Step Up to Social Work - Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Job Summary
Contract Type:
Please See Advert Text
Working Pattern:
Please see advert text
Advert Start Date:
18/02/2025
Advert End Date:
25/03/2025 23:59
Salary:
Please see advert text
Job Category:
Social Work - Children Service
Employment Location:
North East
Number of posts:
Multiple
Further Information
Do you have what it takes to ‘Step Up’ to social work?
Social work is both a challenging and rewarding career through which you can make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children and families. You will need to build relationships with families facing difficult times, show a lot of patience and be a good listener. You will also need good observational skills, analytical thinking and sound judgement to make the right decisions and protect children. Social work regularly tests resilience, stamina, and resolve - all of which you will need to succeed. Social work can be life changing for those you support.
The Step Up to Social Work programme is a unique opportunity to receive support while you are training to start a new career in social work. On the 14-month training programme, you will receive hands-on experience of working in a real-life social work role through placements in a local authority whilst undertaking your qualification. Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you’ll be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work enabling you to apply to register and practice as a social worker.
The Department for Education covers the cost of your university tuition on the programme and provides a tax-free bursary of £21,995 paid over the duration of the programme to support you during your training.
Recruitment for the programme will open on 17th February 2025, with assessment centres scheduled for June/July 2025, and a January 2026 programme start date. The programme runs once every two years, dependent on government funding, so if you are interested, make sure you don’t miss out on your chance to apply.
Step Up to Social Work entry criteria
We are looking for dedicated individuals who have experience of working with vulnerable children, young people, families or vulnerable adults and who can demonstrate their maturity and emotional resilience. We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates and aim to have a workforce that represents the society that we serve.
To apply to the programme, you’ll need to have:
• a minimum 2:2 degree qualification (level 6).
Please note: For some Local Authority areas, final year students will be eligible to apply with a minimum 2:2 predicted grade. For all other Local Authority areas, you must have completed your degree programme to apply. The North East Regional Partnership (see below) will make conditional offers where necessary, subject to candidates meeting specific requirements.
• 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)
Please note: For some Local Authority areas, there will also be a requirement to have a GCSE in Mathematics (or an approved equivalent). The North East Regional Partnership will not require a GCSE in Mathematics (or equivalent) for the coming intake of learners.
Details of specific Local Authority eligibility criteria can be found here from 17th February 2025
You will need to show all of your original certificates to us as part of the application and assessment process. If you cannot find these, you can order replacements online. Offers of places on the programme are dependent on these being available.
The North East Regional Partnership
The North East Regional partnership includes the following Local Authority areas:
Darlington
Durham
Gateshead
Hartlepool
Middlesbrough
Newcastle
North Tyneside
Northumberland
Redcar & Cleveland
South Tyneside
Stockton
Sunderland/Together For Children
As a Partnership, we are proud to have successfully delivered Step Up to Social Work for a number of years. We are looking forward to recruiting another cohort of 50 learners across the 12 Local Authorities, to start in January 2026.
You can indicate a preference for working for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council on your application form.
There will be two informal Drop-In Sessions to answer any queries you have about the programme. To join the one of the Teams meetings, please use the following links:
Tuesday 24th Feb, 5pm
Thursday 6th March, 12.30pm
ALL applications must be submitted via the national Step Up to Social Work Portal. At this link you will also find a set of Frequently Asked Questions about the programme.
If you have further questions about the opportunity to undertake the programme with the North East Regional Partnership, please contact the North East Programme Coordinator directly: deborah.fowler@northtyneside.gov.uk
To apply, please visit:
https://susw.eu-careers.pocketrecruiter.com/details/67afe1fe6f8e1b2d09b159b1