Four Alumni Kickstart Social Work Careers Through New Degree Apprenticeship

Four Health and Social Care alumni have progressed onto the new Social Worker degree apprenticeship, becoming part of Barnsley Council’s first cohort of learners in their Social Work Academy.

We have been working with the Council to offer students within the Health and Social Care fields a unique opportunity to learn directly from the Council’s Social Work experts through monthly sessions.

The tailored sessions aimed to bring real-world knowledge and experience into the classroom, enriching students’ learning by connecting theory to practice and allowing them to gain the knowledge needed to kickstart their journey.

Abbie Bates attended the continual professional development sessions while studying the Level 3 Access to Higher Education (HE) in Health and Social Care Professions course.

She said: “Attending the social work course sessions helped me decide to apply for the apprenticeship as they gave me insight into all the different teams and structures of social work. The people who delivered the sessions were very knowledgeable and answered every question I had about the industry.

“I found the workshops a great way of learning about the role of a social worker as they were interactive, and resources were shared; without these sessions, I wouldn’t have thought about applying for an apprenticeship!”

Joining Abbie in the apprenticeship are Olivia Hall and Amy Ingram, who also completed the Level 3 Access to Higher Education Diploma in Health and Social Care Professions course, along with former Barnsley College Sixth Form student Layla Wiliby.

Emma Harvey, our Childcare and Health Programme Manager, worked with the Council to get the sessions delivered.

She added: “The Council’s sessions have been a fantastic opportunity for our students to further develop the skills needed for a successful career in children’s social work; we can’t wait to see these four thrive within the industry thanks to the apprenticeship.

“The partnership that we have formed with Barnsley Council is a testament to our shared commitment to preparing the next generation of social workers, ensuring they are well equipped to make a positive impact on the lives of children and families in our community.

“We hope to continue these social work sessions for the next cohort of Health and Social Care students this year, which will allow more of our students to progress onto the apprenticeship.”

We offer a range of full and part-time vocational courses and apprenticeships in Health, Science and Social Care Professions. For more information, visit www.barnsley.ac.uk/health  Alternatively, contact the Information Team by emailing info@barnsley.ac.uk or calling 01226 216 123.