Fast-track training scheme Frontline has been granted government support to expand into the north east, with a 50% increase in participant numbers next year.
Eight authorities
Children’s minister Edward Timpson is set to announce the funding to train 40 new social workers in eight partner local authorities across the region, at an event tonight in Gateshead.
The authorities, including Newcastle, Sunderland and Redcar, will join Greater London and Greater Manchester in hosting trainee child protection social workers on a two year programme.
High standards
Timpson said he wanted to ensure social work was held in high regard and known for its high standards.
Frontline founder Josh MacAlister said: “We need more outstanding individuals joining the profession to support vulnerable children and families up and down the country.
“It is an exciting prospect that we will now be able to support an even greater number of families with our expansion to the north east.”
The programme’s expansion has been announced as the Department for Education launches a bid to train more than 2,000 children’s social workers on fast track schemes by 2021.
Academics and directors have raised concerns this could create a two-tier social work education system.
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Great more right of centre Social Workers just what Social work needs. I doubt that many will stay the course when they realise how great the responsibilities are and the low opinion that the Tories have for Social work generally. It will be interesting to see what opinion they will have on hard working families living in poverty after having their tax credits withdrawn. I suspect these high calibre graduates are failed banking interns unable to get employment in the industry and need a low paid low status fill in until a better career turns up. They are just going to love the low pay and continuous attacks on terms and conditions. The last thing Social work needs is people who lack empathy and fail to speak up about the terrible conditions that many of their fellow citizens live in. In summary we don’t need or want Tory Social workers who think its all their own fault.
And here was I thinking that social workers weren’t meant to be prejudiced. As someone taking part in the scheme, I can assure you that I am not simply waiting until a ‘better career turns up’, nor am I a ‘failed banking intern’. Nor do I lack empathy for the amazing families we set out to help. I am extremely passionate about being a social worker, and to be honest one of the main reasons I’m training this way rather than by doing another degree or a masters is because there is no way on earth I can afford to do so.
And not that it should matter, but I have never and will never vote Tory either.
Maybe you should just try and give the scheme and its participants a chance. I don’t know of anyone of us on it who don’t intend for social work to be their career for life.