20 March 2026

Approach Social Work: my path to a rewarding career 

Dilhan reflects on his experience on Approach Social Work and a rewarding career as a social worker.

Dilhan qualified through Approach Social Work (formerly known as the Frontline programme) and is now deputy consultant social worker at his local authority, supporting the next generation of social workers. Four years on, he reflects on the journey that changed his career path. 

I was thinking about a career change when I crossed paths with Approach Social Work. I had not considered social work before, but as I researched the sector and navigated the application process, I realised this could be a rewarding and exciting career. 

The programme was a very challenging, engaging and rewarding experience. 

The first few days were a blur of meeting new faces and being introduced to systemic concepts which would be the foundation of my later work and study. Little did I know that the people I met that first day would not just become my team, but that we would all remain friends four years later! 

I learned so much about myself on the way. As quite an anxious person, I learned that I could work in a much more demanding environment than I previously believed, and develop the resilience needed to continue to engage with systemic and interpersonal challenges due to the belief that things can get better. 

I also learned a great deal from the incredible young people and families I have worked with who inspired me to try to be the best social worker I can be for the communities we serve. 

Since graduating, I have remained in my local authority working in safeguarding and family support. While there are so many exciting areas of social work, I wanted to hone my skills in frontline practice as a foundation for the path ahead. 

I am now the deputy consultant social worker for my local authority, where I support the consultant social worker who trains and assesses new participants training on Approach Social Work. It is great to still be a part of Frontline and help support the next generation of social workers. 

It’s been four years since I concluded the programme and I can say that my favourite aspect of social work is getting to meet and work closely with families needing support in a direct and tangible capacity. 

It’s a privilege to be let into people’s homes and learn about their lives; social workers are well placed to link up different services to make real positive change. 

Working with people in challenging situations can be tough, but you see first-hand the results of your work and you never forget why you are doing it. 

I would undoubtedly recommend Approach Social Work. Be under no illusions: this is not an easy experience and you will be challenged both as a professional and as a person. However, Frontline offers an unrivalled route into what I truly believe is one of the most rewarding careers in the world.