Social Worker Training Logbook (for BC Forum)

Social WorkerLearning and Development Logbook Housing SA: Connecting People to Place

Name 2RoleOfficeContactManagerStart DateSocial Worker | Connecting People to Place

Social WorkerLearning and Development LogbookContentsAbout this Logbook..................................3The Regional Office ..................................4Your Team ..................................................4Your Role ...................................................6Personal Competencies ...........................7Your Learning Program............................8Learning and Development Log..............10About this LogbookThis logbook provides a brief explanation of the work you’ll be doing inHousing SA. Along with the Housing SA Practice Guide, it outlines thepersonal attributes and skills you need to do your job successfully. Itincludes a list of training and a section where you and your manager willbe able keep a record of training you’ve done and what you’ll need tocomplete.DISCLAIMER: This logbook is not a formal role description or part of anyselection criteria.Social Worker | Connecting People to Place 3

integritysocial justicerespect compassion tenacityThe Regional OfficeSocial Workers are located in most Housing SA regional offices. Theseoffices are comprised of up to thirty people in Access, Intake, PlaceManagement, Regional Response, Maintenance and Business Servicesteams. Regional staff work directly with people seeking housingassistance, existing Housing SA tenants, and the private and communityhousing sector, to house and support people in crisis.Your TeamSocial Workers operate in the Regional Response Team (RRT) withCommunity Development Workers, other Social Workers, CommunityResponse Coordinators, and the RRT Manager. The team is responsiblefor helping tenants who are experiencing severe crises, are in serious andimmediate danger, or are presenting a danger to others. The team is themost intensive tenancy support pathway within Housing SA and spendsmuch of its time responding to intervention orders, cases of domesticviolence, and cases that pose a risk to children. The RRT receivesreferrals from the Intake or Place Management teams and exchangesintelligence with other service professionals and government departments.Social Worker | Connecting People to Place 4

Regional Office TeamsAccess Team: Assisting people entering the housingsystem and finding the right optionsIntake Team: Supporting new tenants in Housing SA'sproperties on short-term or probationary leasesPlace Management Team: Supporting tenants in longer-term leasesRegional Response Team: Intensive casework support forpeople in crisis or at high riskMaintenance Team: Co-ordinating the maintenance ofHousing SA propertiesBusiness Services Team: Providing operational andadministrative support for the regional officeSocial Worker | Connecting People to Place 5

Your RoleAs a Social Worker, you provide intensive on the ground support fortenants and supplement these efforts with office-based responsibilities.Some of your duties will include:Directly supporting tenants – implementing intensive, one-on-one caseplans to address tenancy risk factors that could lead to self-harm, harm toothers, or eviction.Working within a network – establishing links with external serviceprofessionals (like doctors or counsellors) and working with them to helpget tenants back on track.Case Conferences – providing updates and plans on tenancy supportprograms in meetings between service professionals, the RRT, andRegional Office Managers.The Family Safety Framework – sharing information betweengovernment agencies in order to assess and act upon risks to women andchildren.Reporting – maintaining electronic case notes and other relevantinformation regarding your work with tenants.Practice supervision sessions: – discussing your caseload and workwith the RRT Manager and finding solutions to issues of concern.Social Worker | Connecting People to Place 6

Personal CompetenciesSocial Workers…Are empatheticYou will deal extensively with Housing SA tenants who are experiencingsevere crises and it is important that you deal with them sensitively. Manyof these people will be experiencing intergenerational issues, domesticviolence, or severe personal issues and so a non-judgemental approachwill help you to help them.Respect their clientsYour clients are real people with real problems and vulnerabilities. To workwith them, you must establish good rapport, maintain their confidentiality,and be able to adapt your communicative style.Are resilientYou will not always be able to solve a person’s issues, so it is important thatyou are able to persevere with complex personalities and challengingsituations. You must also be able to take care of your own wellbeing bydeveloping coping strategies and resilient attitudes.Are lateral thinkersSolving difficult problems requires innovative thinking. You will need to useyour social and observational skills to detect issues not readily disclosed byclients, develop creative solutions, and work to the tenant’s strengths.Work as a member of a teamYou will need to communicate regularly with your colleagues and listen totheir advice in order to tailor support programs to the needs of your clients.Social Worker | Connecting People to Place 7

Your Learning ProgramYour learning program will help you to continue your professionaldevelopment. All of the learning you undertake reflects the values that areset out in the Practice Framework.Formal LearningThis learning and development logbook includes the specific formaltraining covering both an overview of Housing SA’s policies and functions,as well as skills that are specific to your job. Participating in these coursesearly on in your role will help you understand the practices, policies andprocedures that help you to do your work.Informal LearningInformal learning opportunities are also an important way of developingyour skills and knowledge. One of the most common ways you can learnabout your work is by asking questions or talking with other staff. Anothermethod of learning from colleagues is by shadowing. This kind of traininghelps you learn complex and subtle details about your job in a hands-on,day-to-day setting. You can ask your manager to arrange opportunities toshadow other staff.The Learning and Development LogThe learning and development log is split into sections that correspond todifferent time periods. The first includes learning that should beundertaken before you can work independently and subsequent sectionsoutline learning that should be undertaken in your first month, threemonths, twelve months, and all months thereafter.There is also an additional agreed learning table for you and yourmanager to fill in with details of other learning opportunities and space tocomment on your practice supervision meetings for your own information.Social Worker | Connecting People to Place 8

Practice SupervisionPractice Supervision meetings are an opportunity for you and yourmanager to discuss your workload, reflect on decisions you have made oractions you have taken in the course of your work and identifyopportunities to improve your practice. The Practice Supervision tablesshould be used to record meetings and take notes on your discussionswith your manager.Already Completed the Learning?If you have already completed a module during your time with DCSI anddo not require a refresher course (for example, in the case of a localinduction), then you may discuss this with your manager and sign thepreviously completed module.Legend Required Learning for your role Optional LearningSocial Worker | Connecting People to Place 9

Learning and Development LogBefore You Can Work Independently Learning Activity Initial and Date Name and Duration Date Employee Manager dd/mm/yyExample Training AB AB# hours dd/mm/yy dd/mm/yyLocal Induction2 hoursShadowing Other Social Workers7.5 hoursCode of Ethics0.5 hoursHousing SA Government andLegislative Context# hoursRespect and Ethics at Work# hoursWorking Alone# hoursRenewal SA and the CommunityHousing Sector# hoursInformation Sharing Guidelines# hoursRisk and Vulnerability# hoursSocial Workers Case Noting Tool# hoursWriting and Making Notations# hoursSocial Worker | Connecting People to Place 10

The First Month Initial and Date Learning Activity Date Employee Manager Name and Duration DCSI Induction # hours Child Safe Environments # hours RiskMAN Feedback and Incident Reporting 2.5 hours Service Values and the Housing SA Blueprint # hours Housing SA Clients: Who are They? # hours Intro to Systems and Services – Intro to Mainframe 1.5 hours Intro to Systems and Services – Customer and Property Profiles 3 hours Intro to Systems and Services – Task Manager 1 hour Intro to Systems and Services – Incomes 4 hours Disruptive Tenancies – Registration 2.5 hours Disruptive Tenancies – Investigations and Outcomes 2.5 hours Chintaro – Tenancy Management # hours Chintaro – Regional Maintenance # hoursSocial Worker | Connecting People to Place 11

The First Three Months Initial and Date Learning Activity Date Employee Manager Name and Duration Resilience and Coping with Stress # hours Customer Service: An Introduction # hours Positive / Assertive Engagement # hours Motivational Interviewing # hours Code of Ethics 0.5 hours Restorative Practice / Justice # hours MAYBO – Managing Conflict and Challenging Behaviour 7.5 hours Case Notes # hours PPP Setting Outcomes Meeting 1 hourSocial Worker | Connecting People to Place 12

The First Twelve Months Initial and Date Learning Activity Date Employee Manager Name and Duration Relationship Building and Networking # hours Aboriginal Cultural Sensitivity and Respect 15 hours Working with Grief and Loss 4 hours Trauma-Informed Practice # hours Child Focused Practice # hours Reflective Practice # hours Team Building # hours Working Alone # hours Time Management # hours Homelessness # hours Domestic Violence # hours Lateral and Family Violence # hours Mental Health, Suicide and Self-Harm # hours Client Diversity # hours Disability Awareness # hoursSocial Worker | Connecting People to Place 13

Learning Activity Initial and Date Name and Duration Date Employee ManagerDrugs and Alcohol# hoursHoarding and Squalor# hoursPPP Review Meeting1 hourCultural Understandings, BetterEngagement# hoursGenerating Positive Pathways# hoursJustice System, Prisoners andRehabilitation# hoursRecruitment / Accredited PanelTraining# hoursRecruitment and Selection FrameworkTraining5 hoursPERMA +# hoursMeet the Executive Director# hoursSocial Worker | Connecting People to Place 14

After Twelve Months Initial and Date Learning Activity Date Employee Manager Name and Duration Initial and Date PPP Outcomes Meeting 1 hour Date Employee Manager Diploma of Government # hoursOther Optional Training Learning Activity Name and Duration Basic Computer Skills 1 hour Public Speaking and Presentations # hours Mental Health First Aid # hours Exceptionality # hoursSocial Worker | Connecting People to Place 15

Additional Agreed Learning Learning Activity Initial and DateName and Duration Date Employee ManagerSocial Worker | Connecting People to Place 16

Practice Supervision Comments Date and Employee / Manager SignaturesD: / /E:M:D: / /E:M:D: / /E:M:Social Worker | Connecting People to Place 17

Practice Supervision Comments Date and Employee / Manager SignaturesD: / /E:M:D: / /E:M:D: / /E:M:Social Worker | Connecting People to Place 18

Practice Supervision Comments Date and Employee / Manager SignaturesD: / /E:M:D: / /E:M:D: / /E:M:Social Worker | Connecting People to Place 19

Social Worker Learning and Development Logbook Last Updated: 02/08/2016