Guidance

Adults assessed and supported year in employment for newly qualified social workers: a guide for employers

Updated 31 March 2026

Applies to England

Introduction

This guidance for employers of newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) in adult social care (ASC) outlines the criteria and process for accessing funding for the assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE). For more information on NQSWs, see the ‘Eligibility criteria’ section below.

ASYE was launched in 2012 by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and was delivered initially by Skills for Care. From 1 April 2026, the scheme will be administered by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) on DHSC’s behalf. DHSC will remain responsible for the policy that governs the scheme. ASYE is a non-statutory framework for support.

The scheme supports NQSWs to remain in the profession for longer, advance their careers, develop their skills and specialisms and deliver higher standards for practice. It does this by allowing eligible employers of NQSWs to claim towards costs they have incurred when delivering the scheme through support and assessment activities.

The overall funding pot is limited and dispersed using milestone payments and a funding formula that determines allocation dependent on claimant organisation size and structure.

Employers should refer to the grant determination letter for the years 2026 to 2027 published alongside this guidance.

For guidance relating to the children and families social care equivalent, see Child and family social work ASYE programme: registration and funding.

Eligibility criteria

Who can apply for funding

ASYE funding can only be claimed by an eligible employer, towards the cost of ASYE-related support and assessment activities undertaken for eligible staff. To qualify as an eligible employer, the employer (which can include ASC employers, local authorities, NHS bodies and private, voluntary and independent (PVI) employers) must directly employ NQSWs in England to deliver adult social work within ASC services or NHS services.

Who can undertake the training and qualifications eligible for ASYE funding

Eligible NQSWs must be:

• employed in adult services, within the statutory or PVI (private, voluntary, independent) sectors
• a registered social worker who has not been qualified for more than 4 years
• legally employed in England and have a UK National Insurance number

There is no requirement for non-UK nationals to have resided in the UK for a specific period of time to qualify for funding.

Eligible activities for funding

ASYE funding can only be used for the cost of activities relating to the delivery of ASYE, including but not limited to professional development and support activities such as regular supervision of NQSWs. The funding cannot be used to cover travel costs.

See the ASYE page on the Skills for Care website for more information.

How to apply for funding

The claim window is expected to open in early summer 2026. Details about the application form will be provided in due course within this guidance.

Eligible employers will be required to complete the application form and send the completed application, along with any supporting documents (see ‘Application evidence requirements’) to NHSBSA. A contact address will be provided in due course. 

Application evidence requirements 

Evidence of eligibility

For each application, ASC employers will be required to:

• confirm the employee is employed by the claimant organisation in a regulated social work role (defined in the ‘Glossary of terms’ section below) and that the information provided is correct to the best of their knowledge - acceptable evidence of this includes a copy of their contract of employment 
• provide the employee’s name and UK National Insurance number for identity verification purposes
• confirm the social worker’s Social Work England number, for verification
• (upon completion) provide a copy of the 12-month review status report stating completion date, to verify completion and claim formal evidence of completion in accordance with the ‘evidence of completion’ criteria below (note, this is not applicable if the NQSW moves organisation before being confirmed as having completed the scheme)

The claimant organisation may be asked for subsidiary information to support an application. This would be communicated to the senior responsible officer of the claimant organisation through the formal application channels.   

Evidence of completion

On completion, evidence of the completed ASYE must be submitted to NHSBSA. Examples of this could include:

• a copy of a 12-month review status report stating completion date
• a professional development plan post ASYE year

Where possible, ASC employers should also retain any evidence of an employee starting ASYE as this may be requested as part of post-claim assurance processes carried out by NHSBSA.

ASC employers will be required to sign a declaration of adherence to the rules and conditions set out in the appropriate ASYE scheme grant determination before funding for successful applications will be processed.

Submitting a false declaration to NHSBSA may lead to serious legal, financial and professional consequences. NHSBSA is committed to identifying and acting on fraud, error and loss. Costs paid out in error or because of fraud will be recovered. Further action including criminal proceedings may be taken if a fraudulent application has been made.

Employers who do not confirm completion of the scheme will be reminded to submit the necessary documentation as outlined above to provide verification. Failure to do so within a reasonable timescale will result in clawback proceedings - except in instances where the NQSW being applied for has moved organisation, which therefore leaves the employer without evidence of completion to retain funds.      

In extenuating circumstances that may cause the extension of ASYE beyond the typical year-long period, the claimant organisation should notify the fund administrator (NHSBSA) at the earliest opportunity to avoid being subject to clawback for non-completion as detailed above. NHSBSA will take a view on whether they consider the circumstances to be extenuating. More information on specific examples of extenuating circumstances will be provided in due course.

Enquiries and further updates

This guidance is subject to change. Those who submit applications will be notified of any changes to this guidance.

If you have any queries about this funding, email asye-funding@nhsbsa.nhs.uk.

Glossary of terms

Regulated social work role

A role that, governed by law in England, requires the post holder to have mandatory registration with Social Work England, ensuring the professional meets specific standards of practice legally.

Social worker

In England a social worker is a legally protected title for a professional registered with Social Work England. A social worker must hold a recognised social work qualification, demonstrate safe and effective practice, and adhere to professional standards. Social workers support, empower and safeguard vulnerable people, often undertaking statutory duties, for example a needs assessment (Care Act 2014).

Social workers employed in a regulated social work role supporting adults by an organisation operating in England are eligible to apply to this fund.

Social workers employed in a regulated social work role supporting children and families by an organisation operating in England are not eligible to apply to this fund. For details of alternative funding arrangements for children and families, see Child and family social work ASYE programme: registration and funding.