Looking for a career that helps people? We’re Frontline, a charity working to make life better for children with social workers. 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 new skills while working in one of our partner local council social work teams, putting theory into practice straight away. 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.
We cover all the costs of your training, including your master’s degree. And you’ll earn while you train. You’ll receive a tax-exempt bursary in year one of £18,000; that’s equivalent to a salary of £21,000. From your second year you’ll be a full-time employee, with a salary of up to £34,000 depending on location.
Your journey starts in summer, with five weeks 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 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.
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.
But this is just the beginning. Once qualified, you’ll join the Frontline Fellowship, a growing community of social workers trained by Frontline. Together, we have the power to drive social change. And that’s why we’ll continue to provide support, training and funding opportunities to help you grow throughout your career.
This is the work that makes a difference. This is social work.
Please note: There are only limited places remaining for the 2024 cohort. We have already closed many locations and will continue to close locations as places are filled. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible, to avoid missing out.