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Working with complexity in unpredictable and ambiguous contexts

Working with complexity in unpredictable and ambiguous contexts

NQSWs develop competence and confidence in managing complexity, risk, and uncertainty in professional decision making. NQSWs enter professional practice in a range of different settings including multidisciplinary teams and integrated services.  NQSWs will begin to develop an understanding of their professional identify and how to demonstrate their professional influence within various roles and professional groups. 

They will be supported to gain knowledge and experience of how to become proactive in responding to the challenges and opportunities that come from evolving social policy and organisational contexts. They will become increasingly competent and confident in their role and manage professional challenges and differences in relation to practice.  

The NQSW will use supervision appropriately to develop an understanding of working with complexity in unpredictable and ambiguous contexts and balance the requirements of their role and any statutory functions with an enabling approach to practice with individuals and communities.

Icon to represent working with complexity in unpredictable and ambiguous contexts

Reflective questions

  • What are the key issues for you around “Risk”?
  • Do you think you are experienced in assessing and managing risks?
  • What Risk considerations did you make in the first hour since getting out of bed today?
  • Are there colleagues you would discuss your thoughts about risk with?
  • What informs your approach to risk assessment and management?
  • What areas of knowledge and skills do you need to develop in this area? How will you do this?
  • Learning from mistakes. Identify what went wrong?
  • Why do you think this went wrong?
  • What can you do to prevent it from happening again?
  • How can you learn from this to improve for the next similar situation?

We are currently developing the information and resources for this page. Please let us know if you have any recommended resources for other NQSWs in Scotland and we will share them here. You can contact us at nqswproject@sssc.uk.com.