We are proud of our commitment to increasing the diversity of our Approach Social Work cohorts and supporting applicants from underrepresented backgrounds.
Diversity is essential
Frontline is committed to diversity and inclusion in all our work. We know we cannot achieve our mission without including a wide variety of voices, experiences and backgrounds.
Approach Social Work (formerly known as the Frontline programme), draws its strength from diversity and difference, for example through our practice hub model. We are looking for people who can bring different perspectives and experiences to the programme and are committed to advocating for the diverse communities that social workers serve.
Almost a third of the children who social workers support identify as being from a racialised ethnic minority group and over half identify as male. Despite this, only 22% of children’s social workers identify as from racialised ethnic minority groups and a mere 14% identify as male.
To achieve the greatest possible impact for disadvantaged children, we need to address this imbalance and bring more people into the profession from underrepresented groups.
Our goals
Our aim is to increase the percentage of Approach participants from underrepresented groups, with a focus on racialised ethnic minority groups, lower socio-economic groups and men. Over the past five years, we have increased the percentage of racialised ethnic minority participants on the cohort from 15% to 26%. We will continue to implement a clear diversity strategy and set targets for the percentage of offers made to people from underrepresented backgrounds.
How we are achieving them
To achieve our objectives, we have embraced diversity and inclusion in all of our recruitment efforts.
We work with focus groups of professionals to ensure that our application process adequately supports applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds, including racialised minority groups.
We have expanded our eligibility criteria for the 2024 cohort to widen participation among underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.
We offer contextual recruitment for applicants in underrepresented groups to allow equitable opportunities in the selection process.
We offer additional support to applicants from underrepresented groups during each stage of the application process, including 1:1 coaching and exclusive online webinars.
We employ a diverse team of assessors to ensure different voices and perspectives are considered when assessing an applicant.
How we support participants
Here are some examples of the specific support that we offer participants from underrepresented backgrounds.
People with disabilities
At Frontline, we believe that people with disabilities, including neurodivergence, have an important contribution to make, with unique experiences that benefit children and families.
Many previous Approach Social Work participants with disabilities and neurodivergent conditions have completed our training successfully and gone on to practise safely and effectively, with or without adjustments to support them. We ensure that our screening, assessment and decision-making processes complement these beliefs, while also considering whether you are likely to meet our suitability requirements and the professional standards set by Social Work England.
Disabled students can access government funding via the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). You can apply for this through Student Finance England in year one. DSA may cover any extra study-related costs you incurred because of an impairment, mental health condition or learning difficulty. It is not a loan or a benefit so you don’t have to repay it. The amount received depends on your needs, rather than income. Typical examples of what you can use DSA for include software, hardware, or human non-medical support or helpers.
Currently, you can only receive DSA during the first year of the programme due to Student Finance England’s eligibility criteria.
For further information on how you can apply for DSA and its eligibility requirements, please refer to the government’s DSA guidance.
Frontline is committed to anti-racism and promoting and valuing racial diversity and inclusion. We have a diverse participant community and recognise the benefits and value such diversity brings.
In addition to our formal policies, processes and support offer, we have introduced several additional elements to promote racial diversity and inclusivity and counter exclusion. This list is not exhaustive, and we are open to feedback about how we can further and better support participants from racialised minority backgrounds.
One-to-one coaching
Frontline offers confidential coaching sessions for participants from racialised minority backgrounds who may have experienced trauma associated with racism and other types of discrimination. These sessions are targeted at those at risk of dropping out or withdrawing from the programme.
Community spaces
We recognise the importance of participants finding a sense of belonging on the programme. Frontline facilitates community spaces where participants from racialised minority backgrounds can develop strong networks of support, foster belonging and find support in dealing with racism or discrimination in placements or on the programme.
Affinity groups
Participants can join optional, participant-led groups where people in similar situations can share their ideas, experiences and advice. Affinity groups provide a space to discuss elements of the programme or balancing it with home life. These groups run throughout the programme with no staff involvement.
Lower socio-economic backgrounds
In order to reflect the diverse communities which social workers serve, Frontline is committed to ensuring that candidates from lower socio-economic backgrounds are encouraged to apply to Approach Social Work and supported while practising social work.
Children who enter the care system are more likely to be from lower socio-economic backgrounds and graduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds are less likely to gain employment in a professional career such as social work, compared to their higher socio-economic peers.
To achieve our aims, Frontline provides coaching calls to candidates from lower socio-economic backgrounds, providing application information and assessment centre advice. Our team monitors our application process to ensure that candidates from lower socio-economic backgrounds are not disadvantaged and have adjusted our admissions policies to remove barriers which have disproportionately affected applicants from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
We do not administer exit fees for those who leave our programme early. Frontline also monitors the experience of candidates while on Approach Social Work based on socio-economic background.
On Approach Social Work, we want our cohorts to reflect the diverse communities that we serve and therefore we aim to increase the representation of marginalised groups within the social work profession. We strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment for everyone and have a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of discrimination or prejudice.
LGBTQ+ participants are able to join affinity groups, where people in similar situations can get together to share their ideas, experience, and advice on any elements of the programme or balancing it with your home life. Affinity groups are optional and participant-led with no staff involvement and run throughout the programme.
Frontline has also introduced inclusion passports which is a working document that records and details the support you need, and agreements made with your consultant social worker around how these supports will be achieved to enable you to meet the requirements of your role. This may be helpful for those who require adjustments to the working or learning environment to meet any gender needs.
Support for parents and carers
We recognise that balancing the demands Approach Social Work — academic work, placement, and parenting or caring responsibilities — can be challenging. To support parents and carers, we offer:
– Affinity group community space for peer support and shared experiences
– Information on financial support available through our Pay and Progression page
– Details of academic support provided throughout the programme
– Flexible working opportunities in years two and three, subject to local authority policies, where some authorities may allow greater flexibility in working from home
This support is designed to help parents and carers succeed in the programme while managing their additional responsibilities.
Flexible working
The programme requires you to work in-office while you are a student on placement, so that you have a rich learning environment surrounded by experienced social workers and so that the local authority can ensure you are practising in a safe manner. Opportunities for remote work during year one are extremely limited.
Local authorities have varied working from home policies, and in years two and three of the programme, some of our local authority partners allow flexibility in working from home, depending on their requirements and organisational policies.
Find out more
Events
We run regular events that give underrepresented groups an insight into the opportunities and challenges they may face in the social work sector.
