Strategic partnerships
This standard sets out the importance of strong partnerships between employers and social work education and training providers.
There are different ways to get into social work. Many qualification programmes are generic but some focus specifically on child and family or adult social care. Local authorities should build and maintain relationships with training institutions to attract social workers into employment.
Building strong relationships and strategic partnerships with education institutions and nationally funded social work programmes is essential. These partnerships are important for maintaining a pipeline of new social workers for your organisation and local community. Set up clear communication channels internally and across partnerships to address issues and keep your organisation updated in a changing landscape.
Principal workers, practice educators, and workforce development leads play important roles in maintaining these partnerships. Recruiting, developing, and supporting practice educators needs specific, strategic attention from employers.
Social work education has several standards and practice frameworks. To make the process easier, leaders should work with other employers, regulators, and education providers to improve skills.
To achieve high-quality social work education organisations need to:
- build relationships with education institutions and national routes into social work
- set up clear communication channels to address issues and stay updated
- focus on recruiting, developing, and supporting practice educators
- collaborate to streamline social work education standards and practices
- lead an organisation that aligns with Practice Educator Professional Standards
Ensure your organisation provides practice-informed education and quality placements, offering support to develop new social workers and keep them in your org as their careers progress. You should:
- understand Social Work England’s requirements for practice-based learning set out in the education and training standards and guidance on practice placements
- support local recruitment for social work training and education
- promote apprenticeships for current employees
- engage with national and regional bodies to align education and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) with policy and regulation
Developing future social workers
This section sets out the different ways to get into social work.
Universities
There are 88 universities across the United Kingdom that offer various undergraduate and postgraduate social work degrees, leading to different professional roles. University research also generates new knowledge that helps develop the profession.
Fast track programmes
These programmes are available for those with an undergraduate degree in another subject who want to become child and family social workers:
- Step Up: a 14-month Department for Education-funded programme leading to a postgraduate diploma, delivered nationwide
- Approach Social Work: a three-year training programme contracted by the Department for Education since 2014
- Think Ahead: a two-year graduate programme for mental health social work
Social work degree apprenticeships
These are partnerships between educators and employers, allowing existing and new employees to study for a social work degree while working.
Social workers with qualifications from abroad
All social workers qualified outside the United Kingdom (UK) must apply to join the Social Work England (SWE) register to practice in the UK. Social workers from abroad have various qualification routes and have some extra requirements compared to UK-qualified workers.
Some routes to becoming a qualified social worker offer funding. You can find more information on the British Association of Social Work (BASW) website.
Directly comparing the retention and staff turnover of social workers who qualify through different routes is difficult. Important points to consider from a 2021 analysis of Step Up and Frontline programmes show the importance of:
- job satisfaction and employer support for retention
- seamlessly shifting from study to work
- hiring locally to improve retention
It’s important to manage and understand the reasons for leaving, including:
- stress
- mental health
- emotional burden
- high caseloads
Graduates will often switch jobs early although often stay in the health, social care or education fields. Understanding these reasons can help improve retention strategies.
You can read the full details of Employer standard 8 on the Local Government Association website.
Next page: Expectations of leaders
The resources have been developed by
Research in Practice
in collaboration with
DfE.
Published: 30 October 2024
Last updated: 30 October 2024
Published: 30 October 2024
Last updated: 30 October 2024