Anyone considering social work jobs has some cause for celebration.  As of September this year, graduates are getting paid to do on-the-job training as children’s social workers.  The government program, ‘Step up to social work’ allows graduates to work while completing a masters degree in social work.  This scheme is perfect for those who are interested in social services jobs but are unable to meet the costs involved in training, or do not have enough money to take a year out of working to gain the necessary qualifications.  Its introduction really demonstrates how highly the government prioritises this sector, which is great news for anyone involved in social worker jobs.

The scheme is run in conjunction with local authorities, who will recruit 200 graduates each year in partnership with the Children’s Workforce Development Council.  The benefits of the scheme are threefold.  It provides employer-based training leading to a masters degree in social work, payment to support your learning, and a bespoke training course, which will take your previous experience and qualifications into account.  This year marks the pilot of the scheme, which will be tested out in the North West, Yorkshire and Humberside, the West Midlands, the East, the East Midlands and London.

The scheme is aimed at highly skilled professionals who have the experience needed to work in front line services with families and children.  Recruitment for the courses began in February 2010, when over 2,000 applications were submitted.  The tough assessment process culminated in each applicant attending a day long regional assessment centre.  Their merits were judged by local authorities, higher education institutions and service users.  Those applicants who were successful started on the scheme in September 2010.

The requirements of the skill are a university degree at a minimum level of 2.1, and experience of working with families and children.  In addition to the bespoke training they will receive £15,000 a year while they are training.  It is hoped that the scheme will increase the quality of social workers entering the profession, and enable local employers to target initial training for students to address local needs.

This scheme should ease the route into social work jobs for a number of bright graduates every year.  It is unfortunate to think that young people who could have been very successful in social services jobs were put off in the past by the cost of taking the masters degree without which it can be tricky to secure employment, and this scheme seems set to address this issue.  Social worker jobs are now available to all graduates with the skills and skill to succeed.

Please visit http://www.sanctuarypersonnel.com/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.sanctuarypersonnel.com/

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