What support can a newly qualified social worker expect in Scotland?

[Nel1234]

Hi all - one of my young relatives is just about to start as a probationary social worker within children & family services. She's really keen to get started. I wondered if there were any experienced SW's who could give an idea of what she can expect in the first year, what support she could get as a newly qualified SW and any other advice.

Thanks in advance.

She will be expected to hit the ground running

It's brutal. Social work is under resourced. She'll get the usual supervision etc as part of the NQSW supported year - if she's lucky to get a good manager who follows through on it. It's a national framework but the actual expierence varies. Meant to have a reduced caseload, mentoring etc, in practice the resources and capciry for it isn't there. Very dependent on the local team.

Children and families social work is at the sharp end and is high risk in terms of potential for things to go badly wrong. But if she's qualified I'm sure she's not naive and going in with her eyes wide open as she'll have done placements.

The good thing is it's pretty well paid(circa £45k) in comparison to other related SSSC regulated roles.