Career switch to Social work

[lottie63]

Some time ago, I think I heard about a proposal to pay people to retrain from being in non social-work jobs to work in the field of Child Protection.

Has this materialised into practice does anyone know?

[MammaTJ]

People doing a SW degree get a bursary as well as student loans, is this what you mean?

[lottie63]

No, there was a proposal to fast-track and pay people as they did the qualification. It was a career-switch thing, encouraging older people to bring their skills from other careers into the field of child protection.

[Selks]

Take a look at community care website which is a social work website. If you post in their forum someone on there will advise you.

[fluffygal]

I am doing a social work degree and never heard of it. To be honest the government recommendation for working in child protection is no longer then 2 years so not sure how that would work once you burnout (and you will burnout- hence the high turnover of staff)- would you then be able to go into other fields?

[fluffygal]

Just to let you know, with the sw degree I get a 4.5k bursary a year and a 4k grant, so am supported quite well this way. I know someone who used their bursary to pay their tuition fees but mine goes towards the mortgage.

[fluffygal]

And I do not believe its right to fast track people through the degree- you need to learn and refine your practice and I don't think anyone on my course would have been ready last year to go into practice (am now in 3rd year). I would be very concerned about fast tracking, especially to go into a field such as child protection.

[lottie63]

That's a fair point. I found some information. It's this (from a BBC site):

'A number of initiatives have already been announced to boost standards and morale in social work.

This included a graduate level entry scheme, called Step Up to Social Work, which offers them £15,000 to retrain as children's social workers, gaining a master's in social work, alongside intensive hands-on experience'

[fluffygal]

Ah ok, I am doing a BA, don't know much about the masters. I do know in my area they offer a 'golden handshake' to newly qualified social workers as an incentive to work in childrens services, so you get 2k when you start and a healthy starting salary and rising, tied in for 2 years and get a lump sum after also.

In BA you have 100 day placements so would presume the 'intensive hands on experience' would be the same sort of thing.

[scarlettsmummy2]

Another point to remember is that the masters is probably quite hard to get on to so I imagine those doing it will have either a related degree or relevant experience so the one years training may be sufficient.

[OodKingWenceslas]

at fluffys LA. here you can be on NQSW pay for years unless you apply and get a different job. Starting is about £24k. No bonuses no increments.

[fluffygal]

Oh really? I am in Kent, on the golden handshake scheme you start at 26k and it rises to 31k I believe? Not sure over what time period that is. That's to work in children's services though, can be anywhere in that area. I went to a job fair in London recently that had a few councils across the country there offering you 6k to relocate and work there.

[OodKingWenceslas]

Think it's 24k, 27k, 30k then asst manager, manager. Each grade needs you to apply and interview against others.