledge and Skills Statement (KSS) - adults

Introduction

• KSS is the driver• What’s the difference between adults and child and family?• Working it out on the ground• The transition from old to new

• Working in partnership

Moderation and Partnerships

ModerationOverview

Internal moderation

Internal moderation combines two distinct activities:

Confirming the assessment decision Moderation

Confirm the final employer assessment judgement through scrutiny and challenge - confirmation integrated with HR processes

Take an overview of the quality and consistency of assessment decisions - ensure they in line with the KSS and PCF ASYE capabilities

Assessment decision to be scrutinised by a full reading of the evidence by a RSW member of the moderation process

Provide samples and contribute to external moderation processes

Take action if the assessment decision is not accurate, valid, robust and consistent i.e. request further information or reassessment

Receive and act on feedback from external moderation processes (partnership moderation and the national moderation panel)

Internal moderation

At least two people to participate in the internal moderation process

A principal social worker or senior manager to have overall responsibility for ASYE

Process to monitor progress of NQSWs/oversee the allocation & capability of assessors

Internal moderation summary report to be completed and to accompany any request by the national moderation panel to review a set of evidence (RoSPA and CRL) from an individual NQSW undertaking ASYE

:

Internal moderation - summary

Guidance already published

Internal moderation supporting guidance:•Internal moderation purpose and standards •Internal assessment and moderation reviewer templates: Part one – quality checklist and Part two – Review of assessor’s decision•Internal moderation summary report template (available today)

Work in progress(August 2015)

• Practice examples and guidance on timescales for confirming the assessment outcome

• Practice examples to demonstrate how private and voluntary organisations can be supported by organisations with statutory responsibilities

• FAQs

Considerations for children’s employers electing to use this framework

• Internal moderation process can be established as a separate process for children and family NQSWs undertaking ASYE or employers can have combined adult and children’s process (SfC’s guidance and standards need to be followed for Adults’ processes )

External moderation – ASYE Adults’ Partnerships

All ASYE Adult employers receiving funding from DH/Skills for Care/ to be members of an ASYE partnership:

1.Three employers, two of whom support 2 NQSWs a year

2.HEI membership desirable, can be part of a wider social work education partnership or early adopter teaching partnership

3.Offer support to PVI sector

4.Current and regularly reviewed memorandum of cooperation

5.Confirm the capability standards for assessors and consider collaborating to provide an assessment and development framework (including on-going capability)

External moderation - standards

1. Outlining the purpose – to provide scrutiny against the national standards. Partnership moderation cannot overturn an employer’s final assessment judgement

2. Management and membership to be agreed; no fewer than four members, each employer represented and participants should normally be RSWs working at the Professional Educator level, RSWs to review evidence.

3. Timing – linked to size of partnership, at least once a year4. Random sampling of at least 10% plus marginals, no fewer

than 4 sets of evidence (RoSPA and CRL). Each member reads at least two pieces of evidence, address confidentiality

5. Reporting themes and issues on a common template to employers and assessors and to the national panel (at least once a year).

External moderation – National Panel

One national panel meeting twice per year ( October 2015 and March 2016)

Shadow panel met on June 17th to establish terms of reference and elect a chair (Darlene Lamont)

Twelve members: representation from all SfC areas and a range of organisations including two from HEIs (Coordinated by SfC who will also have two seats on the panel)

Random sample of 5% or 60 NQSW sets of evidence per year and internal moderation reports (transitional arrangements)

October meeting to review evidence from old and new frameworks including partnership moderation reports

Feedback and recommendations to employers and partnerships

National report of collated themes and messages

External moderation - summary

Guidance published after July events

External moderation guidance (available today)•ASYE partnerships•Partnership moderation standards•Partnership moderation reviewer report template •Partnership moderation summary report template

Work in progress • Exemplar MoUs (late summer) and FAQs (ongoing) • Sampling guidance (including categories) and scenarios (late summer)• Guidance on the role of Chair (late summer)• Consideration of a national partnership panel for PVI sector• Development workshops for moderators (Autumn)

Considerations for children’s employers electing to use this framework

• Partnership moderation process can be established as a separate process for children and family NQSWs undertaking ASYE or a employers can decide to have combined adult and children’s process (the Skills for Care guidance and standards need to be followed for Adults’ processes – Children’s employers can make adaptions)

• Practice examples of combined partnership moderation processes will be available in the early Autumn

ASYE - Meeting the requirements of the Knowledge and Skills Statements Ensuring standards are applied consistently, external partnership and national moderation

Afternoon Workshop

External moderation – ASYE Adults’ Partnerships

Developing external moderation partnership guidance

Initial outline proposals from standardisation working group

Consultation and feedback through Skills for Care’s Networks and principal social workers’ network

Feedback from workshops at Spring events

Promotion at July events and publication on website

Final version amended and approved by National Moderation Panel

External moderation – ASYE Adults’ PartnershipsBackground to final version• All ASYE Adult employers receiving funding from DH/Skills

for Care to be members of an ASYE partnership – funding requirements within ASYE grant contract letter

• Three employers, two of whom support 2 NQSWs a year – can be larger, this is the minimum standard, agreed as feasible by the majority of employers

• HEI membership desirable – in line with teaching partnerships and firmly supported by PSWs

• Offer support to PVI sector - acknowledges an important function but recognises that partnerships may not have an overview of all PVI organisations in their area

External moderation – ASYE Adults’ PartnershipsBackground to final version

• Current and regularly reviewed memorandum of cooperation – to include governance arrangements, membership, frequency of meetings, PSWs expected to assume key roles in partnership moderation in line with internal moderation standards

• Confirm the capability standards (normally Practice Development Educator guidance) for assessors and consider collaborating to provide an assessment and development framework (including on-going capability)

External moderation – standards Background to final version

1. Membership and participants. Views varied across the country acknowledging that many experienced external moderation participants were not RSWs. National moderation panel firmly stated reviewers should normally be RSWs

2. Timing – linked to size of partnership but at least once a year, expectation that large partnerships have at least two sessions

3. Random sampling of at least 10%, no fewer than 4 sets of evidence (RoSPA and CRL). Each member reads at least two pieces of evidence, address confidentiality e.g. through a statement (Sampling scenario)

4. Templates available (next slide and on the tables)

Templates

Three new linked templates (to be available on website shortly):

Internal and external moderation summary reports •Number of assessments moderated and confirmed•Record number of withdrawals and details•Record assessors’ decisions and where reviewer disagrees•Record and review actions (organisational/partnership, support, employment issues)•Record and monitor response to feedback (Response to NQSWs not included on partnership report – should this be optional?)•Complete Action Plan

External moderation reviewer template•Similar to internal moderation reviewer template•Quality Checklist – Learning agreement, PDPs, supervision, workload etc•Moderation – scrutinising employer’s assessment decision•Recording and providing feedback – does the reviewer agree with the assessor?•Exemplars?

External moderation – sampling scenario

Large Partnership (Essex – Adults & Children and Families) 180 NQSWs per year (plus others from partners):(102 Children’s/78 Adults’ – 2014; 60/100 approx. – 2015)

Example of 120 NQSWs (Adults), random sample size at least 10% (12), plus all fails and marginals, sampling from average and good categories:Good: 60 – random sample - 6 Average: 50 – random sample - 6Marginal, for further review - 10 TOTAL for partnership review - 22

NB: Partnership can decide to read sets of evidence (RoSPA and CRL) fully or selectively Random number generator can be used to select sample

External moderation – sampling scenario

Small Partnership (Two local authorities, two PVI partners) 12 NQSWs per year (6 and 5 from LAs, 1 from one PVI partner):(Moderation minimum requirements – 4 sets of evidence)

Review any marginal and fail, randomly select others to make a total of at least 4Minimum number for partnership review - 4 Probably one partnership moderation process per year

NB: There need to be at least four participants in the partnership moderation process, with each organisation submitting evidence represented. Recommended that all reviewers of the ASYE assessment evidence are RSWs

External moderation – National Panel

Additional information

National Moderation Panel believed that reviewing partnership and internal moderation summary reports was important to get a national overview and gather data on withdrawals and fails

Feedback and recommendations for future action ( if required) will be given to employers and partnerships. This can be recorded in the summary reports and action monitored as part of the next moderation process

Significant concerns will be addressed in a supportive manner by the Chair and Skills for Care national panel coordinator

Skills for Care area social work coordinators will provide support and assistance to partnerships to help them comply with new requirements SfC SW coordinators to liaise with their member if the national moderation panel to agree how they will provide an update at meeting

Small groups – Discussion

Questions for each of the four areas below…..

•What are the challenges and opportunities in implementing the guidance? •Would you like any support or guidance from SfC? •Any other issues?

1.Meeting the ASYE partnership criteria 2.Operating partnership moderation3.Giving and receiving feedback to improve standards and promote consistency (internal/partnership/national)4.Implications for children’s employers electing to use the Adults’ moderation framework