The Step Up To Social Work programme opens for recruitment today (17 February 2025). The programme is for aspiring social workers to apply for a place on the intensive but highly rewarding training programme. 

Step Up To Social Work is a 14-month, full-time training programme for talented graduates and career changers. The training will help people become the next generation of child and family social workers, providing support for vulnerable children, young people and families.

The programme is designed for people who want to become a social worker but have a degree in a subject other than social work. Successful applicants will train through a combination of academic study and hands on social work experience in a local authority.

The programme includes financial support alongside training. Eligible applicants will have experience of working with vulnerable children, young people, families or adults, who can demonstrate emotional resilience and potential for success.

Step Up To Social Work aims to attract applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds. The programme will provide a workforce that represents the society we serve.  

Councillor Hayley Tranter, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Inequalities, and Communities said: “This is a great opportunity to join our team at Torbay Council and make a real difference to the people who live in the bay.

“The Step Up programme is one of many routes to join the Social Work team at Torbay. I'd encourage aspiring social workers who don't have a social work degree to speak to us about this opportunity and the support we offer."

Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families, said: 

“It is excellent to see the quality of the hundreds of graduates who qualify as social workers through the Step Up programme, and encouraged to see them start out on a long-term career in social work. Our profession is highly challenging, but highly rewarding, and Step Up is developing a highly skilled workforce ready to make a genuine positive impact on people’s lives.”

The Step Up programme is backed by the Department for Education. The programme will support 700 individuals to enter the social work profession in local authorities in 2026. This funding will support individuals with training costs and a bursary of £21,995 over the duration of the programme.

This will be the ninth cohort of Step Up since 2010. To date, the programme has successfully supported over 2,900 social workers to enter the profession across England.