Social Work Academy

The Social Work Academy offers Newly Qualified Social Workers a positive, structured, and supportive introduction to statutory children’s social work. Our aim is to promote high‑quality, consistent, and effective practice so that children and families experience the best possible outcomes.

We want NQSWs to grow in confidence and capability through a balance of high support and high challenge. This means being surrounded by a strong professional network, having access to reflective spaces, and being encouraged to develop their skills in a safe and nurturing environment.

The blended approach between time in the Academy, and time in host teams allows them to shadow experienced practitioners, observe real‑life practice, and develop a grounded understanding of what social work looks like in Coventry. They are supported to build their professional identity gradually, with the Academy acting as a protective learning space.

The Academy provides high levels of supervision—particularly in the early stages—alongside an individual development plan tailored to each NQSW as part of their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE). This ensures that learning is purposeful, reflective, and aligned with the needs of children and families.

NQSWs also benefit from access to wider learning networks, including the West Midlands Teaching Partnership, Research in Practice, alongside the coaching and mentoring from the Social Work Academy team. These opportunities help bridge the transition from student to professional, offering reassurance, guidance, and a strong sense of belonging.

Our ASYE programme has entry points throughout the year, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to workforce needs. Throughout the ASYE, NQSWs receive dedicated time with the Academy team to develop their skills, embed their learning, and reflect on their practice. This includes joint working with experienced social workers, protected learning time, and mentoring support when they transition fully into their teams.

The year ahead will be both exciting and challenging. We are very proud of the Social Work Academy’s innovative approach to learning and development and how this supports NQSWs to mature from students into safe, skilful, and knowledgeable practitioners who feel confident in their practice and decision‑making.

We have a great offer for our Newly Qualified Social Workers

Coventry is committed to giving Newly Qualified Social Workers the strongest possible start to their careers. Our offer is designed to build confidence, promote reflective practice, and ensure that NQSWs feel supported, valued, and connected as they grow into safe, skilled, and thoughtful practitioners.

High‑quality supervision and reflective practice

We provide high levels of supervision during the early stages of practice, promoting critical reflection that strengthens judgement, decision‑making, and emotional resilience. NQSWs are encouraged to explore their thinking, understand the impact of their interventions, and develop a reflective mindset that will support them throughout their careers.

A strong sense of belonging

We want NQSWs to feel part of Coventry Children’s Services from day 1. Our approach ensures they build an empowering and supportive professional network around them—one that enables them to deliver “outstanding” social work and feel confident in their role.

Six months of protected learning and development

NQSWs spend their first 6 months in a dedicated learning environment within the Social Work Academy. This period provides protected time to:

• shadow practice within teams
• explore the processes, interventions, and decision‑making they observe
• connect theory, research, and models to real‑world practice
• reflect critically on the impact of social work on children and families

This foundation ensures that when NQSWs transition fully into their teams, they do so with confidence and clarity.

Training in the Family Valued approach

NQSWs receive training and support in Coventry’s Family Valued approach, ensuring that restorative, relationship‑based practice naturally informs their assessments and interventions with children and families.

Opportunities to work alongside experienced practitioners

We offer opportunities to shadow and jointly work with children and families experiencing complex situations, including:

• children supported by the Child in Care service
• children subject to Child Protection plans
• children supported through Child in Need plans

These experiences prepare NQSWs for more independent practice as their skills and confidence grow.

Access to research and regional learning networks

Through our links with the West Midlands Teaching Partnership, NQSWs stay up to date with research, emerging practice, and sector developments. This ensures their practice is informed, current, and grounded in evidence.

Ongoing outreach support

From months 7 to 12, when NQSWs transition into their teams, they continue to receive outreach support from the Social Work Academy’s Professional Practice Educators. This ensures continuity, reassurance, and a smooth transition into frontline practice.

Confident, research‑informed decision‑making

We support NQSWs to feel confident in their decision‑making, ensuring that decisions are never made in isolation. Instead, they are informed by:

• research
• theory
• practice experience
• professional wisdom
• a clear focus on the best interests of children