A recruitment drive is underway at Nottingham City Council to attract more people to the challenging and rewarding profession of social work as World Social Worker Day is marked today (Tuesday 21 March.)
The council has many routes for people who want to work in social work. Experienced social workers are always welcome to apply for advertised jobs and the council also works with universities to recruit newly-qualified social workers. The City Council’s newly-qualified development programme is well respected in the sector.
In January, the council had the first cohort drawn from its own staff starting on the Social Work Apprenticeship Programme. It’s expected news about the 2024 programme will be shared in the coming months. For those outside the council, the Step Up to Social Work programme offers a 14-month pathway for non-social work graduates who want to join the profession and gain the required qualification. Applications for the 2024 programme close soon..
Social workers are dedicated professionals who deliver services to some of the most vulnerable in society and their dedication is recognised during Social Work Week and World Social Work Day on Tuesday 21 March. Social Work England, the regulatory body for social work in England, is providing a series of events during the week to provide development for those working in the profession and to provide time to reflect on where social work is headed in the future.
Councils have a statutory duty to provide safeguarding and social care to those who need it and social workers help families and individuals to improve their general safety, well-being and quality of life. It’s a broad profession and social workers provide support in many sectors, including local authorities, the NHS and private sector, like independent fostering agencies.
Cllr Linda Woodings, portfolio holder for Adult Social Care and Health said: “I want to say ‘Thank you’ and also how much I appreciate the work that our social workers do for the citizens of Nottingham. We seek to provide support to those who are vulnerable, so that they can live better lives.”
Cllr Cheryl Barnard, portfolio holder for Children, Young People and Schools said: “Our children’s social workers make such a difference to the young people of the city. It can be challenging at times but it is a credit to the professionalism of our staff what they can achieve for the city’s most vulnerable.”
For further information about social work at Nottingham City Council, go to www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/socialworkjobs
For further details of the Step Up to Social Work programme, go to Step up to social work – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)