The Berkshire Regional Partnership has been successful in gaining funding for another cohort of Step Up to Social Work, for high achieving graduates who are thinking of a career change. There are 19 opportunities overall and as part of the programme you will be based at one of the local authority partners within the partnership for your placements : Bracknell Forest Council (Lead Partner), Reading now known as Brighter Futures for Children, Slough Children's Services Trust and West Berkshire Council.

Step Up to Social Work is a 14 month post graduate intensive fulltime qualifying programme. The course will start in January 2024 as part of the 8th cohort funded by the Department for Education. Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you’ll be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work enabling you to register and practice as a social worker.

Social work is both a challenging and rewarding career through which you can make a real difference for vulnerable children and families. You will need to build relationships with families facing difficult times, show a lot of patience and be a good listener. You will also need good observational skills, analytical thinking and sound judgement to make the right decisions and protect children. Social work regularly tests resilience, stamina, and resolve - all of which you will need to succeed. Social work can be life changing for those you support.

This is a unique opportunity to earn while you learn, as the Department for Education provides funding via a tax-free bursary payment of £19,833, over the duration of the programme, and payment of University fees for successful applicants. This will allow you to change or start a new career in social work and be able to continue to pay your bills and fund your living costs while you are studying. The programme runs once every two years, dependent on government funding, so if you are interested, make sure you don’t miss out on your chance to apply.

So what do I need to apply?

You will need to have experience of voluntary or paid work with children, young people and families and will need to demonstrate your maturity and emotional resilience.

A minimum 2:2 level 6-degree qualification in a different subject

Plus:

Grade C (grade 4) or above GCSE English Language and Maths

Live in England

Application is through the Department of Education website (and not to the local authorities within the Berkshire Regional Partnership). The application window is open from the 17th of February 2023 to the 24th March 2023.

Apply for step up to social work - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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If you would like to discuss this programme further, please contact Lin, Step Up Programme Officer at [email protected]