Frontline to deliver new national fast-track social work training programme

Frontline, England’s largest social work charity, will be delivering the next iteration of the national fast-track social work training programme, having been awarded the contract by the Department for Education.

Commencing in 2024, the new programme will build on the success of and draw on Frontline’s 10 years of experience designing and delivering the Frontline programme. Evolving to meet the requirements of the Department for Education and the needs of the sector, it will train 500 people a year specialising in child protection social work, over a three year period. Frontline will continue to work closely with local authorities across the country and our Higher Education partner, Lancaster University, and remains committed to attracting a diverse range of people to the profession to reflect the communities they serve.

Mary Jackson, Frontline’s CEO said: “This contract award is a testament to Frontline’s experience and expertise, and to the work put in over the course of a year-long and highly competitive process. We have already brought over 2,000 people into the profession and are delighted to have the opportunity to keep doing this. We remain as committed as ever to training and developing many more skilled social workers working to protect children and keep them safe from harm. This is key to helping us achieve our mission to create social change for children by developing excellent social work practice, leadership and innovation.”

Lord Tony Hall, Frontline’s chair of trustees said: “I am hugely proud to be chair of Frontline in its tenth anniversary year and celebrating this amazing achievement – being able to train new social workers specialising in child protection is a privilege for the charity. Our experience of delivering the Frontline programme stands us in a strong position to do this, building on the strengths of all we’ve learnt over the past decade. With the country facing an economic crisis and nearly a third of UK children living in poverty, investing in the skill and support of social workers has never been more needed.”

Claire Coutinho, Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing said: “The Fast Track to Social Work programme will help train our future social workers, and protect some of the most vulnerable children, so I’m pleased to announce that 1,500 more social workers will receive training with Frontline over the next three years. This programme continues to be a key part of our investment in the sector and will help build out the workforce, to create better outcomes for children and families across the country.”

For more information, please contact Ellie Foreman: ellie.foreman@thefrontline.org.uk