Social work apprenticeships on the rise as traditional routes decline

Traditional social work degree courses are closing and apprenticeships are challenging more recognised routes, new figures from Social Work England reveal.

The regulator published the findings in its inspection report of 257 social work courses – assessed every six years to ensure they comply with educational and training standards.

Preparing for practice: social work education in England shows a drop in course providers from 83 to 75 (9.6 per cent or nearly one in ten) and a further 18 courses may cease operating in the near future. 

Most of the eight providers no longer running courses were higher education colleges. The report states: "We understand that they were struggling to recruit enough students to their social work programmes to make them financially viable or were facing other organisational financial challenges."

Two of the courses were closed due to the regulator withdrawing approval.

The data shows a slight drop in overall enrolments of 3.1 per cent to 5,899 between 2023 and 2024. It also shows a growth in popularity of apprenticeships and fast-track courses and a dip in undergraduate and postgraduate enrolments last year:

• Enrolments onto undergraduate degree apprenticeships rose 7.7 per cent
• Enrolments onto fast-track courses such as Approach Social Work, Think Ahead and Step Up increased by 33.7 per cent
• Enrolments onto traditional undergraduate courses fell by 8.9 per cent
• Enrolments onto traditional post graduate courses fell by 8.7 per cent

The regulator noted an increase of 58 courses (19.5 per cent) since the last report in 2023 but more than half of these are expected to close within the next few years.

The report states: “We believe that 26 of these courses are likely to close in the future as they are old versions of courses running in parallel to new courses. As a result, we may observe a decrease in course numbers over the next few years as cohorts graduate and these duplicate courses are removed from our approved list. 

“We are aware of 18 social work courses that may close in the future for other reasons. This includes two courses which have suspended recruitment for the coming academic year and two courses which haven’t recruited for two years.”

Separate Department for Education figures show that in 2023-24, 1,390 people started apprenticeship courses, up 31 per cent on 2022-23 and almost double the 740 who started courses in 2021-22.

The number of graduating apprentices trebled, from 200 in 2021-22 to 650 in 2023-24.

Recognising the financial pressures sweeping social work education, the SWE report concludes: “We acknowledge that there are challenges facing the higher education sector and social work employers, which may intersect and impact on social work education and training. 

“Financial and staffing pressures can impact the availability of practice-based learning opportunities, for example, and at the same time, social work courses are operating in a tight fiscal environment within the broader higher education sector.”

Reaction

BASW interim chief executive Samantha Baron said: "The decline in students on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes is worrying. Fast-track programmes have substantial training allowances while the bursary for other social work students has declined and seen no real terms increase since its inception.

"Social work is a public service and should be appropriately funded through the education system. This aids recruitment and retention in a profession which is continually struggling with poor morale, poor working conditions and increasing needs amongst the people we serve."

Dr Sarah Pollock, senior lecturer in social work at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "It is important to view the decline in admission to traditional route programmes as part of the wider context of reductions in higher education student numbers overall in England. 

“What this report shows is that it vitally important for government to consider the barriers to accessing traditional programmes – including the failure to increase the social work student bursary amount for the last eleven years."

Dr Arlene Weekes, visiting lecturer at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and University of East London, said: "Traditional undergraduate and postgraduate routes remain fundamental. Having taught on both pathways, I value the accessibility that apprenticeships offer, but I believe traditional courses are indispensable.

"Their structure affords greater time for in-depth theoretical and practice-based learning, providing additional opportunity to deepen reflective and competent practice."

Glynis Marsh, a senior mental health practitioner with CAMHS, said: “We seem to be taking backward steps and going back to the old social services certificate. 

“What I like about the degree is the weight it offers to the profession and the in-depth knowledge, development of research, analysis, and best practice for all areas. 

“Learning about culture, economic and social systems is imperative, and we cannot lose this focus to a narrow definition of statutory social work.”

Sarah Hart, a project lead social worker working with carers, said: " I feel extremely worried when I hear things like 'fast-track'.

"I just don’t think we should cut corners when it comes to preparing professionals to step into people’s lives, in the ways that social workers often must."