Apply to Step Forward

Our 12-month fully-funded leadership development programme for social workers in the early stages of their career.

Our team tell you about Step Forward

Time commitment

Step Forward is a 12-month programme and requires a commitment of nine days. This is typically distributed as two two-day residentials, one day for coaching sessions, three days for online workshops and one day for additional commitments. You are not required to submit any essays or assignments as part of the programme.

The next cohort will start in February 2025 and applications will open in autumn 2024.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for Step Forward, you must fit at least one of the following criteria.

Post-ASYE fellows

Fellows who are working in local authorities having completed year two of the Frontline programme and want to progress within local authority social work.

Fellows who are experiencing barriers to progression

Social work and non-social work fellows who are working in children and family services who are experiencing systemic barriers to progression or are from underrepresented groups.

New or less experienced managers

Fellows who are in supervisory roles in or outside local authorities, but they have not had the opportunity to engage in leadership development CPD to support them in the transition to a leadership role.

Fellows working as social workers in different settings

Fellows working outside of statutory social work, including in the voluntary sector or wider sectors that support children and families. They might face challenges in accessing development opportunities due to their organisation’s structure or experience difficulty staying connected with their practice or finding tailored learning and development opportunities. 

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Step Forward programme application

Thank you for your interest in applying for the Step Forward programme.

Programme Requirements

Please confirm that you are not currently enrolled on any of Frontline’s programmes, including Approach Social Work, the Consultant Social Worker programme or Innovation programme.

Data privacy statement

Please read Frontline's data privacy policy for more information on the purpose for collecting and processing your data, who we share your data with, and how we keep it secure. It also contains information on your rights under data protection law.

Please confirm you have read our data privacy policy.

First Name

Last Name

Preferred First Name

If this is the same as your first name, please provide this again.

Please select your pronouns

As you have selected 'Prefer to self-describe', please specify

Mobile Number

Please provide a UK mobile number.

Preferred Email

Preferred Email Type

In which year did you complete a Frontline programme eg: Frontline programme (now known as Approach Social work) or the CSW programme?

Current Role

Name of the organisation you work in

Which sector do you work in?

Sector Other

Please select the statement that best describes you, considering your working experiences within the sector you are currently in.

Which region do you live in?

What is your postcode?

We use region and postcode data in order create regional network groups during the programme. We will not use this data for any other purpose. You can just tell us the first part of your postcode if you prefer (eg: WC1N).

Line Manager support

Is your line manager aware of you joining this programme? Please note that line manager awareness is not mandatory to apply or attend the programme. We ask as it is useful for the team to know to support your communication with your line manger where required

Line Manager contact details

Please note - we will use your line manager's details to:

invite them to a line manager briefing, aimed at helping them support you better while on the programme
contact them if we are experiencing challenges reaching you as the participant before or during the programme.

We will not use your line manager's details to:

share any reasons for your involvement on the programme, including your application form, without your consent.

Line Manager First Name

Line Manager Last Name

Line Manager Email Address

Attendance

Please confirm your commitment to attend the following elements of the programme:

Two in-person residentials* on the following dates: 26-27 February 2025 (overnight stay in Coventry on 26 February)  and 22-23 September 2025 (overnight stay in Coventry on 23 September)
Four online 1:2:1 leadership development coaching sessions lasting 90 minutes each
Six online workshops lasting 120 minutes each (these are planned for April, May, June, October, November 2025 and January 2026).

*It is compulsory to attend the residential dates as well as 80% of other programme components to complete the programme

I confirm my commitment to all elements of the programme

If you have any concerns about attending any of the elements stated above, please use this box to provide further details.

Leadership Development Coach Allocation

During the Step Forward programme you will have access to one-to-one coaching sessions with a leadership development coach. Your answer will help us allocate you approximately.

Is there anything you would like us to consider before matching you to a leadership development coach? For example, would you prefer to work with someone from a racialised minority background? Or someone with experience of working with neurodiverse leaders? (We will try our best to accommodate your preferences when matching, but cannot guarantee this will be possible due to coaches capacity)

Application assessment questions

The answers you provide below will be assessed the main part of your application to Step Forward. Please complete them using any format you would like eg: bullet points. You will also find some guidance around how you could frame your answers each question after the text box.

What do you hope to achieve through this programme and how do you foresee it advancing your career? (250 words).

Some points to consider in your answer:

Your goals in the next year in terms of career progression and impact in your team/service
The elements of the programme that most appeal to you and why
What success would look like for you at the completion of the programme in February 2025

How do you define leadership and what impact do you think good leadership has on outcomes for children and families? (250 words).

Some points to consider in your answer:

Examples of good leadership that you’ve observed in social work in the past
Positive changes you’ve seen on children and families when social workers have led effectively
Which elements of the programme connect most to this idea of leadership impacting children and families’ outcomes

What specific changes or improvements would you like to see in the social work sector (or related sectors) and how do you see yourself contributing to these changes? (250 words).

Some points you would want to consider in your answer:

Examples of good leadership that you’ve observed in social work in the past
Positive changes you’ve seen on children and families when social workers have led effectively
Which elements of the programme connect most to this idea of leadership impacting children and families’ outcomes

Accessibility

The following questions are to help us identify and meet your accessibility requirements throughout, please consider this in relation to in-person events, online workshops, and any other aspect of the programme.

The information provided here will not affect the outcome of your application, and you do not need to disclose at this stage if you do not wish to.

If you wish to disclose any requirements at a later stage or if your circumstances change, you can let the team know at any time.

Do you have any accessibility requirements?

Please give details and let us know of any adjustments you may require

Diversity and Inclusion

The questions below are not compulsory but will help us monitor and ensure that our recruitment is equitable and inclusive with the aim of ensuring diversity within the cohort. Please select "prefer not to say" if you do not wish to answer any of these questions.

Please refer to our Programme and Fellowship privacy statement to learn more on how we use your data.

What best describes your gender?

If you selected 'prefer to self-describe', please describe here

Do you consider yourself to have a disability? (The Equality Act defines ‘disability’ as a mental or physical impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out day to day activities.)

Which option best describes the nature of your disability?

If you selected 'other', please describe here

How would you describe your sexual orientation?

If you selected 'other', please describe here

What is your ethnic group?

If you selected 'other', please describe here:

Did you spend time in care or have a social worker as a young person?

Please read carefully:

Please press "Review Responses" to review your responses to ensure they are accurate.

If you wish to amend any of your responses click on the "Previous Page" button or use the page navigation bar on the top right of screen.

Once you have reviewed your responses and clicked "Confirm" on the final page, you will not be able to change your responses.

Apply to Step Forward

Why apply to Step Forward?

Develop your leadership skills

Navigate your next career steps

Drive systemic change for children

Time commitment

Eligibility criteria

Apply now

Step Forward programme application

Join the Fellowship community

Diversity and inclusion

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