ASYE

[u/ShiannaX4]

Hey Everyone,

Slowly losing my mind with search for an ASYE. I graduated September 3rd 2025 (did the graduation ceremony 2026 as had to re-take an assessment) with my social work degree. I have registered to Social Work England yesterday and have a reference number.

I live in Brighton and Hove and unfortunately don’t drive so commute is smaller for me.

I am actively searching for an ASYE role but can’t seem to find one at all. I don’t think statutory is for me really as I did it on my last placement (Children Team) and I struggled with the high turn over rate and not a lot of relationship-building work which when I think of social work that’s what I want to do.

All job roles posted at the minute are wanting experience (three years) and I only have my placement experience. When I search with key words like NQSW or ASYE nothing comes up 😭

I have started sending emails to charities and independent fostering agency’s near me enquiring about ASYE and waiting to hear back and I’ve also emailed my university tutor for advice.

I am working at Greggs at the minute just to live but have sent off some applications to children’s residential home in hove (lioncaregroup), outreach worker roles, BHT Sussex and AMAZE. Just so I can do something in the social sector in the meantime!

I just don’t want the three years studying to be for nothing if all I get are support roles can I realistically do those full time with the small amount of money I would earn?

I want to help people but I guess I’m just struggling at the minute. Is an ASYE a really big deal, what if I don’t get one in time as I know there is a finding time limit !

Just some advice from people who are going through the same things or have been. I know social work is a very broad role but I can’t seem to find anything that I would like to do.

P.S. my first plan before all of this worry was to travel around SEA for the year but everyone is telling me that’s the wrong plan which is why I’m asking for advice and doing all of these things

[u/sivaya_]

Hi, it really depends on your LA. Some are more responsive to applications than others. Also, it might be worth looking at Adults roles. As you don't drive, you are likely limited to city-based roles. ASYE is generally expected to be completed for most social work roles, though I imagine you could skip it and nobody would ask if you were 5 or so years in. Good luck!

[u/ShiannaX4 → u/sivaya_]

I’m hoping they look at experience like if I was in a residential home or outreach for a few years and then go into statutory and didn’t complete my ASYE would they not just go you do have the skills? Not that I don’t want to do ASYE etc

[u/sivaya_ → u/ShiannaX4]

My advice would be to keep applying for LA roles. A lot of people find frontline children's too much, so it's worth looking around. See the ASYE as extra support and a protected caseload. The LA provides good structure and lots of traininh. Also, other professionals will likely be softer if they know you're new to social work. It's up to you, but I'd recommend doing your ASYE. I'm sure there are ways of avoiding it, but it's good experience.

[u/ShiannaX4 → u/sivaya_]

Yeah I think I do want the experience but I just don’t know where to start or finding those roles I have become drained before even starting anything which is crazy 😭