Frontline Programme 2024 paid social work training

This is the work that makes a difference

Looking for a career that helps people? We’re Frontline, a charity working to make life better for children with social workers in England. Join our Frontline programme and become a children’s social worker. You’ll help keep children safe from harm and create positive change for them and their families.

On the Frontline programme you’ll get three years of paid training and support. You’ll learn life-changing skills while working in a local council social work team, putting theory into practice. You’ll qualify as a social worker and complete a fully-funded master’s degree. With the support of experienced social workers and your peers, you’ll learn how to work with families to protect vulnerable children.

• Earn as you learn with a salary of up to £34,000 from year two.

• Qualify as a social worker and complete a fully funded master's degree.

• Get high-quality training and supervision from experienced social workers, academics and coaches in a rich, supportive environment.

• Become part of the Frontline Fellowship and receive ongoing support and training throughout your career.

Your journey on the Frontline programme

Your journey starts in summer, with fiveweeks of intensive study that takes place mostly online, with five in-person days. Our leading academics and sector experts will introduce you to the theory of social work and get you ready for your work placement.

Once you have a solid foundation, you’ll start your placement in a local council social work team. You’ll work in a close-knit hub of trainees, managed by an experienced social worker and supported by your practice tutor. Together, you will start supporting children and families, while gradually increasing your level of responsibility. Regular skill days and academic work will deepen your knowledge and after your first year you will qualify as a social worker.

Year two is when you start to manage your own caseload, while continuing to study and develop your skills, knowledge and professional confidence. But you’ll still receive high levels of support from your Frontline practice tutor, local council employer and fellow trainees. Your third and final year consolidates everything you have learned, as you carry out a research project and complete the final academic credits of your social work master’s degree. We also offer leadership coaching in year three to support you further..

This is the work that changes society

We won’t lie; it’s a challenging profession. You’ll help families living in the toughest circumstances and struggling with a range of pressures. But it’s also one of the most rewarding careers. The programme is designed to give you the support you’ll need to thrive in the role, and the work you do will change lives for the better.

And the programme is just the start of your journey. When you qualify through our Frontline programme, you won’t just build a foundation of excellent social work practice, leadership and innovation. You’ll also become part of the Frontline Fellowship, a growing community of social workers, trained by Frontline. Together, our social workers have the power to change society. And that’s why we’ll continue to provide support, training and funding opportunities to help you grow throughout your career.

Who we’re looking for

We are looking for your potential to become an outstanding children’s social worker and leader, able to empower families to achieve positive change.You don’t need any particular experience to apply to the Frontline programme.

We want people who can bring different perspectives and experiences to the programme and are committed to advocating for the diverse communities that social workers serve.We are proud of our commitment to increasing the diversity of our Frontline programme cohorts and supporting applicants from underrepresented backgrounds.

You will also meet the following criteria:

• Have at least a 2.2 (predicted or obtained) in an undergraduate honours degree (or international equivalent)

• Have obtained GCSE English Language at Grade C/4 or above (or?approved equivalent?qualification)

• Possess the right to work and study in the UK (including access to public funds) for the duration of the programme (until September 2027)

• Be resident in England by the time the programme commences

• Not be a qualified social worker

This is the work that makes a difference. This is social work.