Pioneering, job-based training for social workers to start

An employment-based fast-track training route for children’s social workers will start next month after the General Social Care Council approved it.

Nearly 200 graduates have signed up to the scheme, developed by the Children’s Workforce Development Council, to be trained to master’s degree level in social work while in employment.

Called Step Up to Social Work, it is open to graduates in England who have at least a 2:1 degree and have worked with children and families. They will be paid £15,000 a year.

Eight regional partnerships of local authorities will work with Salford University and Manchester Metropolitan University to train the graduates.

This is the first time there has been an employment-based training route in collaboration with the master’s degree, according to Keith Brumfitt, director of strategy at the CWDC.

“We’re bringing together the strengths of the employers and universities, so people are able to do a bespoke training programme,” he said.

“We know from our work on the recruitment campaign [Be the Difference] that some people want to do university-based training and some want to do employment-based training.

“It’s important to give candidates a choice.”

Also launching next month is the CWDC’s advanced social work professional scheme, which lets experienced social workers remain on the frontline without moving into management.

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