How you'll make a difference
As a Social Worker Degree Apprentice, you will have the opportunity to complete a BSc Hons Degree in Social Work and progress your career by becoming a Social Worker, a role where you can make a difference working with adults, children, carers and families, supporting positive change in people's lives.
What you will be doing:
For the first time, we are offering an opportunity to start February with training provider, The Open University. The apprenticeship is taught by experienced social workers in a highly supportive environment, their knowledge and experience spans the range of social work specialities: adults, children, families and mental health.
The programme has six modules. The first two provide an introduction to the organisation of social care in the UK and develop apprentices’ awareness of the different components of good social work practice. The third module covers legal issues related to social care and social work, including the regulation of social care decision-making. The fourth module focuses on blocks of learning that run alongside working with others in terms of need, risk, responding to crisis and developmental needs. As a practitioner how do we develop collaborative working relationships in practice with professionals, communities, individuals of different ages and in different settings.
Apprentices then progress onto a practice-focused work-based learning module, which includes a defined period of assessed practice learning. The fifth module will be a choice from four core option modules. The final module will be another practice-focused work-based learning module.
In these work-based and blended learning modules, you will be required to reflect on your role and document acquisition of skills and competencies in their portfolio.
Throughout the apprenticeship, you will be expected to undertake rotational placements to have the opportunity to gain experience working in Children's services and Adults services.
Once apprentices have completed the final module, Critical Social Work Practice, there will be a brief period known as the “Gateway and End-point Assessment” where all apprenticeship requirements will be checked, including ensuring all apprentices have completed and recorded all required off the job learning and reviews. If apprentices have completed all of this, and have successfully passed all modules, they will not have anything additional to do during this time. Things we need you to know:
As part of the apprenticeship, you will gain a BSc (Hons) in Social Work. The degree apprenticeship is approved by Social Work England. Once you’ve successfully completed the apprenticeship you will be awarded Social Worker Degree Apprenticeship by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) and you will be eligible to apply for registration as a Social Worker with Social Work England.
Throughout your 3 – 3.5 years apprenticeship, we will allocate you a designated workplace mentor to give you guidance and support in completing your Level 6 Social Worker Degree Apprenticeship. The February cohort is known as the express route, where you will be expected to study module 1 and module 2 simultaneously only during the first year of the programme. You will start your rotational placements and qualify as a Social Worker the same time as the October cohort.
As part of the selection process, you will be interviewed by our Principle Social Workers, OU representatives and an individual with lived experience. You will be required to undertake a written online assessment which will be sent to you via a link to complete within a set time. Prior to the interview date, you will need to complete the OU application and the candidate preparation packwhich will be emailed to you by The Open University Admissions Team.
For further details about this apprenticeship, please click the following link from and download our internal Apprenticeship Q&A Factsheet.
What we need from you
1. You must hold a minimum qualification in GCSE/ Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Maths at grade C or 4 and above. We will ask shortlisted applicants for proof of certificates prior to interviews.
2. You must be employed at South Gloucestershire Council for a minimum of 30 hours per week. Also, you must have a permanent contract of employment and have successfully completed your probationary period.
3. Valid right to work in England for the entire duration of the apprenticeship.
4. You must be employed by South Gloucestershire Council in the following fields of work: Social Work Assistant, those from 0-25, Family and Support Services, Occupational Therapy Assistant or Personal Advisor and have been in post for at least one year by the application deadline date. Please contact your Principal Social Worker (PSW) if you are working in a role which involves direct contact with service users (usually at Hay 9) and your role is not listed.
5. You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area therefore, you must have a full valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or have alternative appropriate means of travel.
6. You will be able to demonstrate IT competence through self-declaration
Please note it will be a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for both Child and Adults is obtained for this apprenticeship by November .