Graduates to train as children’s social workers in Birmingham with Frontline

Graduates to train as children’s social workers in Birmingham with Frontline

Frontline and Birmingham are today announcing a partnership that will see the expansion of the Frontline programme into the West Midlands.

As part of this growth the charity will be working with Birmingham – the biggest council in England - alongside a number of other new local authority partners across the region.

Set up in 2013, Frontline recruits and develops children’s social workers. An independent evaluation by Cardiff University recently found evidence of ‘impressive’ social work practice amongst the charity’s first recruits. With almost 100,000 children ‘in need’ in the West Midlands, this expansion will see Frontline place around 60 graduates and career changers across the region. They will join professionals already working to transform the lives of vulnerable children and families, with Frontline just one of a range of initiatives to support children’s social work in the West Midlands.

Later this summer, applications will open for 300 places for graduates and career changers on Frontline’s leadership development programme. In addition to the West Midlands, those who successfully secure a place will work across the South East, the North West and the North East of England. Frontline’s growth is part of the organisation’s recently announced national expansion, and represents an excellent opportunity for Britain’s top talent to continue to make a life changing difference to those children most in need.

Josh MacAlister, Frontline’s Chief Executive: ‘Lots of work is underway to improve the support for vulnerable children in the West Midlands and Frontline is looking forward to contributing to this wider effort. Social work has the power to change lives and, alongside existing professionals in the region, we’re looking forward to developing more outstanding social workers to help address deep social disadvantage. For graduates and career changers looking for a job with purpose and a leadership challenge, we will open for applications later in the year.’

Alastair Gibbons, Executive Director of Children’s Services in Birmingham: ‘Birmingham Children’s Services is committed to improving our support for children through an unrelenting focus on social work practice, on direct work with children and families, and a learning culture. Frontline will provide high quality development for aspiring social workers and leaders who want to make a difference to those in need in the city and region.’
Notes to editors:
Frontline’s history
 Frontline is an independent charity with cross party support and a mission to transform the lives of vulnerable children by recruiting and developing outstanding individuals to become leaders in social work and broader society.
 The first cohort of 104 participants began the Frontline programme in July 2014, and having worked in local authorities in Greater Manchester, Greater London, Buckinghamshire and Essex for a year, became qualified social workers in September 2015.
 The second cohort of 121 participants began the Frontline programme in July 2015.
 Frontline will be recruiting 300 participants for the 2017 cohort later this summer.
 Having placed social work at number 40 in the Times Top 100 list of graduate careers, Frontline is demonstrating that it is becoming the new norm that the best people apply their talents to public service.
 Frontline is currently working with local authorities in Greater London, Greater Manchester, the North East and the South East.
 In January 2016, Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan MP, announced that the government will fund the expansion of the Frontline programme across the whole country.
 In March 2016, an independent evaluation of Frontline by Cardiff University found that the practice skills of Frontline participants were rated higher than students on mainstream programmes on every one of the ten assessment criteria.
Frontline’s programme
The Frontline course is based around three principles:
 Candidates must have the skills to bring about change in complex and high risk situations
 The course will develop practice leadership so that participants can set out a vision for families and convince agencies to act with purpose
 The need to make sure all participants are practice ready upon qualification
Frontline’s programme lasts two years and is structured as:
 An intensive five-week residential summer institute;
 The first 12 months as intensive on-th

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