Step up to social work

[ihavedreams]

Morning. Applications open today, anyone else applying? Which partnership? Good luck!

[MintChocaMocha]

Hello. I submitted my application for the South Coast partnership earlier this week. Where have you applied? Good luck to you too!

[ihavedreams]

Hi there, I'm applying in London. Still haven't submitted...hopefully over the weekend. How did u find the application?

[PickledLilly]

Thinking about it but not sure what to do. My youngest starts school in September so theoretically I’d be able to do it but in practice I’m not sure how easy it will be to juggle two kids and learning and being on placement.

[MintChocaMocha]

I found it hard to limit the competency questions to the word count specified. I felt I couldn't go into much detail and refer to the PCF as much as I would have liked. I hope what I've submitted is enough to get me through to the assessment stage. Now the wait begins! Good luck with your application!

[ihavedreams]

I have found the word limits tricky too. I also have two children. I work full time at the moment and am studying currently too. I credibly think it would be tough but the reward at the end will (hopefully) outweigh the hard work!

[MintChocaMocha]

I have two children too. If I am successful my youngest would just be turning 2 when the programme starts. I'm now wondering how I would get financial help with childcare as UC don't help with costs if you're a student and it looks like this programme isn't accepted for the childcare grant. Felt a bit deflated about it today as I'm thinking it probably isn't going to be a possibility for me until my youngest is in school.

I hope you're able to get your word limit down, there was so many more examples I wanted to give. Hopefully what I've provided will be enough 🤞🏻

[winniesanderson]

I didn't know that about childcare costs @MintChocaMocha so thank you for that. I did start applying after seeing this post but have been wondering if it'll be full on with my two children too. The childcare might really be an issue, as we also receive some uc. My youngest will be 3 next month so still a good year + away from school. Will have to have a good think.

[Newpuppymummy]

Can I ask a question about this? Realise I’m a bit last minute but I can’t seem to change/edit what is referred to as the bridge questions in a summary on the form. The word count for a work experience bit is 100 and mine is 140 so I need to chop it a bit. Alternative is to leave it a bit over?

[ihavedreams]

Good luck everyone who applied! @Newpuppymummy for this branching question I just wrote a couple of sentences stating length of experience I have, in what capacity and which setting

[DarlingWithoutYou]

Hi, I've sent my application today! For the North London group. I left it til the last minute due to massive imposter syndrome. Wishing everyone luck!

I also struggled with the word count. I had to half my ramblings in the end!

[MintChocaMocha]

Good luck to everyone who applied. I've joined a forum on The Student Room and some partnerships (including mine) have extended their deadlines for applications until the 14th April. Other people are also suggesting we won't hear about invites to assessments until 2/3 weeks after the deadline date with assessment days due to be held end of June/start of July.

[ihavedreams]

Any ideas why they have extended? I can't imagine they haven't had enough applicants, from asking around it sounds as though the course is usually very over subscribed, but who knows...the last year has been out of sorts!

I'm really wondering about finances but then feel like you always find away! One step at the time, getting to the assessment centre is next!

[MintChocaMocha]

I'm not sure why it's been extended. I applied to the south coast partnership and there has been no advertising for the programme at all. Whereas the northern partnerships have been advertising through their social media and website and interestingly they have closed on the original date.

I'm still worrying about finances but like you I need to get through to the assessment centre first. The other forum suggests if you reach that stage you still have a 1 in 3 chance of being selected. It's going to be very competitive!

[DarlingWithoutYou]

I don't understand the extensions either. When I went on to choose my area yesterday (I submitted my application yesterday) over half of the districts were closed (even though it was the 7th). So I had to choose a different district to what I'd hoped. SO at least half closed early!

[Newpuppymummy]

Didn’t they close at noon on the 7th though? What time did you go on?

[ihavedreams]

Oh yes I remember now it said applications closed at noon on 7th.

The only thing I can think is that some partnerships have had more interest than others and so that's why they have possibly extended? Or perhaps they got more funding then expected so could take more?

Does feel like there hasn't been much of a drive to apply for the programme this year. Previous cohorts there has been a lot of advertising/communications in the LA I am at currently.

Good luck everyone! Let's keep this thread running to support each other and update!

[MintChocaMocha]

Yes, I'd like to keep this thread running for ongoing support. Hopefully we can all update each other as to when we get our assessment centre dates. Now we wait for the email invite 🤞🏻

[DarlingWithoutYou]

I meant to say I submitted mine on the 8th. About a third of districts were still open.

We will see what happens! Let’s definitely keep this thread going.

[ihavedreams]

@DarlingWithoutYou

I don't understand the extensions either. When I went on to choose my area yesterday (I submitted my application yesterday) over half of the districts were closed (even though it was the 7th). So I had to choose a different district to what I'd hoped. SO at least half closed early!

I wonder if they would consider you for the district you wanted initially at the next stage?

Did anyone get any notification that some were closing early (or extending the deadline?)

[ihavedreams]

@MintChocaMocha

Good luck to everyone who applied. I've joined a forum on The Student Room and some partnerships (including mine) have extended their deadlines for applications until the 14th April. Other people are also suggesting we won't hear about invites to assessments until 2/3 weeks after the deadline date with assessment days due to be held end of June/start of July.

I've not heard on student room. Is it a website or app?

[MintChocaMocha]

@ihavedreams I've got the app called a the Student Room and there's an ongoing thread titled 'Step up to social work cohort 7 2022'

It's really useful with some posters having applied before so can advise on the process and other posters who have/just about to complete the programme and can give an insight as to what to expect.

The forum seems to suggest we will be be notified at the end of April if we've made it to the assessment centre.

[ihavedreams]

Thanks @MintChocaMocha I will check it out.

End of April doesn't feel too far away, hopefully we will all hear by then

[ihavedreams]

Morning all. I was just sat here thinking I really hope to get some communication regarding my application this week. Anyone else itching to just hear anything?!?! I got an email after I submitted but that's it. I was also wondering if anyone had read any current papers/articles regarding social work practice that have been of particular interest? And if people have a particular area of SW that they aspire to be in? If I'm successful I would really like to get some experience in a service area that I'm not familiar with possibly YOS/forensics SW.

[Newpuppymummy]

I’m not sure it will be the end of April. I’ve been told mid May onwards by my local authority

[ihavedreams]

@Newpuppymummy there does seem to be a big difference with schedules for assessment centres/notifying applicants across partnerships. Which partnership have you applied to?