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Ready for Practice? The DipSW in Wales

Views from the Workplace on Social Work Training

Cardiff University, Wales, pithouse{at}cardiff.ac.uk

Jonathan Scourfield

Cardiff University, Wales

• Summary: This paper sets out key findings from a postal survey of 115 recently qualified social workers who completed the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW) in Wales in 1998 and 1999, together with a telephone survey of a sub-group of 50 of these DipSW leavers, 25 of their workplace supervisors and 25 of their employers. The aim of the study was to explore how adequately the DipSW in Wales prepared trainees for practice, with particular reference to core competences, values, and other identified professional skill areas. The study was funded by CCETSW/TOPSS Cymru.

• Findings: The paper reveals that a firm majority of all participants in the study both considered the core competences and values contained within the DipSW to be relevant to current practice and believed that newly qualified staff were at least adequately trained in these areas. In respect of adequacy of training in other key skill areas, responses differed in relation to participant background in the statutory or voluntary sector and by major specialism in child or adult care. It will be seen that in some skill areas training is seen by almost a half of participants as less than adequate or poor. Overall, the findings suggest a positive view of the DipSW in Wales as at least adequate in preparing trainees for practice. However, some concern over training seems justified in relation to a small number of important skill areas.

• Applications: The research can potentially inform DipSW programmes over aspects of curriculum development in anticipation of changes to qualifying training.

Key Words: competence • skills • social work education • training

Journal of Social Work, Vol. 2, No. 1, 7-27 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/146801730200200102


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