The social work degree is the professional qualification for social workers in Wales and throughout the UK. The title social worker is protected. Only people with a social work professional qualification can practise as social workers. Social workers are expected to increase their knowledge and skills after they qualify.
This is the first national agreed definition of the social worker role. This was created following extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including WLGA, BASW Cymru and ADSS Cymru and was unanimously agreed as an official definition for social workers in Wales.
Social workers uphold the human rights of people who, for different reasons, may need help to speak for themselves. They have a range of legal, academic and social work knowledge and skills. ‘Social worker’ is a protected title and you cannot practice as a social worker unless you’re qualified and registered.
Social workers establish relationships by working with people to help them identify their strengths, needs and well-being outcomes. They support people to balance their rights and responsibilities and for them to access help and support as required. They also have statutory safeguarding duties, where needed.
The profession gives the opportunity to work with a wide cross-section of the population and to support them at their most difficult, vulnerable times. Social workers are expected to be able to navigate a difficult path at times by developing trust and rapport within complex individual, family and community relationships. It is a rewarding career and gives the opportunity to pursue social justice and meaningful participation in decision making to improve people’s wellbeing.
Here is a definition of social work from the International Federation of Social Workers' website.
'Social work is the fastest growing profession in the world as more governments and employers recognise the powerful impact that social workers have in communities. Lower crime rates, better health outcomes, more people accessing work and education are outcomes of social work professionals supporting people to take charge of their own futures and realise their aspirations.
As a human rights-based profession, social work has an essential role in all societies facilitating communities and populations to raise their voices and stand for their equality alongside all others. The strength of the social work profession lies in capacity to build participatory democracy, engage communities in their sustainable futures, and defend human rights.'
Recent changes in legislation in Wales require a more co-productive approach of working alongside people to meet their personal outcomes and establish what really matters to people. This approach enables the workforce to not rely only on a prescribed service model but uses its knowledge and skills, supported by research and evidence from casework to support individuals.
Healthier Wales, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act and the Future Generations Act all require strengths-based, person-centred and outcome-focused practice. They are all based on collaborative working to promote people having voice and control.
The legislation has moved the emphasis to prevention, early intervention and a focus on the community being resourceful and resilient. We work with partners to support people in their communities using a whole system approach based on people’s strengths.
Social work safeguards people who are socially excluded, at risk of abuse or neglect, or vulnerable for other reasons. Social work has to balance the support, and safeguarding roles carefully. These must match the needs and circumstances of the person or family.
Social work is a collaborative profession, working with other professionals to help children, adults and families improve and gain control of their lives when their safety or ability to participate in their communities is restricted.
As social workers, we are expected to:
Finally, the aim for all social workers is to empower people to make positive and lasting changes in their lives, to ensure they reach their potential, and to make a positive contribution to society.
Social workers want to:
Social workers promote well-being and improve outcomes for people. They focus on what matters to the people who need their care and support.
Social workers need:
To qualify as a social worker in Wales you must complete a course approved by us.
The social work qualification has equal amounts of academic and practical learning. You can study it at graduate or post graduate levels. Universities run programmes in partnership with local authority social work services.
For funding support see the bursaries we provide and other financial support available.
The CPEL Framework supports social workers while they practise and progress through their careers. The framework has four courses (called programmes). The programmes are evaluated to ensure they continue to meet the needs of social workers. The most recent evaluation report is available.
This is for social workers in their first social work role after qualifying.
If you qualified after 1st April 2016 you’ll need to complete this Programme to renew your professional registration.
The programme is delivered by:
The programme requirements can be found on our regulation of social work training guidance page.
Engagement events will take place in the Summer of 2021. The last intake onto the Cardiff University CPEL programmes - Experienced Practice, Senior Practice and Consultant Social Work programmes was in September 2018 and as such the CPEL Alliance will have fulfilled its commission. It is on this basis that the current arrangements will come to an end in 2020. The review means there will be no new intake onto these CPEL programmes in 2019. Following consultation new arrangements will be put in place
It is of course essential to note that a significant number of social workers have achieved CPEL awards and modules under the current framework. An independent evaluation confirms the immense value of the programmes and the improvements in knowledge, skills and confidence gained. All awards achieved will continue to be valued and recognised and clearly referenced in a revised framework.
We are also working with Cardiff University to ensure current CPEL students are fully supported to complete their studies.
We are extremely grateful to Cardiff University and Alliance partners at Swansea, Bangor and Glyndwr Universities for the on-going quality of learning delivered, the innovative approach to the programme delivery, their excellent team work and partnership with us.
The Consolidation Programme is not part of this review and there are no further changes planned for these programmes beyond those being introduced as a result of the recent review.
Social workers need a set of skills based on knowledge, values and personal attributes. These can’t be fully developed through a qualifying course alone and professional development is necessary for social workers as they become experienced practitioners.
We have worked with the Care Inspectorate Wales to develop guidance to help with social workers’ development after qualifying. This brings together what is expected of social workers and their employers.
The first three years of practice has three stages:
With training, support and practice, social workers develop their skills in increasingly complicated situations.
AMHPs are trained to apply elements of mental health law with medical practitioners. This can be a social worker and other professionals including community psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists and psychologists. The programme is delivered by Swansea University.
Supporting and assessing social work students’ practice is vital. It helps decide if they have the skills and knowledge to become a social worker.
The programme is delivered by:
Delivered by The Institute of Public Care at Oxford Brookes University the Team Manager Development Programme supports the delivery of excellent social work practice by enabling front-line managers to improve practice quality, manage their team effectively and handle change successfully. The programme is
Delivered by The Institute of Public Care at Oxford Brookes University the Middle Manager Development Programme supports managers to respond to the requirements of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
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