All too often new EYPs, having celebrated achieving their status, then enter a period when they feel all too alone.

Aspect’s EYP Charter, published earlier this year, demands that EYPs who have just gained the status should be provided with proper support and ongoing backing through the development of a New EYP status. Rather like a new teacher with Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) status, Aspect believes that new EYPs should have access to ongoing support, mentoring, non-contact time and continuous development. Indeed, as with NQTs, new EYPs need to be recognised as professionals working at a professional level – but also in many cases new entrants in new roles, still very much learning and developing.

The widely trailed new recommendation from the Social Work Taskforce that social workers should have a probationary year thus makes interesting reading.

In particular, perhaps, the words of the chair of the General Social Care Council (GSCC), Rosie Varley, are worth noting:

There’s a clear consensus of views about the need to strengthen social work education and introduce a national curriculum,” she added, “and to move away from the view that the degree will equip people with the skills necessary for your career, towards a concept of continuous professional development with specialist qualifications linked to specialist practice and linked to the register.”

As with social workers, EYPs are a profession without the status and structures needed. Indeed, in many ways EYPs have even further to travel.

Of course, Aspect members are already leading the way. The paper Aspect published last year on the principles and strategy that need to underpin the development of full CPD provision for EYPs is available here.

For more details of the model for social workers this article from Community Care is a good place to start.