News

19 FEB 10

A new 'earn and learn' scheme has launched to address the financial barriers faced by career changers in order to boost social work recruitment.

'Step Up to Social Work', created by the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC), and funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), will pay for candidates to study for a Masters degree while training to be a social worker.

This unique course is exclusively for people with 2:1 degrees or above and experience of working with children or young people. The training takes account of this experience and allows participants to qualify more quickly. Up to 200 places will be available from September this year.

Keith Brumfitt, Director of Strategy for CWDC, said:

"This new scheme is a really positive step in ensuring that we attract the absolute best people to pursue a career in social work. We want to remove potential barriers which may prevent skilled professionals from seeking to train as a social worker. Step Up to Social Work is a perfect opportunity for people with relevant qualifications and experience working with children who want to change their career while being supported financially."

Local Authorities in eight regions are participating in 'Step Up to Social Work', which is being delivered with support from Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Salford. It is work-based in order to provide the invaluable hands-on experience that only comes with on the job training.

"By teaming up with the Local Authorities, we can ensure that what the training candidates receive is relevant, allowing employers to play an active role in developing the next generation of social workers. 'Step Up to Social Work' is just one of the many ways that we are engaging and supporting the social work workforce of the future," Brumfitt adds.

Once they have completed their training, candidates on 'Step Up to Social Work' scheme will be eligible for support from CWDC's Newly Qualified Social Worker and Early Professional Development programmes. These provide social workers with dedicated training and support in their first years of employment.

Children's Minister Delyth Morgan said:

"The standard of social work has received a huge amount of attention in recent years. Following the Social Work Task Force's final report, the government is working with the CWDC to improve the status and standing of social workers across the country. This programme means that people with experience of working in any aspect of children's services could be funded to retrain as a social worker, bringing their invaluable expertise with them and broadening the understanding of the social work profession. For too long social work was undervalued, but I am pleased to see that our reforms are already beginning to make an impact."

Jayne Ludlam, Director of Children and Young People's Specialist Services for Sheffield City Council, said:

"We are really pleased to be among the first Local Authorities participating in the Step Up to Social Work scheme. It is a new and innovative way of educating our future workforce which will help strengthen the profession and ultimately improve outcomes for children and families." 

'Step Up to Social Work' is part of a £37 million programme of workforce reform, funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, being implemented by CWDC to help strengthen the way social workers are recruited, trained, supported and supervised. 

For more information about 'Step Up to Social Work' please visit www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/stepup 

Ends

For more information about CWDC please contact Press and PR Manager Leigh Dowd on 0113 3907658 or at leigh.dowd@cwdcouncil.org.uk. 

For further information about the campaign, please contact Band & Brown Communications on 0207 419 7000 or email socialwork@bbpr.com and ask for Rebecca Johnston, Andrew Farmer or Max Wilson.

Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'

Step Up to Social Work

CWDC has invested £4.5 million into the development and implementation of the Step Up to Social Work programme. The local authorities that are participating in the programme include:West London Alliance; Learning Together Partnership in Greater Merseyside; East Midlands Partnership; Greater Manchester Partnership; Yorkshire & Humberside; Central Bedfordshire/Luton Partnership; Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire; and Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Thurrock and Southend.