About the role
Are you looking for a career in Social Work?
We are looking for the next cohort of Step Up to Social Work Students to start the course in January 2024 who will be guaranteed a job at Cambridgeshire County Council on successful completion.
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.
Recruitment for the programme will open in in the middle of February 2023 here: Home | Step Up to Social Work (pocketrecruiter.com), with assessment centres scheduled for June/July 2023. 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!
To attend a virtual information session with Anglia Ruskin University on either 8th February 7-8pm or 16th March 6-7pm please email ARUStepUp@aru.ac.uk with the date of the session you would like to attend, your full name and the local authority you are intending to apply for.
If you would like to discuss anything further with your Cambridgeshire representative, please contact SW.PracticePlacements@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
What will you be doing?
Whist studying at Anglia Ruskin University you will be given the foundation knowledge you need to work with families. You’ll develop your communication skills and explore theory, the social and political context of social work, child development and different approaches to practice.
Skills-based modules use interactive methods and are led by tutors, practitioners, and service users. Preparation Skills for Practice will help you develop the skills needed for your first placement, which will be in adult practice. Advanced Skills for Practice focuses on statutory settings and communicating in challenging situations. It’ll be followed by a placement in a children and families setting.
Other modules will further your understanding of the journey taken by families through social care services. We’ll look at the legal context of practice, assessment, and intervention, managing risk and working with people with diverse needs. At the end of each block of teaching you’ll complete a practice placement in your link local authority. The first will be 70 days in adult practice and the second 100 days in a children and families setting.
You’ll be assess you through academic assignments, simulated practice, presentations, practice debriefs and the portfolios detailing your professional development.
About you
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.
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 for the Step Up to Social Work programme, you will need:
- a minimum 2.2 degree qualification (level 6) in any discipline except social work from a UK higher education institution or an approved overseas equivalent. Final year students are not eligible. You must have completed your degree programme to apply.
- GCSEs in English or English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above, or the new grade 4 or above (or an approved equivalent).
- a minimum of 6 months full-time (or equivalent) direct experience of working with vulnerable children, young people and/or families/carers or vulnerable adults, either in a paid or voluntary capacity.
- to show evidence of your qualifications (such as certificates). Please ensure that you have the relevant electronic versions to upload these to the application portal.
- to live in England and have the right to live and study in the UK (including access to public funds)
- to complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- to be able to travel around the county independently, including to those areas not covered by public transport
About us
Cambridgeshire is a great place to work and live with a diverse population, an urban centre in Cambridge, historic Isle of Ely, Huntingdon and St Ives as well as more rural landscapes.
We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Cambridgeshire and want our workforce to be reflective of this diversity, which we believe benefits our employees, the organisation and our communities.
Visit our jobs and careers section to find out more about our wide range of learning and development opportunities; apprenticeships; our wellbeing package; staff benefits; our commitment to equality, diversity and Inclusion.
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