Child and family social workers do vital work by helping to protect vulnerable children and transform their lives for the better.
Now is a good time to consider a career in social work. For the next two years we will continue to invest more than £50m each year in recruiting, training and developing social workers for children and families.
There are several ways to become a social worker. As part of Social Work Week, we explore how you can get into a truly fulfilling career that makes a positive impact on the lives of children and young people.
What does a social worker do?
There are many different types of social workers, including those specifically trained to support children and families in serious difficulty.
Child and family social workers help create safe and stable environments for children. They assess risks, protect children, support parents and build relationships with all family members.
Child and family social workers play a key role in improving the lives of families in need. It’s a fantastic career for people who really want to make a difference in people’s lives.
What qualifications do you need to become a social worker?
There are many ways to become a child and family social worker. A path leads through a university course and a degree in social work. However, you do not need to study to become a social worker.
An alternative route is via a Teach, where you can start working and earning money while qualifying as a social worker. You will need four or five GCSEs at Grades 9 through 4 (A* through C) and A Levels or equivalent to complete Level 6 social worker training. It will take around three years to complete.
If you have a degree other than social work, you can apply to us Fast Track Programs. These are intensive in-company training programs in which you gain qualifications alongside your job. front line And Get into social work both offer training programs in child and family social work.
Frontline is an independent training program – learn more about it here. Meanwhile, Step Up to Social Work is funded by the Department of Education.
What is Step Up into Social Work?
Step Up to Social Work is our intensive, full-time, 14-month program. If you want to be a child and family social worker but don’t have a degree in social work, you can go through this path.
To apply for the program you will need:
- at least 2:2 bachelor’s degree (level 6).
- Six months full-time (or equivalent) direct experience, either in a paid or voluntary capacity, working with vulnerable children, young people and/or families, carers or vulnerable adults.
- GCSEs in English or English Language and Mathematics grade 4 (C) or above (or recognized equivalent).
Step Up to Social Work is fully funded, meaning there are no tuition fees to pay and trainees receive a £19,833 stipend for training. The crash course means that after 14 months students can qualify and register with Social Work England.
The course is ideal for anyone who prefers to learn on-the-job. With 170 days of internship, students acquire real social work experience, knowledge and skills in combination with an academic study.
Applications are open until Monday April 3rd to start the program in January 2024. Apply now via this link.
How Much Do Social Workers Earn?
Average salaries start at £27,000 per year for a newly qualified social worker and can rise to over £40,000. Learn more about the details of the role on the National Careers Service website.
To support social workers early in their careers, we are also introducing a new framework to give them the best start on the job.
Social workers can also access fully funded training programs throughout their careers. Discover them in this new tool for social workers who want to develop their career.
