Social Worker Degree Apprentice

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 in partnership 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.

As part of the selection process, you will be interviewed by our Principle Social Workers, OU representatives and a service user. You will be required undertake a written assessment which will be sent to you via an online link to complete within a set time.
Prior to the interview date (during late May), you will need to complete the OU application and the candidate preparation pack which will be emailed to you by The Open University Admissions Team.
For further details about this apprenticeship, please click the following link from Social Worker Degree Apprenticeship | Open University and download our internal Apprenticeship Q&A Factsheet.

• 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.


• 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.


• Valid right to work in England for the entire duration of the apprenticeship.


• 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.


• 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.


• You will be able to demonstrate IT competence through self-declaration
  
  How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different


We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given the right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.

We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

• We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of


• We're working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life


• We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.


We're making a difference, be part of it!
We will require your line manager's approval to participate in this apprenticeship training which will need to be sent via email to our Apprenticeship Coordinator.