A scheme to get top talent into social work is set to be expanded across the country, including in Salford, after the Government pledged £100m.
The University of Salford is part of the Step Up to Social Work scheme – an intensive 14-month fast track programme aimed at training and retaining high quality front line social workers.
Due to the success of the scheme nationally, the Government has now promised further funds to roll it out more widely.
£100m of funding has been set aside to attract more high-calibre graduates into social work by expanding Step Up and a similar programme called Frontline.
Graham Archer from the Department for Education will be welcoming the new students at a special lunch at The University of Salford on the day to mark the new funding.
Mary Shannon, Acting Leader of the Step up to Social Work Programme at The University of Salford said: “We are delighted that leading representatives from the Department for Education and from our partner Local Authorities across Yorkshire and Humberside and Greater Manchester will be attending the launch of ‘Step Up to Social Work’s’ fourth cohort.
“The programme has been an important and successful part of our Social Work training programmes here at the University and we very much look forward to welcoming this new group of participants.”
The idea is that by helping students to gain more experience of social work, the programme will increase the number of practice-ready social workers, which in turn reduces the reliance on costly agency staff.
There will be 30 students for Greater Manchester and 52 students for Yorkshire and Humber on the next course.
All students must register with The University of Salford on their first day with future teaching being delivered by Salford lecturers in Salford for Greater Manchester participants, and in Leeds which is the a central point for delivery in Yorkshire and Humber.
Step Up allows people to do this by paying course fees and a bursary to enable students to continue to support families and afford living costs.
The programme has attracted people from diverse communities and age ranges and those from occupations such as head teachers, probation officers, and family support workers with years of life experience.
