Step Up to Social Work

What is Step Up to Social Work?

It’s a Department for Education (DfE) initiative. It aims to increase the number of high-quality social workers. It supports graduates and career changers to start a new career in social work with vulnerable children, young people, and families.

The programme is:

an intensive 14-month full-time programme
is for applicants who do not have a social work degree and want to become a social worker
offers you a £19,833 tax-free bursary during the programme
requires you to complete around 170 placement days of hands-on social work in a local authority while you carry out academic learning at a university
gives you a postgraduate diploma in social work. This enables you to register as a qualified social worker with Social Work England

What do you need to apply?

You can apply if you have:

an honours degree (1^st or 2.1) OR
a 2.2 honours degree with an additional post graduate qualification at level 6, such as a postgraduate diploma or masters degree AND
GCSE Maths and English at grades C or above (or equivalent) AND
experience of working with children and families

When can you apply?

Applications open on 15 February 2021 and close at midday 7 April 2021.

When does the programme start?

It starts in January 2022 and ends in March 2023.

It's delivered by the University of East London and is in partnership with Tower Hamlets and other local authorities.

Information sessions on Zoom

If you want more details about Step Up to Social Work, programme coordinators will host video sessions on Zoom.

They will go over the academic programme, selection process, funding arrangements and more.

You can book a place for these dates:

Session one: Tuesday 2 March 17.30 – 19.00

Session two: Wednesday 10 March 17.30 – 19.00

Session three: Saturday 20 March 10.30 – 12.00

Session: four: Monday 22 March 11.00 – 12.30