Our workforce planning takes account of the challenges we face and we work with partners to develop creative plans for attracting, developing and retaining the skills and talent we need. We aim to create a supportive working environment that empowers staff and we have a wide range of learning and development opportunities available to staff in all roles and grades.
As at March 2023 we employed 1,175 staff (excluding casual workers) in the Adults and Health directorate across a range of disciplines, of whom 237 were social workers and 103 occupational therapists. All qualified social workers are required to register as individual practitioners with Social Work England and occupational therapists with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Social workers
The national Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) is a 12 month employer-led programme of support and assessment for newly qualified social workers. It supports them to strengthen their learning and to develop their skills and professional confidence in an employment environment. Although it is not a requirement for registration with Social Work England, social workers need to successfully complete the programme in order to continue to be employed as registered social workers for the County Council.
Adults’ Services works in partnership with the University of Chichester to support the development of newly qualified social workers during their ASYE. 17 newly qualified social workers commenced their ASYE during 2021-22 and all successfully completed the programme in October 2022. In 2022-23 we had a further 17 newly qualified social workers start the programme.
We support student social workers on placement from university and additional placements to our internally sponsored apprentices. We have been supporting our own employees to complete their social work degree apprenticeships since the programme began just over three years ago and in 2022-23 had a total of 19 apprentices in training across the three-year course.
Occupational Therapy
We have 103 occupational therapists and 45 occupational therapy assistants. We support our occupational therapy staff with excellent training and development opportunities to sustain excellence in practice and career progression.
Our occupational therapy assistants are able to undertake a reflective training module, devised and delivered internally, that supports career progression.
The Early Practice Framework provides structured support for newly qualified occupational therapists to demonstrate safe and effective practice and to evidence professional development. The framework is a locally-devised assessment pathway and whilst it is not a requirement for registration with the HCPC, occupational therapists need to successfully complete the pathway in order to progress their grade. Eight occupational therapists progressed from January to September 2023.
Occupational therapists complete the Developing Professional Practice module at the University of Chichester as part of the assessment pathway for senior grade progression. Three occupational therapists progressed from newly qualified to a senior grade practitioner from January to September 2023.
We also work in partnership with the University of Brighton to enable occupational therapy assistants and assessment officers to undertake the Occupational Therapy Degree Apprenticeship. We have eight occupational therapy apprentices currently undergoing training with four qualifying in 2023.
We support occupational therapy apprentices on placement from Brighton University, Southbank University and Southampton University.
Through the year we welcomed occupational therapists from overseas who are helping us to reduce waiting times for assessments and despite high demand, these continue to steadily reduce. The shared learning and rich bed of information exchange between our overseas and local occupational therapy staff continues to be embedded in everyday practice.
Looking ahead and what is happening now
In July 2023 the Regaining Independence Service was awarded the Brighton University School of Sport and Health Science Practice Educator Award 2023. Students from the occupational therapy degree course vote for the best placement experience and we were delighted that we were recognised for the excellent learning opportunity we have provided for the occupational therapist of tomorrow.
International recruitment
Our first international recruitment project began in January 2022. We were successful in achieving our objective of recruiting 10 social workers and have since recruited eight occupational therapists.
In January 2023, a joint project with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust led to the successful recruitment of 30 social workers between the organisations and 10 occupational therapists for the Trust.
We have presented our approach to the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and we worked with Oxfordshire County Council to develop a toolkit which will be used across the South East region.