I am a student social worker and have just finished my first year of the BSc. I live in the south east (just north of London) and am also having a very difficult time finiding any postisions for NQSWs within adult care or learning disabilities. I have checked both Herts, Essex and a number of north London councils, and I have found no jobs suitible for NQSWs outside of child protection. I have also tried to investigate the voluntry sector, but again couldn't find a thing. I have even looked at graduate schemes for social care management (non social work roles), and I only managed to find one, and that was becuase a friend applied for a posistion with the company as a support worker and I was have a nose around the companies website.
I know I shouldn't be looking so early, however I can't help interested in the job market and am majorly disheartened about the lack of success I have had in finding any jobs (I don't mind I work for an LA, the voluntry sector or take up a social care posistion that isn't even social work as I just love working with service users). I am aware however that my searches may not have been the best as I have just googled the basic phrases like "voluntry sector social work jobs in the south east", "social care graduate scheme" and checking out LA's directly. If anyone could offer some advice on where I could even begin looking I would be extremely grateful as I can't believe that the sout east would have such few opportunities.