About this role
Trainee Social Worker
West Midlands Employers - Do Not Process My Personal Information
Location: Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton Salary: Earn up to £39,000 from Year 2 – more details in the advert Closing date: 3 Dec 2026 Sector: Local Councils, Charities / Voluntary, Health & Social Care / Work Job Type: Social care, Social work; Children - Qualified, Social Care – Children Contract Type: Full time permanent Working Pattern: See advert details Hours: Full-Time
Job Details
Approach Social Work Real support. Real skills. A career that matters.
Approach Social Work is a fully funded training programme that helps people from all professional backgrounds become children's social workers. You'll gain the training, hands-on experience and support to build the skills needed to help children and families thrive.
You don't need any prior social work knowledge or experience to join us. We’re looking for people who are motivated to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children at risk of harm and ready to commit to three years of learning, working and growing.
Why Approach Social Work? Fully funded master's degree in children's social work; you won't pay a penny in tuition fees. Work directly with children and families while you train, putting your learning into practice straight away. £18,000–£20,000 tax-free bursary in year one to help with living and travel costs while you train. Guaranteed employment as a newly qualified social worker in a local authority when you successfully complete year one. Earn £30,000–£39,000 in year two, with salaries up to £44,000 in year three.* Join the Frontline Fellowship, a national community offering ongoing support, networking and professional development.
The role of a children’s social worker You’ll work directly with children and families to make sure children are safe, supported and able to thrive. No two days are the same. Your work might involve visiting a child at home or school, working with teachers or health professionals, or supporting a parent through difficult circumstances. You’ll draw on evidence, weigh up risks, influence decisions and advocate for children, all while showing empathy, resilience and self-awareness.
There’s never been a more exciting time to join the profession. The government is leading nationwide reforms in children’s social work, which aim to strengthen support for families, increase collaboration between services and improve outcomes for children. As a newly qualified social worker, you’ll not only be supporting children and families, you’ll also help shape the future of social work practice.
How the programme works Approach Social Work is an intensive three-year programme that combines academic study with hands-on practice. From the start, you’ll be helping children and families to make a lasting, positive difference in their lives.
Year one: Begin study for your postgraduate diploma in social work Learn within a local authority social work team, supported by experienced social workers, a tutor and a practice educator Work directly with children and families while you train, putting your learning into practice straight away Receive a tax-free bursary of £18,000 or £20,000 (depending on location) to help with living and travel costs
Years two and three: Move into a guaranteed paid employment as a newly qualified children's social worker Continue to receive training and support Complete your master's degree while you work Earn £30,000–£39,000 in year two, with salaries up to £44,000 in year three*
After the programme: Continue your development through the Frontline Fellowship.
*Salary information is based on self-reported earnings from participants in 2024 and 2025.
Who we’re looking for Whether you have recently graduated or are looking for a change after years in your profession, we welcome applicants from any career background. No social work experience is needed.
We're looking for people with empathy, resilience, self-awareness and strong judgement, who are motivated to make a difference.
Many candidates find it useful to have experience from a people-focused role, including education, healthcare, care, youth work, customer service, retail, hospitality, the charity sector and emergency services. We also see many applications from youth workers, support workers, family support workers, teachers, learning support assistants, teaching assistants, counsellors, care workers, key workers, charity workers and social work assistants. However, we have welcomed participants onto the programme from as varied backgrounds as Irish dancing, the military and magic circle law firms.
We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, ages and ethnicities, especially groups who are underrepresented in children's social work, such as men.
Where you’ll work We partner with a large number of high-quality local authority partners that host participants on Approach Social Work (formerly known as the Frontline programme). Through working in these areas, participants are able to support some of the most disadvantaged children in England.
Joining us on Approach in 2027, you could be working in one of the following areas: Birmingham Coventry Wolverhampton
Eligibility requirements 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 2030) Be resident in England by the time the programme commences Not be a qualified social worker
Places are available in selected locations and applications will close as locations reach capacity. If you're eligible, apply early to avoid missing out.
Funded by UK Government. Delivered by Frontline.
Get qualified. Get hired. Make a difference.
Formerly known as the Frontline programme. Frontline is registered charity no. 1163194
Company At Frontline – England’s largest social work charity – everything we do aims to make life better for children who need a social worker, to help keep them safe from harm and to give them every possible chance to fulfil their potential. Each year, our nation’s social workers support hundreds of thousands of children who do not have a safe and stable home. They make a real difference to their lives and to those of their families. Our mission is to create social change for children and families, by developing excellent social work practice, leadership and innovation. Approach Social Work (formerly known as the Frontline programme) is a three-year, fully-funded master’s programme, building a new, diverse generation of social workers. By blending learning and practice, what you discover in theory is eased into real-life settings supervised by a social worker. Gaining your postgraduate diploma within 12 months, will be the first step in your life-changing career. Meaning you can earn while you learn, then open the door to a job that makes a difference. We also offer insight events and paid internships, to help you build the knowledge and skills to thrive in a social change career.
Company info Website https://thefrontline.org.uk/become-a-social-worker/approach-social-work/
Location
41 Coram Campus 41 Brunswick Square London WC1N 1AZ United Kingdom