1.Introduction.

1.1All Social Workers must produce a portfolio to evidence that they are practicing at a level which meets the values and practice requirements set out by the General Social Care Council (GSCC). The evidence must also be sufficient to demonstrate the Social Worker’s ability and commitment to adhere to the value requirements.

1.2This guide has been compiled for Social Workers to use with their Line Manager when considering what kind of evidence would be acceptable.

1.3This guide should not be interpreted as a definitive statement of all the ways in which Social Workers can provide examples of their practice and dependent on work place settings,evidence will vary. There is an expectation that the experience of the Social Worker will influence the standard and contents of the portfolio.

1.4The list of requirements is set down by the (GSCC) and is contained in Appendix 2.

1.5 It is the Social Worker’s responsibility to compile the portfolio, with advice from the Line Manager/Mentor.

2. Presentation of the Portfolio

Good presentation of the Portfolio is essential and the following points should be considered:

  • The portfolio should be contained within an A4 ring binder.
  • A front sheet stating “WestSussex Adult or Children’s Services “Practice Evidence Portfolio” with the Social workers name.
  • The portfolio should have page numbers.
  • A contents list which clearly relates to page numbers.
  • The portfolio should be clearly divided by file dividers into appropriate sections.
  • Use the Harvard System for citation of references.
  • The portfolio text should be produced using a word processor.
  • The portfolio is not a novel. The social worker should supply concise and coherent information at an appropriate academic level.
  • If the Social Worker is cross referencing between sections of the portfolio this should be undertaken clearly and explicitly.

3.Contents of the Practice Evidence Portfolio

3.1Confidentiality of service user information andanonymity of service user identity is critical. The Social Worker must explicitly state how they have ensured confidentiality/anonymity within the practice portfolio. (Brief).

3.2The Social Worker should include in the portfolio a brief personal statement about his/herself. The object of the statement is to offer some context to the candidate who is presenting the portfolio. The personal statement may draw from information contained in the Critical Career Review. The statement can include the following:

  • The area of child care, or adult social work practice that the Social Workeris operating within.
  • The agency context.
  • A description of the Team.
  • Role(s) undertaken whilst compiling the portfolio
  • The main tasks undertaken during the compilation of the portfolio. E.g. explanation of service user group(s) worked with.
  • Any previous jobs undertaken from which evidence has been drawn to meet the value and practice standards/requirements.
  • Any significant additional information the Social Worker wishes to offer about their practice during this period

3.3The portfolio should include a statement from the Social Worker on how the portfolio reflects service user involvement, how feedback from service users and colleagues was obtained and what learning has been gained from this process. (Maximum 250 words).

3.4.The portfolio willcontain evidence from the following elements:

i)Material to provide evidence of the Social Worker’s ability to meet the values and practice requirements. The same material may be used as evidence for competence in more than one area. For example materials should include evidence of :-

Application of assessment models and frameworks to the assessment of needs, taking into account additional or complex needs and mental capacity. This includes the formulation of care plans, appropriate care and support packages and contribution to joint and multi-agency assessments;

Support for service users to make, wherever possible, a self-assessment of risk, showing how this information is used in the assessment and planning process;

Identification and management of risks, together with the ability to intervene in situations to reduce risks to individuals, their carers, families and dependents. This includes a capacity to identify abuse of vulnerable adults and their dependent children by others and working to safeguard them;

Support for service users with both shorter and longer term needs, with the aim of enabling them to live safely and as independently as possible in the place and community of their own choice. This includes utilising knowledge about available support within their communities and knowledge of assistive technologies; and

Recognition of any parental responsibilities held by service users and their carers. This includes taking into account the impact of their physical and mental health, illness and disability, any drug and alcohol misuse, or domestic violence on themselves and others. This also includes an awareness of the needs of dependent children and younger carers within an adult services context.

(Examples provided by the University of Gloucestershire, and quoted in the GSCC 2009 report, ‘The teaching and assessment of safeguarding within approved post-qualifying (PQ) courses: Messages from the annual monitoring reports of PQ programmes (08/09).’London, General Social Care Council). Accessed online on 30th November 2011 from gscc.org.uk

Please Note:

* Court reports should not be included in the Portfolio; howeverSocial Workers can still use evidence from such reports by making reference in the critical self evaluation or reflective commentary. The Line Manager should see the report and verify it.

ii)Completed value requirement and practice requirement evidence reference sheets (Appendix 2). These are designed to ensure that Social Workers evidence for meeting the requirements is clearly cross referenced and “signposted” within the portfolio.

iii)

  • The completed, signed and dated learning agreement (Appendix 1).
  • The Critical Career Review.
  • 3 Reflective Commentaries
  • Critical Self Evaluation.
  • Reflective and Critical Summary
  • Personal Development Reviews
  • Direct observation of practice
  • Line ManagerVerificationstatement which provides confirmation that the evidence submitted in the portfolio is consistent with the Social Worker’s normal standard of practice. (Appendix 4)
  • Statement on how the portfolio reflects service user and colleague involvement/feedback
  • Observation of Practice

4. Using the guide.

4.1 It is recommended that Social Workers use this guide in planning what should be included in the portfolio. The Line Manager will advise the Social Worker in the process of identifying appropriate evidence to support material in their portfolio.

4.2The learning agreement should be used to clarify respective roles, expectations and support available to the Social Worker. There is an expectation that the learning agreement is completed when the Social Worker commences the portfolio. The learning agreement should be attached to the Social Worker’s Personal Development Review to ensure a seamless management approach in supporting the social worker to satisfactorily complete the portfolio.

4.3Guidance is offered in relation to each evidence indicator for the GSCC value requirements; and in respect of each evidence indicator for the Standards required for the Post Qualifying Specialist Award. This guidance should not be regarded as the only or best way of meeting a particular requirement. Social Workers may find other evidence, or ways of accessing evidence, which work for them.

4.4The guide is organised so that ideas for the assessment of each evidence indicator are considered on a matrix sheet. Templates for use as matrices to identify the location and nature of evidence for each evidence indicator are also provided in this handbook. It is suggested that the social worker make photocopies of these before using them, as they may wish to use them for both planning work and as signposts for those verifying/assessing the final document. These grids form the primary means for the social worker to provide evidence that they meet the value and practice requirements of the award.

4.5It is not required that Social Workers produce evidence to support every practice evidence indicator separately, although they must provide enough evidence to demonstrate that they can meet each of the practice requirements.

4.6Different aspects of the same material can be used as evidence for different indicators within the same practice requirement, and as evidence for different indicators linked with other values and practice requirements.

4. 7It should also be possible to use material which is included as evidence for one or more of the practice evidence indicators, as evidence that one or more of the value requirements evidence indicators has been met. Good practice should illustrate adherence to the values of social work, and good practice should illustrate adherence to the specific value requirements linked with the Specialist Adult Award.

4.9In exceptional circumstances, Social Workers may have no recent practice to illustrate their adherence to a particular value requirement evidence indicator. These Social Workers may need to explain by means of a brief reflective commentary why this is so, and to illustrate, using hypothetical examples, what they might do differently in particular situations.

4.10It is appropriate for Social Workers to use evidence from employment/practice prior to their current post. Social Workers have found that this can provide helpful breadth and depth toevidence. It is normally expected that evidence will not be older than one year.However, if in exceptional circumstances you wish to include evidence a little olderplease discuss this with your Line Manager.

4.11There is helpful guidance for both those compiling the Portfolio, and for those assessing the material provided by the social worker.

“Social Workers have a crucial role to play as members of the adult social services workforce. This includes drawing on their strong professional commitment to the person-centred philosophy of care, supporting a person’s carers and family, promoting service user empowerment and engaging with the complex process of helping to bring about positive outcomes for service users, their carers and families. Social work with adults also includes an ability to work inter-professionally with others in social care, health and other services”.

GSCC Standards and Requirements for PQ Social Work Education and Training.

Social Work with Adults ( 2006)

4.12General Social Care Council Codes of Practice:

Social care social workers must:

  • Protect the rights and promote the interests of service users and carers.
  • Strive to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of service users and carers.
  • Promote the independence of service users while protecting them as far as possible from danger or harm.
  • Respect the rights of service users while seeking to ensure that their behaviour does not harm themselves or other people.
  • Uphold public trust and confidence in social care services
  • Be accountable for the quality of your work and take responsibility for maintaining and improving your knowledge and skills.

General Social Care Council 2002

The above is a summary of the Codes. Social Workers will be expected to be familiar with the full content of the Codes of Practice and subsequently adhere to them.

5.0The following information aims to offer guidance to Social Workers and Verifiers on the criteria that will provide robust evidence of the Social Worker’s ability to present a coherent, methodical analysis of their practice which is commensurate with the standards of the Post Qualifying Specialist Award.

Social Worker’s will need to consider the five areas below in each piece of their work.

Effective presentation of material:

Demonstrate ability to:

  • Provide a coherent, structured assignment, which has an identifiable introduction, main section and conclusion.
  • Write in a clear and concise manner.
  • Reference all academic work to Harvard APA format.
  • Write in the 1st person, i.e. the “I “word.
  • Write in their own words and be familiar with plagiarism.

Structural Coherence:

Demonstrate ability to:

  • Select material and demonstrate it’s relevance to the assignment.
  • Collate and summarise evidence from a range of sources.
  • Analyse different theories and concepts relevant to the assignment.
  • Relate different theories and concepts to each other.
  • Develop a critique appropriate to the academic level required.

Appropriate application to social work practice:

Demonstrate ability to:

  • Show how social work theories and models apply to any practice situations described. .
  • Make reference to where theories and models can be applied and where they cannot be applied in order to facilitate analysis of practice.

Examination of anti discriminatory and anti oppressive practice (ADP and AOP) issues:

Demonstrate ability to:

  • Apply ADP and AOP theory and models to social work practice.
  • Examine how issues of power and empowerment impact on service users, carers and social work professionals.
  • Examine how Social Worker’s own experience is affected by discrimination and consider how this can be applied to develop social work practice.

Critical appraisal/depth of analysis:

Demonstrate ability to:

  • Explain and analyse using theories that draw out the complexity of situations described and any under pinning assumptions behind these theories.
  • Undertake a critical appraisal of the subject.
  • Draw conclusions based on an understanding of the key issues raised in the assignment.
  • Compare models applied in different social work contexts and internationally.

(Adapted from University of Portsmouth’s Handbook:Graduate Diploma and BSc Hons in Post Qualifying Specialist Social Work with Children, Young People, their Families and Carers. 2010/11.)

6.0 There is a clear expectation that the GSCC embedded values will be made explicit in each area of work outlined below.

6.1Critical Career Review

This assignment is assessed by a 1.500 word essay. The emphasis in this assignment is to critically reflect on the Social Worker’s career to date and will concentrate on the following areas:-

  • What the Social Worker has learnt post qualifying about his/herjob role/s so far.
  • How and in what way has this prepared the social worker for social work?
  • Reflection on the Social Worker’s strengths and areas to be developed.
  • Learning and Development as part of Professional Registration

7.2Critical Self Evaluation

This assignment is assessed by a 1,500-word essay and builds on the previous piece ofwork i.e. Critical Career Review. The emphasis in this assignment is on personal reflection about the nature of social workand its relevance for the Social Worker’s professional practice and will concentrate on the following three areas:-

  • What mechanisms/tools the Social Worker uses to ‘judge’ the quality of their work.
  • The changing nature of social work, both nationally and locally,and the impact of this on theSocial Worker.
  • What tools/methods will be used to develop practice?

7.3Reflective Commentaries

There will be three reflective commentaries (case studies) each comprising of 1, 500 words. Each reflective commentary will provide the Social Worker with the opportunity to critically analyse and reflect on a particular piece of their practice. Social Workers should use a variety of case work to demonstrate their skill and knowledge base. Each case study should begin with approximately 250 words setting the casework in context beforeconcentrating on the following areas :-

  • Identification of the key issues
  • Use of Theory/legislation to inform practice.
  • Research evidence
  • Service user involvement/participation
  • Multi agency working
  • Anti discriminatory and anti oppressive practice

7.4Reflective Critical Summary

This assignment is assessed by a 1,500 word overarchingessay, and the Social Worker will reflect on the new skills and the knowledge base gained by reading, researching and by critically analysing their practice when compiling the Portfolio. They will draw on theirexperience of assessing and managing risk;working in partnership to ensure positive outcomes for service users, their families and carers; supporting transitions and by being an accountable worker in the following areas :-

  • The agency context
  • Multi agency working
  • Working within the legislative context
  • Life stages
  • Safeguarding Policies (national and local)
  • Valuing diversity

This piece of work also provides the opportunity to identify and explain future learning and development needs.

7.5Reading List

ADSS (2008) Directors of Social Services ‘ Personalisation & Safeguarding’ discussion paper (October 2008)

Carr, S (2007) Choice, Control & Individual Budgets; Emerging Themes, SCIE, London

Clements L (2004) Community care and the law. London: Legal Action Group.

Clements L (2011) Social care law developments: a sideways look at personalisation and tightening eligibility criteria. ( accessed on 10th August 2011)

Close, L. (2009a) Explaining About Individual Budgets and Self-Directed Support. Working With Older People 13(2), 9-12.

Close, L. (2009b) Safeguarding and personalisation: Two sides of the same coin

Department of Health (2009) Safeguarding adults: Response to consultation on the review of the No secrets guidanceLondon: Department of Health

Department of Health (2010) Prioritising Need in the Context of Putting People First . Avialable from; (accessed 20/9/11)

Dept. of Health (2011) Vision for Social Care, HMSO, London

Duffy S (2006) Keys to citizenship : a guide to getting to grips with people with learning disabilities ( 2nd ed.) Birkenhead: Paradigm

Ferguson, I. (2007) Increasing User choice or Privatizing Risk? The Antinomies of Personalisation, British Journal of Social Work, 37, p387- 403

Gardner A (2011) Personalisation in Social Work, Exeter: Learning Matters

Glasby J. & Littlechild R. (2009) ‘Direct Payments & Personal Budgets – Putting Personalisation into Practice’ (2nd ed). Bristol: Policy Press

Land H & Himmelwiet S (Unison, 2010) Personalisation : Who Cares? Who Pays?

Leece & Leece J (2006) Direct Payments & user controlled support : the challenges for social care commissioning, Practice, 19, no3, p211-21

Manthorpe J. et al ( 2008) Safeguarding & System Change : Early Perceptions of the implications for adult Protection Services of the English Individual Budget Pilots – a qualitative study, British Journal of Social Work (2008) March 26th p 1 -16 .