Published on Monday 17 February 2025
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council’s Step Up To Social Work programme is open to applications from today (17 February 2025) for aspiring social workers.
Step Up To Social Work is a 14-month, full-time training programme starting in January 2026. It is designed for degree-qualified people who want to become a social worker, but do not have a degree specifically in social work.
Successful applicants will gain hands-on experience working in a real-life social work role through placements at BCP Council, Dorset Council or Wiltshire Council, while undertaking their qualification with Bournemouth University.
Students will receive a bursary of £21,995 and all university fees will be covered for the duration of the programme whilst in training.
Councillor Richard Burton, BCP Council Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People, said: "If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding career working with vulnerable children, young people and families, the Step Up to Social Work programme could be for you.
"We are looking for talented graduates and career changers to become the next generation of child and family social workers to make a genuine positive impact on people’s lives.”
Cathi Hadley, Director of Children’s Services at BCP Council, said: “We are really pleased to be part of the Step Up To Social Work programme which is an excellent way for graduates to qualify in social work.
“Our Children's Services have recently been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, with inspectors commenting that our social workers are very positive about working for BCP Council. This is a good place to work, and we look forward to welcoming several new members to our team and supporting them to make a real difference to the lives of children and families."
Briefing sessions are being held until 1 March 2025, helping people to find out more about the programme before applying. Applications close on 25 March 2025.
The Step Up to Social Work programme is a national government funded initiative delivered in the local area by South West Partnership 1, which includes BCP Council, Wiltshire Council, Dorset Council and Bournemouth University.
The partnership, which has ran the training programme for 15 years and helped 56 social workers to successfully qualify, is opening the initial recruitment round for a total of 18 aspiring social workers to join the programme.
Further information on the Step Up to Social Work programme, what qualifications you need to apply and briefing sessions:
- Find out what qualifications you need to apply and book onto a briefing session here: Step Up to Social Work: SW Partnership 1 - Info Session Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite
- More information about applying to Step Up to Social Work including eligibility criteria can be found here:
Home | Step Up to Social Work (pocketrecruiter.com)
Step up to social work - GOV.UK
- For further information contact:
Step Up to Social Work sutsw@bcpouncil.gov.uk