Benefits and KPIs

The establishment of the NSWA will deliver a range of benefits, both quantitative and qualitative. These include:

• improved recruitment, retention and wellbeing of the social work workforce (measured by vacancy rates, staff surveys and retention data)
• enhanced quality and consistency of social work education and practice (measured by education outcomes, inspection reports and feedback)
• increased public confidence and understanding of social work (measured by public surveys and media analysis)
• more effective national workforce planning and policy implementation (measured by delivery of national plans and achievement of agreed KPIs)
• stronger collaboration and innovation across the sector (measured by partnership projects and improvement initiatives, including initiatives delivered jointly with the SSWP)

Mapping benefits to objectives

Many of these benefits are system-wide and will be achieved through partnership working across the sector and not by the NSWA in isolation.

Benefit: improved recruitment, retention and wellbeing

Linked objective(s): plan for a sustainable future workforce; foster excellence in our organisation 

Benefit: enhanced quality and consistency of education and practice

Linked objective(s): promote continuous improvement in design and delivery of social worker education and learning; strengthen improvement and innovation

Benefit: increased public confidence and understanding

Linked objective(s): drive national leadership of social work; foster excellence in our organisation

Benefit: more effective national workforce planning and policy

Linked objective(s): plan for a sustainable future workforce; drive national leadership of social work

Benefit: stronger collaboration and innovation

Linked objective(s): strengthen improvement and innovation; drive national leadership of social work

Benefits realisation plan/key performance indicators

The NSWA will implement a benefits realisation plan through the development of key performance indicators (KPIs). This will include setting clear targets and milestones for each KPI, regular monitoring and review, and corrective action if benefits are not delivered as expected. 

All KPIs associated with the benefits realisation plan will be developed to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART). Baseline data will be established for each benefit area and annual targets will be set and reviewed as part of the business planning cycle. This approach will enable the NSWA to objectively measure progress, identify areas for improvement and transparently report outcomes to partners and the wider public.

Dependencies and assumptions

Realisation of benefits is dependent on several factors, including effective partnership working with local authorities, education providers and sector bodies; adequate funding and resources; and timely implementation of supporting legislation and policy. It is assumed that all partners will remain committed to the shared vision and objectives of the NSWA. The NSWA will review dependencies and assumptions to remain responsive to changes in the policy, funding and partnership landscape.

Shared ownership of outcomes 

Some benefits, such as improved national workforce planning and stronger sector collaboration, are directly within the NSWA’s remit. Others, such as recruitment and retention or public confidence, are shared system-wide outcomes that the NSWA will influence through leadership and coordination, but which also depend on the actions of partners and the wider context.

The NSWA will track benefits through a robust performance framework, with regular reporting to stakeholders and the public. Clear communication will ensure distinction between NSWA-led and system-wide benefits.