On the lines of new in-service training programmes for graduates wishing to become teachers, there is now a similar on-the-job route open to would-be Social Workers.
Step Up to Social Work is a 14-month tailored programme for high-achieving graduates or career changers with experience of working with children and young people to train as social workers. The great news for those that fit this description is that they will have their tuition fees paid for and receive a bursary of over £19,000.
Students are work-based throughout their training and delivery arrangements vary according to agreements between the universities and regional partnerships running the Step Up to Social Work programme. They may include formal lectures and e-learning, as well as internal local authority training provision and one-to-one support.
For more information
Contact: susw@penna.com Step Up To Social Work Programme, Penna Plc (Tel. 0845 366 5557)
Meanwhile for qualified Social Workers, we are hearing the Cumbria Children's Services have started recruiting again following a long period of austerity and that Randstad Newcastle are providing them with contract staff.
Showing posts with label social work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social work. Show all posts
Friday, 9 August 2013
Monday, 29 October 2012
What Do Graduates Do?
Although graduate employment levels for 2010-11 were slightly down on the previous year, there were considerable variations between different subjects of study, according to "What Do Graduates Do?" (WDGD) 2012, based on the annual survey of Destinations of Higher Education Leavers that takes place each year.
One career area that clearly bucked the downward trend was Computer Science and IT which showed an 8.5% rise in graduate employment and e-skills UK have forecast that growth in IT employment will grow at twice the UK average until 2020. Of course, not all entrants into the industry will have studied IT as a main subject at University.
Less good news came unexpectedly from the public sector with a big fall in entrants and the trend extended to include occupational therapists, physiotherapists, radiographers, teachers and probation officers. These areas each offered over 100 posts less than 2010-11 but the biggest drop was in the number of social work entrants, which fell by 420. This is certainly not great news for the University of Cumbria, which offers courses in all the professions listed except probation.
The report once again showed the importance of self-employment to graduates from performance arts, media production and art and design. 64.6% or artists and 85.3% of musicians were recorded as being self employed or freelancers six months after graduation.
The Business Studies area is one that exemplifies the "mixed message" theme identified in the WDGD report. Although it shows up with a higher level of unemployment than average (10.1%) and a sharp drop in the numbers going on to further study, each of the key disciplines of Accountancy, Business Management and Marketing showed high levels of graduates going straight into relevant employment.
They were also some of the subjects that produced less graduates working as Retail, Catering, Waiting and Bar staff, a denomination which covers a large number graduates yet to find a suitable career opportunity by the date of the survey - although longitudinal studies show that many succeed in doing so over a longer period of time.
One career area that clearly bucked the downward trend was Computer Science and IT which showed an 8.5% rise in graduate employment and e-skills UK have forecast that growth in IT employment will grow at twice the UK average until 2020. Of course, not all entrants into the industry will have studied IT as a main subject at University.
Less good news came unexpectedly from the public sector with a big fall in entrants and the trend extended to include occupational therapists, physiotherapists, radiographers, teachers and probation officers. These areas each offered over 100 posts less than 2010-11 but the biggest drop was in the number of social work entrants, which fell by 420. This is certainly not great news for the University of Cumbria, which offers courses in all the professions listed except probation.
The report once again showed the importance of self-employment to graduates from performance arts, media production and art and design. 64.6% or artists and 85.3% of musicians were recorded as being self employed or freelancers six months after graduation.
The Business Studies area is one that exemplifies the "mixed message" theme identified in the WDGD report. Although it shows up with a higher level of unemployment than average (10.1%) and a sharp drop in the numbers going on to further study, each of the key disciplines of Accountancy, Business Management and Marketing showed high levels of graduates going straight into relevant employment.
They were also some of the subjects that produced less graduates working as Retail, Catering, Waiting and Bar staff, a denomination which covers a large number graduates yet to find a suitable career opportunity by the date of the survey - although longitudinal studies show that many succeed in doing so over a longer period of time.
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Swings and Roundabouts of Graduate Labour Market
The latest AGCAS* Survey of University Careers Services shows that the overall number of graduate vacancies is holding up well in spite of continuing economic difficulties.
Careers Services reported continuing shortages of well-qualified candidates for IT and engineering positions and the last quarter showed a noticeable increase in the number of advertising, marketing, sales and purchasing vacancies. Services also mentioned an increase in opportunities for hospitality, retail, leisure and sports managers, graphic designers and many roles in small businesses where flexibility and multiple skills are needed.
Although the continuing decline in public sector vacancies is affecting areas like podiatry, dietetics, education, social work and youth work, and the number of legal traineeships is down, increased activity in other areas has compensated for these losses nationally.
Comment: The University of Cumbria is however heavily dependent on local public sector vacancies for many of its graduates and restricted opportunities in education and social work mean that applicants will often need to widen their initial career aspirations and geographical target area to compete successfully. On the positive side, increased graduate recruitment activity by small businesses can only be good news in a region that has so few large employers.
*Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services
Careers Services reported continuing shortages of well-qualified candidates for IT and engineering positions and the last quarter showed a noticeable increase in the number of advertising, marketing, sales and purchasing vacancies. Services also mentioned an increase in opportunities for hospitality, retail, leisure and sports managers, graphic designers and many roles in small businesses where flexibility and multiple skills are needed.
Although the continuing decline in public sector vacancies is affecting areas like podiatry, dietetics, education, social work and youth work, and the number of legal traineeships is down, increased activity in other areas has compensated for these losses nationally.
Comment: The University of Cumbria is however heavily dependent on local public sector vacancies for many of its graduates and restricted opportunities in education and social work mean that applicants will often need to widen their initial career aspirations and geographical target area to compete successfully. On the positive side, increased graduate recruitment activity by small businesses can only be good news in a region that has so few large employers.
*Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Changes for International Graduates Wanting to Work in the UK
From April 2012, the legal arrangements allowing international students to work in the UK after they graduate will change when the current scheme is replaced by a new provision under the new Tier 2 Sponsored Skilled Workers programme. Full details may however not be released until as late as March 2012.
The information on the new Tier 2 scheme is that applicants must have a job offer from an employer before their student visa expires (currently the length of the course, plus 4 months), and must be paid a minimum salary that is likely to be in the region of £20,000 (or the salary specified in the Standard Occupational Code published by the UKBA). The individual also has to meet points requirements. The employer will not have to apply the Resident Labour Market Test, unlike the main scheme under Tier 2 arrangements for those looking for long term employment in the UK.
Possible sources of help for those affected by the changes are:• Tier 2 Register of Sponsors
• UKBA Employer Helpline: tel 0300 123 4699 or via email
• UKCISA advice line open from Monday to Friday, 1pm - 4pm: 020 7107 9922
Source: AGCAS
Friday, 8 April 2011
Job Prospects for Social Work Graduates 2011
Having heard suggestions that job prospects for newly-qualified social workers from the University of Cumbria are likely to be tougher this year, I have produced a brief information sheet giving a bit of detail on the likely situation in our own catchment area.
If you are qualifying in Social Work shortly and want to work in the area, please feel to request one from careers@cumbria.ac.uk marking your request f.a.o. Joanne Watson or Colin Taylor.
If you are qualifying in Social Work shortly and want to work in the area, please feel to request one from careers@cumbria.ac.uk marking your request f.a.o. Joanne Watson or Colin Taylor.
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