Sims, David and Hanks, Sue (2009) Intercultural consolidation: exploring the experiences of internationally qualified social workers and the English post-qualifying framework. In: 11th UK Joint Social Work Education Conference with the 3rd UK Social Work Research Conference: Changing Identities, 8-10 Jul 2009, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

There is evidence of an increasing number of internationally qualified social workers applying for registration to practice in the United Kingdom. Many local authorities have sought to recruit experienced social workers from overseas as an answer to their recruitment problems. But what are the challenges for social workers taking up posts in the UK and in what ways can the post qualifying framework support their development and integration into their employing organisation and UK ‘culture’ more generally?

This paper aims to discuss the experience of running the consolidation module for a group of fifteen internationally qualified social workers. The delivery of the module was undertaken in partnership between Bromley and Greenwich social services departments, representatives from service users and the University of Greenwich. The practitioners involved were employed in both children’s and adult services and came from eight different countries of origin.

The paper begins by outlining the context of international recruitment nationally and locally and explores the initial challenges for the employing organisations and the individual practitioners. It then moves on to discuss what can be learned about the learning and development needs of the social workers who took part in the module. It will also reflect on the relative merits and disadvantages of providing separate training provision for social workers who qualified overseas.

The paper argues that the development needs of internationally qualified social workers should be carefully and individually evaluated as a part of their induction to social work practice in the UK. The consolidation module offers them an opportunity to develop a clearer overview of contemporary social work practice in the UK. However, internationally qualified social workers may benefit from other PQ modules which can enable them to fully consolidate their previous practice.

Item Type:	Conference or Conference Paper (Paper)
Additional Information:	[1] This paper was given at 11th UK Joint Social Work Education Conference with the 3rd UK Social Work Research Conference: Changing Identities held, 8-10 July 2009, at De Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK. [2] There is an article taken from this paper which is to be published in European Journal of Social Work in 2012 (see http://gala.gre.ac.uk/6718).
Uncontrolled Keywords:	acculturation, internationally qualified social workers, consolidation, continuing professional development
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Pre-2014 Departments:	School of Health & Social Care > Family Care & Mental Health Department
Related URLs:	Organisation
Last Modified:	17 Dec 2019 16:15
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/6719

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