Find out how many social workers are newly qualified | Read expert opinion on what employers should do to support less experienced staff | Compare your starting salary to others across the UK
One in 10 social workers across the UK is newly qualified
Despite rising concern among many students about their future job prospects, the latest data shows most local authorities across the UK (96%) are open to applications from newly qualified social workers (NQSWs), even if they are not specifically targeting them in recruitment campaigns or job ads.
Social worker starting salary map
Find out how much each local authority or health and social care trusts pays newly qualified social workers (excluding market supplements) using our interactive map. Authorities in red did not return any salary data.
Employers must be careful to maintain the right balance between newly qualified and experienced staff, says social worker Nikki Burton
Find out about your newly qualified social workers' unique skills and experience and what they aspire to, says Jill Manthorpe, director of the Social Care Workforce Research Unit
Most councils in England have adopted the ASYE, but how does it compare to the programmes offered in other countries? Rachel Schraer reports
We must take advantage of this opportunity to improve pre- and post-qualifying education, says the Institute for Public Policy Research's Craig Thorley
Community Care’s latest content on interviews, CVs and everything you need to know if you are looking for a job in social work
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I have been qualified as a social worker going on 4 years and only been for a handful of interviews. I have been doing voluntary work ever since graduating and applying for posts I know I can do. I have undertaken further study at my expense to enhance my knowledge of certain subjects but still no paid work. I am even with social work agencies much to know avail.
I have been told in the past that I need a car but personally I think this is pure snobbery as a car does not do the job the social worker does. I have heard so many excuses they are waring thin.
It would be interesting to hear whether any other graduates have experienced the same thing.
have you tried working with the CHALLENGE NETWORK – looks great on CV and they are recruiting now for summer 2014. I have been a support worker twice but there are options of working as a senior mentor with a group of 10 to 12 young people aged from 15 to 17. what have you got to lose!!! plus this is paid work.
Susan Evans
Hey Julie , yes i have been qualified since 2012 and have been to stacks of interviews ( and i drive ) but no firm and final job offer . I also trained with social workers who did not drive and managed their work with no problems.
I am also scratching my head as i know i can do a good job and my motivation is still high but i have started to look at different roles recently. When i started training there was a shortage of social workers and i think between new graduates not being able to register with hcpc unless they are working and the assessed year and many senior social workers leaving the profession , we will see that shortage again.
There are plenty of posts and more and more are coming in but they cannot be filled ?. This is not my opinion but that of a very large national agency senior consultant. Actual council posts , i have not seen a one here in the north west .Not sure whats going on to be fair but i know the work is there perhaps many managers feel we are not up to it and perhaps we would end up before a practice panel. I think the assessed year is a great idea but i have always felt that rather than adding another year the days spent in placement and also the academic year should have been extended in year two and three to ensure graduates are ready and ahem, excepted by the hierarchy who ultimately employ them . I have read other comments posted here , i am amazed that others have found it so easy. Where do these people live i wonder ? . Keep your chin up , you may still get that job.
I graduated sep 2013 had my first interview for LA children and families team just before Christmas and got the job. There have been quite a few posts in the North West, I am signed up to yourcounciljobs.com and Get the notifications for social work jobs
I live in the north west. I qualified in September 2013, had my first interview a couple of months after for a LA children and families team and fortunately got the job. I didn’t have a stat placement in a children’s team (it was adult mental health) so thought that might go against me but I just did a bit revising before the interview!
It would be nearly impossible to do the job I’m currently doing without a car, the borough I work for is so wide spread there’s just no way I would be able to get around to my visits with the number of cases I have.
I signed up to yourcounciljobs.com and got the notifications for sw jobs in the north West, there have been quite a few posts advertised since I qualified and I know a lot of people from my course are now employed so there are jobs out there and councils are taking on NQs!
Needing a car is very far from snobbery, a typical day might be three meetings and three visits spread all around a town/city – virtually impossible on public transport. I know a few SW’s who can’t drive but they struggle and sometimes have to ask for lifts or cover – not ideal.
I can really empathize with your situation as I am facing almost the exact same situation. I qualified with a Masters Degree in Social work five and the half years ago. i got my first job about 9 months after I graduated. I stayed in that job for one year but then left for an agency job which then fell through. Since 2010 I have been job searching and have attended about 15 interviews in all sectors (Adult, mental health , voluntary sector jobs etc.) but mostly in Children and Families services but have been consistently turned down. I am also undertaking additional studies (Part-time) for continuous professional development purposes and likewise to broaden my skill base but all in vain. I also do not drive but although this has limited the Geographical areas where I can apply for jobs – not driving has had absolutely no impact on applying for jobs with many Local authorities in the London area. These local authorities do not request Car driving as an essential criteria. I have also done some volunteering here and there but nothing has come out of it. I really do not know what to do now perhaps we could collaborate and jointly come up with some creative solutions to our insurmountable difficulties in finding employment.
I also had the same problem. I graduated in 2011, however due to medical reasons, Iwas unable to drive. I never received any invitations to interviews even though I managed my placement without a car no problem; then last year I got my driving licence back and now I’m working for an agency (4 Social Work). I got interviews straight away when I started to drive. However, I am still only agency after a year. I am finding it increasingly difficult to find a permanent job as they only want experienced social workers in Adults. I am now finding myself driving up to 1hour to get to my current work place.
I totally agree! I qualified in 2014 and still absolutely nothing. Council jobs are clearly ear marked for a particular person – the only reason they are advertised is to fufill protocol. It’s ridiculous. I would rather apply for a job knowing that I have a fighting chance of actually getting one. I have been lucky enough to get the stage of interviews which for some is a difficult task in itself. Newly qualified social workers are struggling – kind of ironic when you look at the state of social services for children across the UK…a bloody shambles.
To be continued when I am actually hired….
It’s such a shame that there are social workers struggling to get a job when we are desperate for more people to join our teams. As you said the children’s sector really requires more workers. I am currently doing quite a lot of research into this.
I wish you the best of luck.
hi am in the same predicament for the last 7 years done voluntary work but it dosent give me post qaulifying experience, am at my wits end feel like no one will give me a chance even to get some more work experience, please could you think of anything im not trying.
I was employed by the 2nd local authority I applied to after qualifying. Everyone I graduated with that I know of was emplyed within a year of graduating.
Re the above comment I know a few SW who do not drive and even one NQ but I think most posts would be unmanageable with no car.
If you have any ambitions of working in stat social work then I think a car is common sense, not snobbery.
I started working as a SW in an LA adult team a month after I finished my MA (which was my third interview) and there is simply no way I could do the job without a car.
I have been a social worker for 15 years, in many different roles. I have known 2 social workers in all that time who didnt drive and it just made the job so much trickier. It can also mean you cant be as flexible or take on as much as other team members because the consideration of travel time. You can plan some of your work but in any week could have to be out in an emergency going from one place to another. Some days on a duty team i have done 5 home visits to undertake assessments, and even where i have been able to plan them efficiently, have clocked up 50 miles easily. Of course, if someone has an impairment, which meant they could not drive, an employer should be able to make reasonable adjustments to the role, but this too will be difficult because so much of statutory social work takes place in the home. I am now a locum social worker, and need to be flexible to get roles (although since doing this i have got every job i applied for and every role has kept me at least 5 times as long as the inital contract and all have asked me to stay on permanently). There is no way i would get this work if didnt have a car. I wouldnt be able to take on the level of work they expected of me, if i couldnt be out of the road doing 4 or 5 assessments a day, get out and meet a colleague in a tricky situation or respond immediately to a child who has to be collected or removed from a dangerous situation.
I’m a social worker in a mental health team and cycle across a large city to all appointments. One of my colleagues travels to visits on buses, so you do not need a car unless you are working in rural areas.
I’m Sorry to hear these stories of social work graduates unable to get work I graduated in September last year. I did not get a single interview with any local authority.
Ive just managed to secure a temporary role for 12 weeks.
Universities are training too many people for the limited amount of social work posts out there. It’s a sham, they should be doing something about this.
I don’t drive, I’m based in the London area public transport is often faster.
qualified 2 years ago and been to countless interviews with feedback that am employable however had other candidates who had significant experience. This current trend managers asking for only apply if one has 2+ yrs experience is sad and what chances do NQSW have. It is all about who knows who on the interviewing panels/referrals from other colleagues. now LA’s employ NQSW’s to work as contact supervisors which is what others and am currently doing hoping to attract the managers -as bills have to be paid. Sad indeed as other professionals such as nurses or junior doctors secure jobs with no post experience requirements.
I qualified as a social worker in October 2013 and I drive. I have since applied for various social worker roles about 10 in total. I have attended 5 interviews and all I get is rejection letters. I am very frustrated as I am not sure where to begin searching for new jobs as I have applied to all the local authorities within my proximity, however because I have been turned down this means that I cannot apply again to the same local authority within 3 or 6 months. I feel that as newly qualified social worker I am at a great disadvantage when I attend interviews with experienced social workers. In addition I have registered with a lot social care recruitment agencies but no luck. I would like to to work with adults but so far no luck has come my way. Any advice?
I have been to a countless interviews and felt that I adequately prepared. would wait for that phone call or e-mail never hear from the panel until I call them and sadly telling me that I did not get the job as had others had significant experience. would put my chin up and apply again and it has been now 2 yrs since qualifying. The word out there is who you know and LA’s managers recruiting those finishing their final placements within their teams or are referred/known by someone on the panel. I tried volunteering work but bills need to be paid. now doing family contact supervisor this trend the recruiting managers are setting of 2 yrs post experience do not give any NQSW a chance. other professionals support their own such as junior doctors, nurses and why not our own who are discriminating /not giving opportunities. sad indeed and I know loads of bright NQSW who can’t secure their first role and LA’s are employing them as contact supervisors.
For those who are struggling to find a socia lwork job, it may be useful to go back to the university you trained in as the careers service at uni is for life- this means that the staff there can help you with job searching, interviews, cvs etc. If you keep the links open with the university sometimes jobs can develop from old lecturers too. Good luck!
I qualified in 2012. I am currently working in supported housing. For over a year I was applying for social work jobs. I didn’t get one interview. I am in an area in the North where there are many large universities in the local area. I was in a graduating class of 90. This I feel has created a surplus of Newly Qualified Social Workers. I have struggled to find any employer that would even interview me. In 3 years I attended two interviews, neither were for social work posts.
I have found the whole process extremely frustrating, being that I have had no feedback from any social work posts at all. I have looked extensively at my CV and have done everything I can think of to increase my experiences. I am hoping after a year of paid employment in a support setting will show employers that I have the experience needed.. Somehow I doubt this will happen.
lam also a newly qualified social worker and am regretting why l did the course as the LAs need people with much experience than l have. l really wonder ,when LAs says they want people with more experience,,,,,,, where do l get the experience if lam newly qualified. Where do l get the experience if they don’t give me a chance??????. l wish l had done nursing as it has lots of avenues to gain experience such as Residential and Nursing homes, where l can still practice as a nurse and do nursing duties whilst also gaining experience. Social work does not have such facilities. if l work in a children’s residential home ,this does not give me the experience to do section 47 investigation and applying all the other Laws pertaining to children’s social work and doing court work.l will be probably working as a support worker.
I share the same frustration. I am currently working as a temporary support worker with young people and I volunteer with the elderly and though I do not dislike either job, I have learned a lot, yet when I have spoken to social workers for advice they tell me I need to do more!!! I have applied for numerous LA jobs and haven’t heard a thing, despite continual advertisements from the same LA. It is really annoying when I know that I can do the job.
Hi everyone, I feel your pain. I am in a unique situation, I am from the USA, and completed my Masters of Social Work degree in September of 2012 but my actual completion date is December of 2012, then we moved to Devon in October 2012 due to my wife’s job. I also have a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology. Since I was international it took 16 weeks for the HCPC to verify and register me, so I did not get registered till August 2013. I have worked in social care for 12 years in the states, and I am currently working as a support worker because I have not been able to get a social worker job. Fortunately I have had about 8 social work interviews, and 3 community care worker positions, however the feedback I have been getting is I don’t have enough experience implementing legislation in England, but I have researched the legislation and are somewhat familair with it. Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to get experience in England? I have talked to local authorities and they are very hesitant about setting me up with shadowing experiences. Any other feedback would be great, or if there is anyone who has experienced a similair situation please let me know. I have joined BASW, and College of Social Work and have been set up with a mentor from both BASW and College of Social work which I am trying to get set up the initial visits. Thanks
Hi all!
I qualified in Portugal in 2007 but for several reasons I haven’t been able to practice as a Social Worker on a paid basis.
My chances at the moment are very reduced not only to lack of experience but also due to a fitness to practice case. One of my last employers didn’t supported me in the placement and then they made allegations regarding lack of competence to the HCPC. Although there are no restrictions the fitness to practice is a black cloud that keeps following me.
I have 3 years experience in social services but since returning to the UK in August 2012 i’ve had very few interviews.
My advice for yourself Eric is working as a Contact Worker or Family Support Worker which besides Community Care Officer seem to be the closest thing to working as a Social Worker.
Hi all,
I can really empathize with you all because I am in exactly the same situation. I qualified in 2008 with a Masters Degree in Social Work. I had a job for one year but family commitments caused me to take some time out and when I tried to get back in the doors were all shutting in my face. I have been getting interviews but can never succeed in getting past the Gate keepers. I hate social work interviews because they are never a true reflection of the sort of social worker you can be, or will be – the door is shut in your face by Social Work managers who are no better qualified than you are – Why would you train as a social worker for two or three years and receive the qualification (like those who are there to interview you) receive a good degree, only for gatekeepers to spend 30 minutes with you during an interview and think you are not good enough? good enough for what? If they can do the job why do they think just by talking to you for 30 minutes or 40 at most – that you cannot do the job. Then when you have spent two to three years being turned down over and over again either on the basis of your ‘Application form’ or on the basis of an ‘Interview’ – the managers (Social Work) then turn round and say ‘there is a huge gap on your CV’ which makes you in their eyes unemployable. Its like a Doctor having completed his training and qualified as a medical Doctor would he/she be turned down by every hospital he applies to for work? Why is it different with the social work profession? So much about anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice. Why should a trained social worker be discriminated against just because of a gap in their work history for which they had no control over? Sometimes I look at my qualification I trained so hard to get – with so many sleepless nights trying to meet deadlines and cannot help but wonder “What was the point?” Was it really worth having? Nobody seems to value it – it all seems such a waste of time.
Hi I qualified in 2011 and got a job straight away. I have worked on children’s duty and now in a looked after team. My LA take on lots of NQSW but also need experienced workers to keep things balanced. I would say if you can drive get a car as my Role is essential car user and is not just borough wide but national, we travel from Scotland to London to Southampton to see children. If you look at the current climate, the north west has an abundance of qualified social workers so getting a job is highly competitive, and it should be, just like any other job, you employ the best candidate and remember interviews are scored so LA have to offer the job to the highest scoring candidate first. If you look at the southern counties you will see many more jobs advertised, they are struggling to keep staff.
Good luck to all
Its so sad to hear about people strggling to find jobs having spent so much time , effort and money!
I was fortunate enough to get a job having completed my social work MA in sept 2013 as a criminal justice liaison & diversion practitioner. Its not like forntline social work directly but requires a social work or nursing qualification. I love my job and how varied it is. Im involved in numerous conferences, training, assessments etc.. experience i dont think i would have necessary got in a NQSW post!
Perhaps for people looking for work, try searching for different terms such as consultant / practitioner?
good luck all =)
Haven’t yet qualified – Hopefully get my degree in July. Applied for my first job in LA children’s team (Job was advertised as experienced S/W role, but reading more of the role spec it did say they would consider NQSW) just over two weeks ago, was shortlisted, interviewed and offered the job within the space of two weeks – obviously subject to actually getting my degree. Can’t really say its been difficult to find a job, however I do live and work in the south and do drive – the person spec did say there was a need to drive and there is a portion of money paid as essential user car allowance. Found the job advertised on jobsgopublic.co.uk
I am so sad to hear about all of the experiences of everyone seeking employment. I myself qualified 2013, I am a non car driver. I have managed to secure one interview which was unsuccessful also informing me that I cannot apply again to the same authority for six months. I really feel that the universities do not prepare those wishing to work within adult social care for the lack of jobs available. I would like to enquire if anyone is aware of the process which takes place if one does not secure a post as nqsw within 2yrs of qualifying. Is it true that the BA Hons status will be lost. During my final year whilst attending a university recall day to discuss employability, we were visited by numerous employment social care employment agencies to register for work on completion of our degree. However I have since been informed and realised that these agencies will only employ social workers who have 2yrs experience. Daunting I live in the north of England.
Newly qualified social workers are being denied jobs for various reasons such as experience which does not make sense. The LA prefer to take on experienced social workers and pay high rates, but it must be noted though experienced social workers are a preferred choice for employers , these experience social workers do not stay on a particular job for a long time and this affects services to be provided to service users. Service users always complain about having different social workers every time because the experienced social workers who are the preferred of the choice of LA keep changing jobs.The labour turnover for experience social workers is very high compared to newly qualified social workers who are ever ready to demonstrate high level of commitment when employed and supported .How did these experienced social workers gain their experience ? The experienced social workers have practised for several years and we continue to see a lot of blunders committed by experienced social workers in adult and children services. As a student on placement I noticed that most of the experienced social workers with all their years of experience did not know what they were doing. They get jobs whenever they leave a job because of their experience. Newly qualified social workers must be given opportunities irrespective of whether that had a statutory placement or not.
I qualified as a social worker in 2010 after many years working in local authority. after achieving a 2:1 and receiving excellent references I too have not been able to secure a social work position. I have become increasingly disillusioned with the practice and like many other NQSW’s have said how can we get these jobs if no one will give us the post qualifying experience we need. I have been to 15 interviews and given the same response.. Not enough experience! I have been doing voluntary work for MIND and the local council, but this does not give you the ‘experience’ needed for paid work. I almost wish that I did not do this degree because I am now over qualified for support roles and under experienced for social work roles..very frustrating! especially as I have passion, commitment and enthusiasm for the role and so want to do the job that I trained so hard for.i do not know what to do and feel let down by both the university I trained at and the local authority for not recognising the skills that NQSW’s bring to the practice.
good luck to all those in my position and I hope success comes to us all..eventually
my thoughts exactly, under experienced for the title we have gained, over qualified for the jobs we, in reality, are more likely to get! the degree is a joke, it’s pot luck with placements, but they severely affect your job potential, I feel like I need a social worker myself with all the stress this has caused!
Late 2013 I qualified as a Social Worker in greater London with a 2:1 classification.
Originally my plan was to stay in London. However, after looking at the advertisements for jobs it appeared I wasnt going to get anywhere. As I did not have a car or statutory experience.
I felt like my final placement did not support me in securing a NQSW post (it was in a mental health charity). I decided to throw my net wider and applied for jobs in other parts of the country, as boroughs in the north tended not to require statutory experience.
The first job I applied for in adults I was invited for an interview and secured a temporary 6 month post. I was thrilled and moved back up north. I recognise that it was highly likely I would still be job seeking if I chose to remain in the capital, as there is ridiculous competition for post in LA’s.
I agree in saying that NQSW’s have an invalue skill set but this is not acknowledged by Local Authorities. Something needs to be done about this situation- either universities reduce their places on social work programmes, or LA’s provide more quality placements for students.
My heart goes out to those who have commited themselves to social work for 3years and are not able to progress in their careers. I think i got extremely lucky but i did need to move half way across the country for it.
Knowing how to spell and punctuate will help you, as will access to a car.
I haven’t found any issues with gaining employment – I submitted one application form, was offered an interview and have then been offered employment. I guess I must just be incredibly fortunate.
I am currently on my final MA social work placement; I applied for a couple of jobs not expecting much but got given an interview with a local authority and got offered the job! I thought I would have struggled to gain employment but must have been very lucky!
it’s terrible to hear so many of us are struggling to get the job we have trained and studied so hard for, I too qualified last year, I spent 6 months applying for jobs while working voluntary at an old placement with older adults, I even interviewed for asda as I have a family to consider.
I managed to get a residential support work role but feel I am completely deskilling here as I have not done any social work as such in nearly a year, I was better off skill wise, at my voluntary job. with this in mind, I am now scared to death to even apply for an SW role, I got given basic placements, no stat at all and barley any social work involvement……
to top it all off, this was a risk I took (going back to education for five years) to achieve my dream and support my family, I am now on a lower wage and more unhappy in my job then I was in my pre uni call centre job….thank you university!!
I am currently considering going to collage next year to enrol for to become a social worker, but this is a big but i HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW BEFORE so is this going to effect me apllying and having been part of the care system ,because my mam died so therefore put into care, can honestly say it was a bad experience but I am not unrealistic and realize there is no magic wand out there but I feel my personal experience can acuatully help me any suggestions I am more of a mature person now have always wanted to do it nut haven,t had the confidence
I am currently studying MA Social Work and to those who are struggling so much for jobs I would be curious to know what actual work experience you have that’s relevant to having your degrees?
Also, I’d say it makes sense having a car for that type of role, I personally wouldn’t employ social workers who expected to get round their case load using public transport. For your own sanity, having a car is necessary, I also feel you could do your job better the more flexible you are with travel.
I have recently qualified with a 2:1, I have experience in mental health, speech and language therapy, and challenging behaviour within education. I was also a designated child protection officer in a school. I have been a manager in the NHS and I am a qualified higher level teaching assistant. I even have an accreditation from the British Dyslexia Association. I would say that it is probably all relevant to Social Work, otherwise I would not have got on the course in the first place. I also own and drive a car. It is incredibly difficult to get on the ladder for the first Social Work role, particularly if the placements you had were not in a statutory setting or within child protection. The struggle is very real. Most employers that advertise want you to have at least a years experience before they will consider shortlisting you. Problem is, how can you get experience if no-one is willing to give you that opportunity? Application forms do not give the applicant a real chance to showcase themselves, and I think the whole recruitment process for newly qualified S/W’s needs an overhaul. Recruitment agencies are advising that Social Workers who can’t get their first jobs, should be working as Social Work Assistants. It is a huge problem that no-one really seems to be able to solve. I am fortunate that I have experience that is valued outside of Social Work, however it is a shame that so many enthusiastic newly qualified Social Workers such as myself are not able to work in the field they trained so hard for. Good luck job hunters.
I completed my social work degree in 2011, no statutory placements. I had previous experience working with children and adults with a disability. To date I have not been able to gain social work employment, as I have been informed ‘I have no experience’, no one willing to give you a chance. I have contacted different authorities asking to shadow/internship, I said I would pay for my own DSB; I was told they can’t support this. I was so looking forward to starting work, was not prepared for this. The government should be looking at the issues and make some changes, this has been going on for a few years now and no one in authority will commit themselves to change things. By all the response on this page shows there is a problem. This situation is so wrong, I know how hard we had to work for this degree/masters. All I can say is good luck!