Developing the confidence and competence of newly qualified child and family social workers in England: Outcomes of a National Programme: outcomes of a national programme

A measure of self-efficacy was used to assess the development of competence and confidence for participants in a one-year national programme of supervision and support for newly qualified child and family social workers (NQSWs) in England. The study also explored the associations between self-efficacy, demographic variables and role clarity, role conflict, job satisfaction and stress.

Method: a longitudinal repeated measures design with three cohorts of NQSWs participating in the programme (2008-2012) (N = 2019); in 2008-09 comparison was made with a ‘contrast group’ of NQSWs (N = 47) in non-participating agencies.

Results: self-efficacy ratings showed substantial and statistically significant increases between the beginning and end of the programme for all three cohorts. The proportion of ‘confident’ NQSWs increased from a half to three-quarters of respondents. However, interim retrospective ratings indicated overestimation of self-efficacy at baseline. Self-efficacy ratings at the end of the year favoured the programme group vs. the contrast group. High self-efficacy was predicted statistically by age, role clarity, and intrinsic (but not extrinsic) job satisfaction. It was unexpectedly associated with high role conflict and was not related to stress.

Implications: findings supported a developmental process model for the accumulation of professional expertise. An Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) based on the programme has been established for all NQSWs in England.