Get ready...get set...go! A new entrant programme for social workers in mental health

INTRODUCTION: Previous research has found that many social work new graduates donot feel they come to their in mental health with sufficient knowledge. One way of remedying this is using post-qualifying New Entrant Specialist Programmes (NESP), where workers gain additional knowledge and skills a particular field practice. METHODS: A small-scale project was conducted five whohad recently completed NESP qualification within district board (DHB) setting Aotearoa Zealand. Semi-structured interviews were used obtain deep information from participants line subjectivist perspective. FINDINGS: Participants indicated had the useful improving confidence competence early practice years. They programmewas decreasing sense isolation by bringing them together other workers, or members disciplines, appreciated support received group supervision experience. The greatest challenges revolved around time constraints wished for more social-work-specific cultural content programmes. CONCLUSIONS: programmes appear serve an important function health. Social work’s commitments justice Te Tiriti o Waitangi need continue be pulled through into professional identity needs nurtured medically oriented settings.