Learning on the job? Exploring first-year experiences of newly-qualified criminal justice social workers in Scotland

Abstract

Little is known about the experiences of newly-qualified criminal justice practitioners as they enter the field of community justice for the first time. This article reports on isolated data on newly-qualified criminal justice social workers who participated in a national mixed-method study of readiness to practice in Scotland. Findings suggest that new staff felt well-prepared for practice, but many felt employers failed to provide adequate support and development opportunities. Participants report that disproportionate emphasis is placed on workload management during professional supervision sessions where learning needs and emotions are often underplayed. Professional guidance is often sought from informal sources.