Frontline |

Frontline is a children’s charity working in England. Everything we do is driven by one ambition: to make life better for children at risk of harm.

We believe children deserve professionals who can build strong relationships, make evidence-informed decisions and create lasting change for children, families and communities. That's why we're committed to developing the next generation of social workers and helping shape the future of children's services.

Approach Social Work is our three-year, fully funded training programme that helps graduates with any undergraduate degree to become children's social workers. From day one, you'll combine practical experience working with children and families with academic study, building the knowledge, skills and confidence to make a meaningful difference. Along the way, you'll earn a master's degree and develop the expertise to thrive in a rewarding career.

What to expect

Approach Social Work is an intensive three-year programme that combines training and academic study with hands-on practice. From the start, you’ll be helping children and families to make a lasting, positive difference in their lives.

Year one:

• Begin study for your postgraduate diploma in social work 
• Learn within a local authority social work team, supported by experienced social workers, a tutor and a practice educator
• Work directly with children and families while you train, putting your learning into practice straight away
• Receive a tax-free bursary of £18,000 or £20,000 (depending on location) to help with living and travel costs

Years two and three: 

• Move into a guaranteed paid role as a newly qualified children's social worker
• Continue to receive training and support
• Complete your master's degree while you work
• Earn £30,000–£39,000 in year two, with salaries up to £44,000 in year three

After the programme:

• Continue your development through the Frontline Fellowship

Frontline is committed to diversity and inclusion in all our work. We cannot achieve our mission without including a wide variety of voices, experiences, and perspectives.

Approach Social Work 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 just 14% identify as male.

To make the greatest impact for disadvantaged children, we need to address this imbalance and bring more people into the profession from underrepresented groups.

Our aim is to increase the percentage of Approach participants from underrepresented groups, focusing on:

• Racialised ethnic minority groups
• Lower socio-economic backgrounds
• Men

We also aim to support people from marginalised groups who may face barriers in the recruitment process. Over the past five years, we have increased the percentage of racialised ethnic minority participants in the cohort from 15% to 39%. We continue to implement a clear diversity strategy and set targets for offers made to people from underrepresented backgrounds.