NQSW supervision resource 6 - Professional knowledge and continuous professional learning
Developing professional knowledge
Supervision is an important component of shaping professional knowledge and development as an NQSW’s practice develops. Professional knowledge is drawn from theories, research findings and practice experience (Drury and Hudson, 1997); those forms of knowledge include: theoretical knowledge, personal knowledge, practice wisdom, procedural knowledge and empirical knowledge.
The SSSC guidance for professional learning is included on the NQSW requirements page. This reinforces the message that professional learning takes many different forms.
Feedback from the pilot work was that NQSWs wanted to move away from what feels like academic training and learning. Setting up and running a peer group (see the peer reflective practice section) with other frontline workers creates reflective and action learning. The SSSC refreshed approach to CPL is about recognising and recording when learning has taken place and logging this accordingly.
IRISS, argues that practice wisdom integrates a wide range of knowledge. This will include theories and relevant research to our thoughts and feelings in response to casework. Study participants reported that evidence was relevant information from case histories, notes, observations and reports from other professionals but less from theoretical or research sources.
After qualifying, we can still benefit from support to maintain your awareness of research knowledge and to become more skilled at making connections between casework activities and the human factors that inform our decision making.
Supervision is not the only way for workers to develop their professional knowledge and other methods are often used to complement staff development. Tsui et al (2017), argues that a ‘future path of supervision will be a form of organisational learning, where social workers rely not only on supervision, but also mentorship, consultation and coaching’.
The SSSC approach to continuous professional learning (CPL) is about recognising and recording when learning has taken place and logging this.
Developing your knowledge may include visiting and creating learning accounts at resources such as Social Service Knowledge Scotland (SSKS). A specific guide for NQSWs is also provided by SSKS.
Please also see How Social Workers learn in the workplace and our guide to supporting NQSW professional learning and development.
Useful ideas
- We recommend the SSSC MyLearning app which puts your learning at the centre.
- This is a smartphone-based service available to anyone.
- The app helps you record your learning whenever and wherever it happens.
- You can get reminders to reflect on your learning activities.
Shared by NQSWs
Reflective questions
- Reflect on how you record your learning from practice
- When does learning happen for you?
- What different ways of developing your knowledge and skills can you think of?
- How could you evidence that in your learning logs?
- How can you continue to access knowledge to support you to improve work with people who use services and contribute to your organisation’s learning?
