Participants on the Frontline programme, the largest social work training programme in the country, started working in local authorities across England. Of the 393 participants, the Midlands has welcomed 87 trainees, over 20% of the 2019 intake, to support the most vulnerable children and families in the region. 23 social workers have started in child protection teams in Birmingham.
They have started in child protection teams across 11 local authority partners in the Midlands, including; Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton, after attending a five-week Summer Institute where they were taught by leading academics and experts by experience. This is the third year that the charity has partnered with local authorities in the region to offer placements to participants in one of the country's toughest but most rewarding professions.
To date, over 1,000 social workers have been trained through the Frontline programme across 48% of local authorities in England. The charity continues to increase its impact on the lives of the country’s most vulnerable, this week opening applications for 452 participants for the 2020 Cohort.
Josh MacAlister, Frontline’s Chief Executive, said: Children and families often on the fringes of society rely on social workers to stand alongside them during their most difficult moments. We need more outstanding individuals joining the profession to support vulnerable children and families up and down the country. Social work has the power to change lives and we’re looking forward to developing more social workers across the Midlands to help give every child a safe and stable home”.
Children and Families Minister, Kemi Badenoch, said: “Social workers do one of the most challenging jobs in society, supporting the most vulnerable children in the country. There are more social workers than ever, but we want to keep recruiting and retaining the best, from graduates to career changers, which is why we have invested more than £1.2 billion since 2010 in supporting a range of routes into the profession, including fast-track schemes like Frontline.
“Frontline plays a key role in boosting the profile of rewarding careers in social work all over England, joining a talented workforce that provides support for children and families across the Midlands who need it the most”.
Frontline works with local authorities across London and the South East, East of England, North West, North East, Midlands and South West. Over 340 participants began the Frontline programme in summer 2018, with over 400 participants joining the 2019 Cohort.
