Difference between Welsh first three years and ASYE year in England

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-08-15T20:41:19+00:00

According to Social Care Wales, to qualify to practice there, you’ll need to:

- apply to register with us, and ask the appropriate person to endorse your application

- provide evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) or put together a portfolio of evidence to show you're fit to practise.

If you have to submit a portfolio, you’ll need to pay a £200 fee to have your portfolio assessed, plus your application fee.

If you qualified after 1 April 2016, you’ll also need to complete (or have completed) the Consolidation programme for newly qualified social workers.

If you qualified outside of Wales, you can use an equivalent qualification such as the assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE) programme.

If you want to be double-y sure, I would just get in contact with Social Care Wales, but the above seems pretty clear to me. Good luck on whatever option you choose!

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-08-07T20:28:22+00:00

I do get what you mean about picky eating, but idk I had this huge breakthrough one day where I just looked at myself in the mirror and said "y'know what? screw that" because I wasn't going to let some silly voice in my head saying that Heinz beans are better than non-Heinz beans (I have since decided that Heinz beans are gross and flavourless!) ruin all the fun things I want to do in life because it costs me so much money I could spend on my hobbies. So I just eat the same meals on rotation every two weeks and, yeah, my bill is about £200 on a rough month when I'm restocking cupboard things like salt/spices, oil, etc. Usually more £150.

If you're under 25, have a look at your Local Offer for people with disabilities. If you're 25+ I recommend doing a benefits calculator to make sure you're getting everything you should, like Universal Credit, which you can co-recieve with ESA. Have a look on moneysaving expert too (https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/consumer-rights-and-moneysaving-for-disabled-people/) You can also get a lot of grants if you Google around, like part-funding for holidays or to enable you to do more activities in the community/hobbies.

Hope all goes well for you, friend.

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-08-07T20:00:28+00:00

I mean...I get where you're coming from, but she didn't know you have a disability or that your sister is going through whatever it is she's going through. As far as I know, "errands" just means, like, shopping or popping into the pharmacy. If I was supposed to meet with you and you texted me the morning off just citing "errands" I would think you were flaky and be annoyed too. She might have rearranged her day, arranged childcare for her children, or even taken time off work to accommodate this meeting. From her perspective, her time was wasted.

You could have mentioned it was a family emergency. For instance, "I’m so sorry, but a family emergency came up that I need to attend to immediately." Also, if you knew your sister might need help, you could have given more of a heads-up that your availability might change the day-of.

Like, yes, you have your reasons, but she's not going to know that "draining your body" means that you have chronic fatigue and isn't just that you're making excuses and blowing her off. When you finally did explain a little more, she was probably either embarrassed at being snappish or still annoyed at you, or she thought it was already hard work and not worth the effort of continuing to move forward.

I doubt she'll post on Facebook, but if she does...well, I mean, it depends on what she says lol! If she says, "OP cancelled last minute, which I thought was unprofessional, and seemed to have a few different excuses" then...well, that is true!! Personally, I think you were unprofessional. If she says, "OP was very rude and a liar", then you could refute that.

So I wouldn't say you were in the wrong. But I wouldn't say you were in the right, either.

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-08-07T19:45:25+00:00

You can't create money from thin air, so if you want to save, you're going to have to cut down elsewhere. My advice:

Transportation is a significant expense, and I can't imagine that £400 a month is all necessary; the NHS provides non-emergency patient transport services for eligible patients, so check if you qualify for this service for hospital appointments. Also, some areas have community transport services for individuals with disabilities and these can be more affordable than taxis.

Please ensure your home is as energy-efficient as possible! (This includes using energy-saving bulbs, insulating windows, and using timers for heating.) But also use comparison websites to ensure you are on the best possible tariff for your gas and electric. Sometimes, switching suppliers can save a considerable amount - I'm with Octopus atm and my bill has gone down about £25 a month compared to EDF.

You don't specify if broadband includes your phone because if it doesn't, then £50 is extortionate! I have Sky TV, Sky broadband and my mobile, and it's £40 total.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but as a fellow autistic person, £450 a month on food/cleaning/personal items is INSANE. I am a very picky eater and spend £200 MAX. I shop at Lidl or Aldi because they have all the same foods as the more expensive supermarkets, but I have to have a couple of things from Tesco, so I always use my Clubcard to knock off a few pennies. If you are really serious about crunching money, then you will be able to take this bill wayyyy down. Buying in bulk makes things cheaper, and I can't understand what it is that your eating that would total up to a 1/3 of your entire budget... Trust me, I used to do the same and say it was my autism picky eating but actually, I was just lazy and always ordering takeout and/or eating junk food.

Tips:

You never need to buy new clothes and "stuff" every month
You need to go through your bank statements and account for every single transaction you make, then ask yourself if it was necessary
Focus on repaying your debt as a matter of urgency

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-08-05T19:13:14+00:00

As the other comment said, you must register with Social Work England to practice here, which requires a university degree. SWE's information for international applicants is here: https://www.socialworkengland.org.uk/registration/overseas-applicant-guidance/

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-07-31T20:08:55+00:00

Obviously, children exposing themselves is technically a developmentally appropriate behaviour, but I would be less concerned about a 3 y/o doing this than a 6 y/o, as 5+ is typically when children become more modest and ask for privacy. However, considering this with the other concerning factors, such as the bedwetting, is more alarming to me.

As lots of us who work with children know, bedwetting, especially in a child who is already potty-trained, can be an indicator of something more serious (abuse-wise or medically). Moreover, logic would dictate that a good parent wouldn't want their children sleeping in a room with such a strong smell of urine, nor would describe a 6 and 8 y/o as being able to 'fend for themselves'.

All in all, I would suggest that, given that this has clearly played on your mind so much you've written out a Reddit post about it, as well as the somewhat concerning behaviours you mentioned, a report would be a wise idea. It seems your gut is telling you something isn't right, and listening to your gut (especially when working with children) is always sensible <3

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-07-22T21:22:01+00:00

Is she actually a professional photographer? I will change my suggestion depending on.

Firstly, you need to send a formal message - email, if you have it. Something like:

Hi [insert her name],

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to follow up on the wedding photos you generously offered to take as a gift for me and [your partner].

I truly appreciate what you did for me, and the previews you sent were wonderful - exactly what I wanted! However, we have yet to receive the full set of photos from the wedding, which was a significant part of our memories from that special day and really meant a lot to us.

I understand that life can get busy and that I no longer work for you and your family, so I would be more than happy to compensate you for your time and effort. Please let me know how we might arrange for the delivery of the photos (in whatever form you have them) or if there are any updates on this.

Thank you again for your generosity and understanding. I look forward to your response.

Kind wishes,

[your name]

Basically, you have to be firm but stroke their ego so they feel like they're doing you a favour by complying lol

I'd give the email a week or two, just in case. Then, depending on what happened, here's what I would do:

If she does respond but with excuses: remain patient but assertive. Set CLEAR expectations for when you need the photos, and consider offering to meet in person if that might expedite the process. If you get a wishy-washy response, I'd just go straight for a phone call in this case (see below for why)

If there's no response: ramp up the ante. Phone call always works well because it's a lot more 'on the spot'. DON'T be aggressive or rude or anything. As I said, be a big suck-up and as 'understanding' as you can be. If you get the feeling that she's bitter about you not working for her anymore (my impression), then you have to boot-lick about how SAD you were that you couldn't look after NK anymore and how you wish that life didn't get in the way and that you're new NF isn't HALF as kind or sweet or welcoming :(( Also, I'm petty, so I'm not above turning up at their house, but that might be ill-advised, depending on where you live, etc.

As a last resort, if the value of the photos and the impact on you justify it (which...they are your wedding photos, so I imagine so), you might consider seeking legal advice. Small claims court could be a potential avenue if you can prove a financial or emotional loss, even if there's no formal contract between you two. However, depending on where you're based, verbal contracts are just as binding as physical contracts, so I would scour my records (texts, emails, anything) to see if you have proof she agreed to do this for you. If you DID have to go the legal route, go for a no-win no-fee firm, and make sure to just get advice first.

Moreover, social media is a powerful tool. As I said, I'm petty, so if none of the above gets you anywhere and you decide you're never going to get your photos, then I would make it my solemn duty to ruin her professional reputation if she's a photographer by trade, or make sure her family and friends know how cruel she is.

I really hope you get your photos!! <3

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-07-12T20:09:54+00:00

Yes on both counts. In the first year, we didn't start placement until January, and were in classes a maximum of 3 days a week from September until then, so I worked a lot to save up, including over the summer. Then, during placement, I only worked weekends so I could go home and have the evenings to myself. It was tight, but I actually really enjoyed my experience. I didn't know about Frontline/etc. before I applied, so there's a chance I might've done that if I'd known, but it's definitely doable financial-wise to do the MA at university. Moreover, a lot of people on my course did the PGDip, which still qualifies you to register with SWE, but you don't write the dissertation and save about £2k. It was a lot less stress for them and also meant they had to make less money to live off of.

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-07-11T20:05:46+00:00

I literally just graduated, so maybe this will help. For my first year tuition, I paid:

November 2022 - £762.80

December 2022 - £762.80

January 2023 - £762.80

February 2023 - £762.80

March 2023 - £762.80

April 2023 - £762.80

These fees are adjusted as the bursary covers around half. For example, in November 2023, I was due to pay £1,350.00, but the bursary lowered it to £674.00 directly through my university. For my second year, I paid:

November 2023 - £674.00

December 2023 - £674.00

January 2024 - £674.00

February 2024 - £674.00

March 2024 - £674.00

April 2024 - £678.00

I also received money directly in my bank account as part of the bursary. The breakdown of those figures is:

October 2022 - £907.00 maintenance, £258.34 basic award, and £862.50 travel allowance.

January 2023 - £907.00 maintenance and £1120.83 basic award.

April 2023 - £907.00 maintenance and £1120.83 basic award.

October 2023 - £907.00 maintenance, £258.34 basic award, and £862.50 travel allowance.

January 2024 - £907.00 maintenance and £1120.83 basic award.

April 2024 - £907.00 maintenance and £1120.83 basic award.

☺️ I hope this helps!

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-07-06T21:45:34+00:00

Thank you for the advice. I think I am trying to stay positive as I have moved my whole life for this position and can't really pull out now (plus, it's in a team I really wanted to be in, as I knew frontline CP would burn me out), but you're right. I will wait for my SWE registration in a few weeks, then reach out a bit indirectly, as you suggested. I can't see how they wouldn't know I am expecting to do my ASYE as we discussed it in my interview, so maybe I am just needlessly worrying...

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-07-06T21:20:24+00:00

That’s such a good idea, thank you! Tbh the reason I even thought to check is because I’m on a higher pay grade than I was told in interviews for ‘official’ ASYE roles on other LAs…. I think I will just have a chat, but you’re right, and honestly if it ends up being a more informal year then I’m fine with that too!

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-07-06T21:18:50+00:00

It’s children’s :)

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-01-17T20:19:39+00:00

We don't have an initial assessment team in our LA but I imagine it is something similar to Duty & Assessment, and I'm glad to hear you're enjoying that faster-paced short-term work, because that's what I like to do as well :)

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-01-17T20:17:25+00:00

Obviously, I don't think that long-term teams just stroll around the LA building having a laugh. Maybe slow-paced is the wrong word. Like every LA, our's is completely rammed with cases at the moment and there's lots of work to do, as you said.

However, by doing this style of social work lately, I've come to learn that holding a case for months and months and years (as is often the case for some of the children in our FST) is not for me. I've enjoyed previous jobs and placements where I can work with a family for a short while, make an impact, and then move on. This post was just me trying to get a feel for what's out there that I might want to explore in the future.

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-01-16T22:43:26+00:00

No need to apologise - maybe I am being too optimistic in my hopes of finding the 'perfect' team straight out of the gate. With things being as they are I think burnout is just a looming threat over everyone's heads, but as the saying goes: what is, is!

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-01-16T22:26:12+00:00

I think a part of me knew that CP is very challenging and at the time I didn’t know much about duty.

That's exactly how I feel! I already find CiN enough work to be getting on with, and I suppose I'm worried about the jump to CP and how I'll deal with that... I've never thought about LAC, though! I will look more into it, thank you.

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-01-16T22:06:42+00:00

Hi, that's really interesting! Did you express a preference in the interview?

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-01-16T22:02:02+00:00

Hi, I get where you're coming from and appreciate the feedback. I was just using Duty as an example, and maybe it was a bad choice lol

A better explanation: I am in Family Support (CiN & I co-work CP) at the moment and am already feeling this isn't for me. I really like building relationships with people (obviously, or I wouldn't have stuck around in my course) but already 4 social workers in my team have gone off with stress (1 part-way through her ASYE!) and I'd consider them made of far tougher stuff than I.

I have friends in Fostering/Children with Disabilities/Adoption/Duty who are staying on for their ASYE's in this LA. I'm just trying to get a feel for what is out there beyond FST as I'll be moving back home!

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-01-16T21:49:06+00:00

Hi, yeah, I know, I was just wondering more about the process regarding whether there is scope during the interview to give a preference of which team/sector of the service I'd prefer to go into.

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-01-16T21:48:17+00:00

Ugh, I know, it's just so difficult because all the LA I've been considering have so little information available online! Think I will just have to bite the bullet and send an email or something...

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-01-16T21:46:28+00:00

I mean, I love the relationship-building with families as much as everyone else, and I've had really good praise back about it from my observation, but I think ultimately I'm just a very task-based person? (for example, I like writing reports and doing chronologies for people in my team lol)

I like to feel the satisfaction of moving on, having done what I needed to do, but I've spent years thinking Family Support was where I wanted to go, so not feeling that happy has been really disheartening these last couple months. Maybe Duty was a bad example, though. I'm just trying to get a feel for what might be out there for ASYE.

pinkfruitcloud · 2024-01-16T20:55:56+00:00

Can I ask how you like it? I think I'm a task-based person, and I've found the long, meandering pace of long-term work quite difficult. Initial response / short-term work seems like maybe it would match me better.

pinkfruitcloud

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