Today’s Education in the Media blog looks at the new funding for training social workers.
Frontline
Today, Tuesday 8 January, the charity Frontline announced plans for new places on its training programme in 2020 and 2021, supported by £45m of funding from the Department. This was covered by BBC News.
Frontline’s new contract means they will train 450 new social workers in both 2020 and in 2021, targeting high-achieving graduates who may not have otherwise considered a career in social work. This could see 900 more skilled social workers join the workforce by 2022.
A survey commissioned by Frontline has shown that 44% of adults aged 18-34 who responded are considering a change of career this year, with many having an ambition to take-on a more meaningful career.
Damian Hinds, Secretary of State for Education, said:
Social workers are heroes, often unsung, of our society – working on the frontline to offer care and support to some of the most vulnerable children and families in the country.
Children’s social care is only as good as the people who deliver it, which is why we want to recruit, retain and develop the best social workers, so they can continue to offer the much needed lifeline to those who need it most.
That’s why the Government is supporting Frontline with £45 million to continue their work in attracting and training bright graduates and career changers, who aspire for a rewarding career as a social worker.
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