I really want to train to become a social worker, but where do I begin?

[sodoffbeforemycupofcoff]

I’m 30. I have two children but since school I wanted to help children.
I would LOVE to train to become a social worker. I currently work part time and so I feel it could be a great time for me to try to get into it now.
Where do I begin?

I’d be starting from scratch!
I got GCSE in health and social care in high school and wanted to go on to become a social worker. Unfortunately, I listened when someone close to me told me I’d never do it and dropped out.
14 years later I still have the desire.

I admire your tenacity.

A woman I worked with qualified in similar circumstances. She went back to education at 28 to do her maths GCSE alongside an Access Course, then she did a BA in one of the social sciences, then qualified as a social worker after completing her Social Work Masters aged 35/ 36.

You could actually do it quicker than that by doing the BA in Social Work.

She's in her 50s now and a very well respected manager earning a decent salary in one of the highest paying authorities.

I’ve been doing it 14 years and I love it, can’t imagine doing anything different.
Also never worked a bank holiday; there’s an out of hours team.
It’s a longer route but if you got a job as a social work assistant it would open up the possibility of a social work apprenticeship where your fees are paid and you are paid

Did you go beyond GCSEs? And did you get maths and English?
What employment experience have you had?