Guidance

NAAS communications strategy for employers of social workers

Updated 27 January 2020

This guidance was withdrawn on 6 February 2023

The NAAS programme closed in March 2022. Children’s social care: Stable Homes, Built on Love was published on 2 February 2023 and sets out details of a new early career framework and integrated assessment for social workers post-qualification.

Applies to England

Overview

This guidance will help you plan how to communicate to social workers in your organisation about the national accreditation and assessment system (NAAS).

You do not have to follow all the advice in this guidance. You should select the methods that suit your organisation.

Briefings

Hold a briefing to introduce NAAS to social workers in your organisation. You can use the briefing to:

• explain the background to the assessment
• gauge the level of support for NAAS in your organisation
• identify colleagues who are ready to take the assessment

Myth buster activity

You could run a myth buster activity at your briefing to gauge the perception of NAAS in your organisation and answer social workers’ questions. Ask them to decide whether the following statements are myths or facts:

• If I fail the assessment I will be deregistered as a social worker - myth
• If I passed the practice simulation element at proof of concept I only need to take the knowledge assessment - fact
• NAAS is designed to set a national standard of practice for children and families social workers - fact
• NAAS will help local authorities to focus on the development needs of the workforce - fact
• Assessment is mandatory for all social workers in statutory children’s social work - myth
• I won’t have to take the assessment - fact
• The Department for Education will let me know which assessment type I should take - myth
• The assessment has a met or not met outcome - fact
• The assessment is designed to support the improvement of social work practice - fact
• I can retake the assessment if I don’t meet the first time round - fact
• I will get a pay rise if I am accredited - myth
• I will have to retake the assessment every 3 years - myth
• I only need to do the assessment if I work in a front line team - myth
• The assessment is pitched at a basic level - myth
• My employer wants me to take the assessment to prove I am not good enough - myth

Once they have decided which of the statements are myths, you can provide further information on the facts.

Team meetings

You can ask to join team meetings to talk about NAAS. This can be an opportunity to encourage:

• individual social workers to take the accreditation
• groups of social workers to take the accreditation together
• discussion groups about NAAS within your organisation

Drop-in sessions

Holding regular drop-in sessions may help you to:

• answer questions from social workers who want to take the accreditation
• give personalised support to social workers already taking the accreditation
• reach social workers who prefer to communicate in person
• get ongoing feedback on NAAS so you can improve

Organise a drop-in session

Drop-in sessions can work well:

• in person
• over the phone
• using remote technology

You may want to ask your organisation to set up a specific NAAS email address so you can:

• set up drop-in sessions
• follow up on issues raised in drop-in sessions

Newsletters

Sending regular newsletters can be a good way to:

• share news with social workers currently taking the accreditation
• encourage social workers to take the accreditation
• promote your other initiatives like NAAS mentoring or drop-in sessions

You may want to ask your organisation’s IT department to set up a specific NAAS email address for newsletters.

Mentoring

You can match social workers taking the accreditation with an accredited social worker who already has experience of NAAS.

Mentoring can be a good way to:

• give social workers confidential, peer-to-peer support
• get social workers to set their own learning outcomes
• empower social workers to discuss challenges

Establish a mentoring system

You should decide how you’ll manage your mentoring system before it begins.

Mentoring can be either formal or informal. If you choose a formal mentoring scheme, you may want to check if your organisation offers training for mentors to help them with their role.

Talking wall

A talking wall is an interactive message board placed in a busy area where social workers may congregate.

You can use a talking wall to:

• share information about NAAS
• get feedback from social workers
• start debates and discussions about NAAS
• sustain social workers’ engagement with NAAS

Social workers can use it to:

• ask you questions anonymously
• ask questions not covered in your briefing

Communication materials

You may want to produce visual materials as part of your communications plan. The type of materials you produce will depend on how you want to use them. For example:

• posters for notice boards
• e-shots for your intranet
• leaflets for desk drops
• business cards for meetings or events
• pocket-size reference guides for social workers and supervisors

Contact

NAAS - national assessment and accreditation system

Email dfe.naas@education.gov.uk