The number of people starting social work apprenticeship courses in England is continuing to grow, show government figures.
In 2023-24, 1,390 people started apprenticeship courses, up 31% on the 1,060 who did so in 2022-23 and almost double the 740 who started courses in 2021-22, according to the Department for Education data.
At the same time, the number of apprentices achieving their qualification trebled, from 200 in 2021-22 to 650 in 2023-24; 570 apprentices qualified in 2022-23.
Overall, 5,580 people started social work courses in England - through the diverse range of routes - in 2021-22, with 3,860 successfully qualifying in the same year, according to Skills for Care. Figures are not available for subsequent years.
About social work apprenticeships
Social work apprenticeships are degree-level qualifications that enable social care staff to qualify as social workers while supported by their employers and earning a salary,Apprentices spending at least 20% of their time in off-the-job training, delivered by a university or other learning provider, with their training costs fully financed through the apprenticeship levy, a 0.5% levy on the pay bills of larger employers, including councils.
They spend the rest of the time carrying out their substantive role, though employers also arrange social work placements for them, in line with Social Work England’s requirements for students to do 200 days of practice learning across their course.
Though the social work apprenticeship is a “level 6 qualification” – which is equivalent to an undergraduate course – it can be delivered at postgraduate level.
Though most apprenticeships are three-year, undergraduate courses, a number of postgraduate courses have now started up, delivering the qualification more quickly.
Graduates can still undertake an undergraduate apprenticeship, so long as their first degree was in a different subject.
Both the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education have provided councils with additional funding to increase the number of social work apprentices they support.
