During the many conversations I have with colleagues in the care and support sector, the challenge of recruiting and retaining a quality social care workforce to serve growing, aging and diversifying populations is a frequent topic. It’s a challenge the social work profession is actively and - I believe - successfully addressing.
Retention is not just about keeping the numbers up but also retaining – and reclaiming – the knowledge and experience gained after many years helping others through difficult times. Come Back to Social Work was the first high profile drive to encourage experienced social workers back into the field and now the Local Government Association (LGA) has launched Return to Social Work with a similar remit.
If you’re a qualified social worker who left the profession within the last five years but find yourself keen to return, I hope the offer of refresher training married to your skills and life experience sounds too good a prospect to turn down.
Read on to find out more from our colleagues at the LGA…
Let us help you get back into social work.
You know what it takes to be a great social worker. After all, you used to be one. You also know that a social worker can improve the lives of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
Getting back into the profession after a period away from work can be tough but with the right support, you can regain the confidence, experience and knowledge you need to get back to making a real difference to people who need it most. And with our backing, you can get started today.
The Department of Health, The Department for Education and Local Government Association are offering a free training programme to prepare 120 former social workers to return to their careers in London, the West Midlands and the East of England.
Comprising 12 weeks of high quality training with hands-on work placements, this unique opportunity will provide you with comprehensive coaching and mentoring, including dedicated interview preparation once you’re registered and are ready to re-enter social work.
The Return to Social Work programme will equip you with the skills to ensure you’re at the forefront of social work knowledge, then give you the expertise to excel in an interview and secure a role within a council that you really want.
We know that social work is a challenge, but that those who return are benefitting from practical changes that better support them, such as opportunities for personal development training, more manageable caseloads and flexible working.
Returning couldn’t be simpler. You’ll need to be a qualified social worker with a minimum of two years’ experience, you won’t have been out of the field for more than five years and you’ll have the right to work in the UK.
You will undertake a period of updating your knowledge (in order to renew your registration if it has expired) our development workshops and coaching, plus additional specialist training, all completely free.
All you’ll need to pay is £315 registration to HCPC once you have completed the programme, or an initial £225 followed by a direct debit of £90.
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