Becoming a Becoming a Professional and Professional and

Staying Staying ProfessionalProfessional

What Do You Need?What Do You Need?

Definitions “ProfessionalDefinitions “Professional”” 1. 1. “Professional” “Professional” Person formally formally certified by a by a

professional body of belonging to a specific of belonging to a specific profession by virtue of having by virtue of having completed a a required course of studies and/or practice. And whose course of studies and/or practice. And whose competence can usually be competence can usually be measuredmeasured against an against an established set of standards. established set of standards.

2. “Profession”an occupation requiring special 2. “Profession”an occupation requiring special training in the liberal arts or sciences, esp one of the training in the liberal arts or sciences, esp one of the three learned professions, law, theology, or medicine three learned professions, law, theology, or medicine 2. the body of people in such an occupation 3. the 2. the body of people in such an occupation 3. the act of professing; avowal; declaration act of professing; avowal; declaration

Social Worker; Professional Social Worker; Professional SpecificationsSpecifications

Honours degree qualificationHonours degree qualification RegistrationRegistration Disciplinary ProcessDisciplinary Process International recognitionInternational recognition Personal accountability for performing to standardsPersonal accountability for performing to standards Personal accountability for maintaining and Personal accountability for maintaining and

developing professional knowledge and competencedeveloping professional knowledge and competence Ok: so how does this translate in practice?Ok: so how does this translate in practice?

Social worker Social worker

The first six months The first six months

“ “ Is this what you Is this what you thought it would be? thought it would be? What are the positives, What are the positives, what are the challenges what are the challenges and what can you do and what can you do about it?”about it?”

The Team The Team

As an individual SWAs an individual SW Support and supervision geared to a SW professionalSupport and supervision geared to a SW professional An environment which facilitates and is conducive to An environment which facilitates and is conducive to

professional practice, and where the agency holds itself professional practice, and where the agency holds itself accountable for this.accountable for this.

A structured, transparent and equitable caseload A structured, transparent and equitable caseload management system.management system.

Built-in time for post-intervention reflection and evaluation of Built-in time for post-intervention reflection and evaluation of cases.cases.

A structured and agreed CPD planA structured and agreed CPD plan A “practitioners forum” of some descriptA “practitioners forum” of some descriptionion

Looking after yourselfLooking after yourself

Keep it realKeep it real Take time to reflectTake time to reflect Ask ! Be assertiveAsk ! Be assertive Consider a mentorConsider a mentor Model best behaviourModel best behaviour Don’t give upDon’t give up Mindfulness at workMindfulness at work

Mindfulness Scotland Mindfulness Scotland Vision and AimsVision and Aims

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPuTqDl99qM&feature=youtu.bev=lPuTqDl99qM&feature=youtu.be

Mindfulness is both a skill and a way of living. It is about Mindfulness is both a skill and a way of living. It is about living in the here and now rather than being caught in living in the here and now rather than being caught in the past or worrying all the time about the future. the past or worrying all the time about the future. Increasingly, research is showing the profoundly Increasingly, research is showing the profoundly beneficial effects that mindfulness can have on the mind beneficial effects that mindfulness can have on the mind and body, on our sense of wellbeing and on our and body, on our sense of wellbeing and on our relationships with ourselves and others.relationships with ourselves and others.

Professional Body: SASWProfessional Body: SASW Run and governed by membersRun and governed by members Purpose to safeguard, maintain, develop and Purpose to safeguard, maintain, develop and

promote the profession.promote the profession. Not compromised by party political agendaNot compromised by party political agenda Not compromised by business objectives and Not compromised by business objectives and

constraints of delivery agenciesconstraints of delivery agencies Independent of any other Social Work Establishment Independent of any other Social Work Establishment

stakeholdersstakeholders…therefore able to deal squarely and …therefore able to deal squarely and honestly with all of them on behalf of members and honestly with all of them on behalf of members and in the sole interest of the professionin the sole interest of the profession

Influence Policy& ProfessionInfluence Policy& Profession

Independent Social Workers ForumIndependent Social Workers Forum Mental Health ForumMental Health Forum Criminal Justice ForumCriminal Justice Forum Students ForumStudents Forum CPD SeminarsCPD Seminars National Local Practitioners forumsNational Local Practitioners forums Consultations, Briefings and Cross Party GroupsConsultations, Briefings and Cross Party Groups National Social Work ForumNational Social Work Forum

BenefitsBenefits A&R Service + SWUA&R Service + SWU £5 million Professional Indemnity Insurance£5 million Professional Indemnity Insurance National Journal (PSW) Monthly (ditto)National Journal (PSW) Monthly (ditto) PRTL and CPD qualifying eventsPRTL and CPD qualifying events Research Literature and ResourcesResearch Literature and Resources Specialist Forums and Support networksSpecialist Forums and Support networks Your voice conduit to Govt. & PolicyYour voice conduit to Govt. & Policy Maintaining and Developing your ProfessionMaintaining and Developing your Profession

Want to be part of it?Want to be part of it?

Individual professionals are as strong as their Individual professionals are as strong as their Professional AssociationProfessional Association

Professional Associations are as strong as the Professional Associations are as strong as the membershipmembership

SASW will continue growing over the next years, but SASW will continue growing over the next years, but the more it grows, the more it can do for you and the more it grows, the more it can do for you and how you feel about the Profession in which you how you feel about the Profession in which you practice; the character of the organisation you work practice; the character of the organisation you work in; and how you feel about yourself.in; and how you feel about yourself.

www.basw.co.uk/scotlandwww.basw.co.uk/scotland