Aspiring social workers are invited to sign up to Knowsley Council’s Step Up to Social Work intensive and highly rewarding training programme.
Applications opened on 17 February for Step Up to Social Work is a 14-month – a full-time training programme for talented graduates and career changers hoping 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 social worker 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.
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.
Applicants eligible for the programme, which includes financial support alongside training, will be individuals with experience of working with vulnerable children, young people, families or 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 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.”
More about Step Up to Social Work
The Step Up programme is backed by the Department for Education to support 700 individuals to enter the social work profession in local authorities across England in 2026. This funding will support individuals with training costs and a bursary of £21,995 over the duration of the programme to support them whilst in training.
This will be the ninth cohort of Step Up since 2010, the programme has successfully supported over 2,900 social workers to enter the profession across England.
- The Step Up programme runs every two years.
- Applications are open up to 25 March 2025 (subject to regional demand), followed by regional assessment centres for candidates successful at the initial application stage. Students can expect to start the programme in January 2026, completing their training in March 2027.
Am I eligible to apply?
Candidates are eligible to apply if they have:
- a minimum 2:2 degree qualification (level 6).
- 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)
More information about applying to Step Up to Social Work can be found here: Home | Step Up to Social Work (pocketrecruiter.com)