Step Up to Social Work

START A NEW CAREER IN CHILD AND FAMILY SOCIAL WORK 

The Step Up To Social Work programme in the Yorkshire and Humberside region opens for recruitment on 17^th February 2025 for aspiring social workers to apply for a place on the intensive but highly rewarding post graduate diploma in social work degree programme.  We have 56 trainee places to offer across the region.

Step Up To Social Work is 14-month, full-time training programme for talented graduates and career changers to become the next generation of child and family social workers supporting vulnerable children, young people and families. It is designed for people who want to become a children and families social worker and who already have a degree but do not have a degree in social work. Successful applicants train through a combination of academic study and hands on social work experience in a local authority.  Our University provider is Manchester Metropolitan University and the course is delivered on line with 12 face to face sessions in the region.

Applicants eligible for the programme, which includes fully funded financial support via a bursary and payment of University fees, will be individuals with at least 6 months direct experience of working with vulnerable children, young people, families or vulnerable adults and who can demonstrate emotional resilience and potential for success.

Step Up To Social Work aims to attract applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and aims to have a workforce that represents the society that we serve.   

Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families, said: 

“It is excellent to see the quality of the hundreds of graduates who qualify as social workers through the Step Up programme, and encouraged to see them start out on a long-term career in social work. Our profession is highly challenging, but highly rewarding and Step Up is developing a highly skilled workforce ready to make a genuine positive impact on people’s lives.”

The Step Up programme is backed by the Department for Education to support 700 individuals nationally to enter the social work profession in local authorities across England in 2026. This funding will support individuals with University fees paid and a tax-free bursary of £21,995 over the duration of the programme to support them whilst in training. You can be a qualified social worker within 15 months of starting this degree with a starting salary of approximately £37,035 per annum (Sheffield salaries).

• Apply to Step Up to Social Work on: Home | Step Up to Social Work (pocketrecruiter.com)

 

• Applications will open from 17 February to 25 March 2025 followed by an assessment center process for candidates whose applications have been successful at the shortlisting stage. Students can expect to start the programme in January 2026, completing their training in March 2027.  

 Listen to our podcast on:

https://www.childrenssocialworkmatters.org/step-up-to-social-work

or through Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7kjW1dOuxztlmG6icJm8yF?si=cxWKLQ8ORXmfTAgNIvd72g

Eligibility Criteria:

• a minimum 2:2 BA/BSc honours degree qualification (level 6) or an MA (level 7) in any subject.  Those who already hold a social work degree are not eligible to apply.  Original qualification certificates will be required.
• Final year students will be eligible to apply with a minimum 2:2 predicted grade with a letter from their current University provider where they are graduating.
• 6 months’ full-time (or equivalent) direct experience, either in a paid or voluntary capacity, of working with vulnerable children, young people and/or families, carers or vulnerable adults.
• A GCSE in English or English language at grade 4 (C) or above (or an approved equivalent). Original qualification certificates will be required.  (Note Maths is no longer required).
• You must be residing in England at the time of application and during the course of the programme in order to apply. 

The programme is for those who already hold a degree but without a degree in social work and who want to become a children and families social worker. Successful applicants will train through a combination of academic study and hands on social work experience in a local authority, trained by Manchester Metropolitan University.

On successful completion of the programme, trainees will qualify with a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work enabling them to apply to register with Social Work England and to practice as a qualified social worker, making a difference by nurturing relationships with families during difficult times and by protecting children. 

Further information can be provided by emailing:

StepuptoSocialWorkYandH@sheffield.gov.uk

or by attending our knowledge briefing drop in session on 26^th February between 11am and 3pm at Sheffield Town Hall, Pinstone Street, Sheffield town centre.

• On line briefings:  There will be some virtual briefings which will be available for you to click on when you make your application on Home | Step Up to Social Work (pocketrecruiter.com).  Our University provider and a current Step up student will be on line to answer any questions you may have.