© British Association of Social Workers
Reflections From the Field: the Experience of Former CSS and CQSW Students
After experience in commerce and the health serveice Ian Gibbs has worked for the last thirteen years in higher education. At present he is a lecturer in the Department of Nursing Studies at the College of Ripon and York St.John
Katy Cigno has practised social work in Birmingham and Humberaide. Her more recent interests have been in social work education and practice in Europe with particular emphasis on the assessment of placements. She is senor lecturer in social work at Humberside College of Higher Education.
Summary
The research reported in this paper is based on the findings of a postal questionnaire survey with former students who had, over the last seven years, successfully completed either the Certificate in Social Service (CSS) or the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW) at one institution of higher education.
The purpose was to collect data in a systematic way about employment circumstances, career development, aspirations, reflections on the course and views of the future of education for social work and social service. For many of these areas a lack of comparable British studies is noted.
The findings would seem to indicate that the type of qualification obtained is an important variable where work setting, client group, perceived professional status, job choice and attitude to certain aspects of the course are concerned. Both groups were largely supportive of a single award for social work through full-time education and training, but were ambivalent about there being different routes to this qualification.