Degree attracts more applicants

The number of applicants to undergraduate social work training
courses rose by 8 per cent last year from 4,703 in 2001, the first
increase since the mid-1990s.

Health minister Jacqui Smith attributed much of the increase to the
popularity of the new three-year degree course, which is due to
have its first intake of students in September of this year.

She said the government’s social work careers helpline and website
had received more than 40,000 calls and page impressions in the
past 12 months.

She also announced the launch of the next phase of the government’s
social work recruitment campaign.

From next week, a series of adverts and posters will be displayed
in railway and London Underground stations promoting social work
careers.

The campaign is to be repeated for at least the next three years,
she said.