- Requirements for training for social workers
- Frameworks and statements for social work responsibilities
- Guidelines for working with autistic people
Requirements for training for social workers
In terms of the legal requirement for training, two acts make it a legal requirement to meet the needs of autistic people, The Autism Act (Autism Act 2009 (legislation.gov.uk) and The Care Act (Care Act 2014 (legislation.gov.uk). Despite strengths-based practice being at the core of the Care Act (2014), assessment can take a narrow focus which does not recognize the person within the assessment. Please click on the link at the bottom of the screen for more information on the Care Act 2014.
The care act of 2014 was updated, and the more recent Health. If you would like more information about the Care act of 2014 as it relates to the project, please see our Care Act 2014 page.
The Care Act 2022 (Health and Care Act 2022 (legislation.gov.uk) has made it mandatory for all Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered service providers to ensure that their staff have training on learning disability and autism, to a level appropriate for their role. The government have stated a preference for The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism (skillsforcare.org.uk)
We know that there are examples of good practice in some Local Authorities (LAs), where services have developed helpful support practice for autistic people who may need social care support. However, this may not have been captured or evidenced, or may only be shared locally, let alone nationally.
Care management approaches have typically focused on a deficit model, asking what the problems and issues an individual faces. Furthermore, Autistic people and social care workers (including social workers) report that support may only be available at crises points, involve a burden on the autistic person which can lead to disengagement with services, and may not take into account fluctuating needs.
A strength-based approach, focusing on the individual’s resources and abilities, ensuring that people receive the right help, advice, and support at the right time has been promoted but not with reference to older autistic people (Baron et al., 2019).
A focus on treating autistic people differently, immediately places a burden on both the practitioner and autistic person to identify and manage needs (Richards et al., 2019) and can lead to the exclusion and isolation of autistic adults.
Training and guidance to date has tended to focus on awareness of autism and potential deficits rather than how to best work with and support autistic people (Crane et al., 2019; Dillenburger et al., 2016; Garg et al., 2015; although see Clark et al., 2016). A good starting point would be to have a conceptual shift from autism as a pathology to be fixed, towards an understanding of the communication challenges between autistic and non-autistic people (Crompton et al, 2020, Heslop and Bushell 2023, Milton, 2012).
The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) (British Association of Social Workers | BASW) with autistic adults, their family, friends and carers co-produced a Capabilities Statement for social workers working with autistic adults (British Association of Social Workers, 2019). This statement and associated resources describe practice which should be adhered to, however, not how to embed this in practice; and does not take into account age-related intersecting needs.
Frameworks and statements for social work responsibilities
Knowledge and Skills Statement
The Knowledge and Skills Statement (KSS) was developed by the Chief Social Worker for Adults in partnership with key stakeholders, including the College of Social Work, the British Association of Social Workers, Skills for Care, Social Care Institute for Excellence, educators and Principal Social Workers in 2015, it set out what a social worker working with adults should know and be able to do by the end of their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).
Professional Capability Framework
The Professional Capability Framework (PCF) is the profession-owned, overarching framework of social work education and professional development in England.
Developed with the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), it is the framework of generic capabilities and professional development onto which specific areas of practice knowledge and skill can be built (ref PCF 2018). It aims to map out the skills to work and improve on through the different stages and aspects of a career in social work (ref PCF 2018).
Set up to outline and guide what is expected of social workers, it may now be more relevant to social work education as the standards replaced it as a framework against which social work practice is measured.
Professional Standards – Social Work England
In order to practise as a qualified social worker in England, you have to register with a professional body. This used to be the Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC). However, Social Work (SWE) was set up in 2019 and took over this role for social workers. Social workers have to register every year, and in order to be able to do this, they have to meet the professional standards published by SWE, also in 2019.
These set out what a social worker in England must know, understand and be able to do. There are six standards which include promoting the rights, strengths and wellbeing of people, families and communities; establishing and maintaining the trust and confidence of people and act safely, respectfully and with professional integrity. The fourth standard in this document is the duty to maintain their continuing professional development (CPD).
The latter is a general statement about demonstrating good subject knowledge, keeping up to date with developments in the subject area, as well as incorporating feedback from people with lived experience of their social work practice and using self-reflection to consider the impact of learning activities on their practice. There is no mention of any specific subject area or any indication regarding the learning activities themselves. There are, however, separate guidelines regarding what constitutes.
The standards do hold social workers accountable and failure to fulfil the duties and responsibilities set out in these standards could and have resulted in disciplinary action or the social worker being de-registered.
One main issue is that the standards are not particularly detailed and therefore adherence to them could be left to interpretation.
How the different frameworks and statements relate to each other
The PCF and KSS were set up as benchmarks for social workers, onto which professional development was mapped. They, along with the standards, were developed separately and as such are not quite aligned with each other. They are used at different points in a social worker’s career development, although here, too, the landscape is changing. Loosely, the PCF is currently used with students in social work, the KSS with Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSW) and the SWE standards are for active, registered social workers.
How the different frameworks and statements relate to this project
The standards are simultaneously enforceable, yet not especially clear. Although knowledge, understanding and respect, as well as considering potential differences in communication and sensibilities, there is no specific guidance regarding training, in autism or anything else. Nor are there any specific standards associated with assessments or how they should be carried out.
SWE do have standards which relate to people’s fundamental right not to be discriminated against – in line with the equality act 2010. It also includes standards relating to information being presented so that it can be understood. This means presenting in in the right format (e.g., braille), using new technology and/or assisted communication devices. The social worker should also be mindful of differences in language, experience, culture etc… it mentions ‘disability’ and ‘intellectual impairment’ more broadly, without specific mention of neurodiversity or autism.
Guidelines for working with autistic people
Guidelines from the Department of Health
A manual for good social work practice – supporting adults who have autism (2015)
Who’s involved?
Commissioned by the Department of Health and produced by the College of Social Work. The was developed with social workers as well as autistic adults who use services, and carers, as well as adult social care managers
What is it?
It is a learning resource, to be used in conjunction with the curriculum guide for social workers who work with adults with autism.
This is a supporting document for the PCF.
The difference here is that the guidelines are centred on what it terms the core practice areas – the first of which is ‘assessment’. These are aligned with the requirements of the care act 2014.
Who is it for?
Social workers in their day-to-day practice supporting adults who have autism (and their families and carers, friends etc.).
Guidelines from the Department of Health and Social Care
Core Capabilities Framework for Supporting Autistic People (2019)
Who’s involved?
NAS, Opening Minds, Skills for Care, Royal College of General Practitioners, National Autistic Taskforce, Skills for Health, Autism Alliance and more. Developed in conjunction with co-production workshops.
What is it?
19 capabilities, 5 domains, covering understanding autism, personalised support, physical and mental health, legislation and safeguarding and leadership and management, education and research. The different domains are illustrated with quotes from stakeholders regarding what they mean from an autistic person’s experience point of view and the way in which the behaviours of the social worker and the procedures they follow might be adapted to suit the needs of autistic people.
Who is it for?
Social workers and LA authority staff of different levels. There are different levels of contact with clients (who could be autistic) and depending on the staff level, they will be offered training at tier 1 (superficial) through to Tier 3 (expert level).
Guidelines from the British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
BASW Capability Statement for Social Work with Autistic Adults (2020)
Who’s involved?
Commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care, it was co-produced with autistic adults, their family and friends and carers.
What is it?
Guidance for professionals, managers and other stakeholders involved in delivering social work to autistic adults. It in the Knowledge Skills Statement (KSS).
As such, it also broadly follows the nine domains of the PCF, grouped under the three ‘super domains’ of the Professional Capabilities Framework – purpose, practice and impact.
The statements are designed to enhance and deepen social work practice with adults with lived experience of whichever difference or neurodiversity the statement is there to support.
In each super domain described in this document, there are guidelines regarding how this is relevant to social work in practice and what the social work should do to better support the autistic person.
There are illustrations of how the different recommendations might look in practice, as well as key messages from the autistic adults with whom this work was co-produced.
Who’s it for?
Social workers, autistic adults, higher education institutions, researchers, LAs and managers.
Practice guide for working with autistic people from BASW
Who’s involved?
University of Northumbria in Newcastle
What is it?
It is a guide which aims to support social work practice by providing basic awareness, knowledge, and practice guidance on autism and working with autistic people.
It is a short introduction to potential key issues when working with autistic people as a social worker. It is firmly aligned with the BASW code of ethics.
Each different section is illustrated with a fictitious, yet representative, account from the point of view of an autistic person. The three sections cover introduction and key points in practice, describing autistic characteristics with examples in practice, and an exploration of models of social work and skills as they relate to autism.
Who’s it for?
Social workers
