This unit is aimed at students who are newly qualified Social Workers and are undertaking their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).  

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Practice (GCPP) and the Developing Professional Practice unit (DPP) for ASYE consist of a single unit each. They can be seen as the first step of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework for qualified social workers and other social and health care professionals.  

It has been developed in partnership with employers and is based on; the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF), as well as the Knowledge and Skills Statements (KSS) for Children and family Services and Adult Services.  

This unit will enable students to demonstrate that they have consolidated their initial competence at the point of qualification and can demonstrate further capabilities as they progress through their assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE). 

In order to progress through the ASYE, practitioners in statutory Social Work settings are required to complete a portfolio that evidences their development. The portfolio content is stipulated by Skills for Care and the employing agency. 

Bournemouth University offers a flexible approach to accredit this portfolio at Level 6 (degree level) or Level 7 (Master's level) through the following routes: 

• GCPP- Graduate Certificate in Professional Practice (Level 6)
• DPP- Developing Professional Practice (Level 7)

Students will complete the portfolio and be able to critically analyse their practice in reflective logs. 

The portfolio is expected to contain evidence that the student can; 

• make critical judgements and critically analyse their practice. 
• use research, theory, law and policy to inform and guide their practice. 
• offer a critical evaluation and analysis of their practice  
• link theory to practice and to critically reflect on their work within a broad theoretical framework. 
• Demonstrate an explicit adherence to Social Work England professional standards, and the provision of ethically sound practice. 
• demonstrate an understanding of anti-discriminatory practice and their own adherence to it 

The portfolio will be assessed by the practice mentors within the employing agency to determine if the practice standards of the ASYE have been met. They will link this to the Professional Capability Framework (PCF) and Knowledge and Skills Standards (KSS).  

BU will mark the academic writing, quality of analysis and critical reflection. The students will be required to use BU Harvard referencing. 

The ASYE will be supported by the employing agency and BU will offer workshops or teaching input, depending on which unit the student is enrolled in. 

We would highly recommend to undertake the ASYE courses at Level 7 to enhance further academic and career progression. 

The academic accreditation enables practitioners in their ASYE to engage in career development right from the start and offers opportunities for further pathways. This may lead to an MA in Advanced Practice or MA in Leading and Developing Services over time.

This course requires 100% attendance.