Decision details

Step up to Social Work Post Graduate Diploma Cohort 8

Decision status: Recommendations approved

Decision:

11.1

The Step Up to Social Work programme is a Department for Education (DfE) wholly funded initiative to promote people to change or start their careers in Children and Families social work by funding a 14 month Post graduate degree in social work.

 

Sheffield City Council is the lead authority for the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Partnership (the Partnership) which consists of 9 local authorities. This programme originally started in 2010 and Sheffield City Council acts as a lead authority for the Partnership and administers the external funding on its behalf.

 

It is proposed that the Council accepts the £1.9m grant funding from the DfE, becomes the accountable body for such funding and enters into a funding agreement with DfE, for the Step Up to Social Work programme.

 

It is also proposed that the Council commission for a further two year period of the Step Up to Social Work programme as set out in this report, in particular that the Council will act as commissioner for the Partnership and that provision will be externally provided, and note that will be by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).

 

 

11.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

 

 

1. Approves the Council becoming the Accountable Body in respect of the grant on behalf of the Yorkshire and Humberside Step up to Social Work Regional Partnership, provided that the funding agreement is not materially different to the DfE’s grant funding agreement: terms and conditions, set out on its website;

 

2. approves the commission for a further two-year period of the Step Up to Social Work programme as set out in this report, in particular that the Council will act as commissioner for the Partnership and that provision will be externally provided, and note that will be by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU); and

 

3. delegates authority to the Director of Children’s services in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services and the Director of Legal Services to take any steps where no existing authority exists to achieve the aims and objectives, as outlined and detailed within this report.

 

 

11.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

11.3.1

The Step Up to Social Work programme is a national initiative which is wholly funded by the Department for Education by way of a grant. This funding includes a bursary payment for each successful student on the degree programme, funding of the University course, funding for training and supervision of each student whilst they are placed in their host authority across the region and administration of funding by the lead authority.

 

 

11.3.2

The programme has been running since 2010 and has flagship status both regionally and nationally. The Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Partnership is one of the largest of the 22 national partnerships participating in the Step up to Social Work programme. This initiative has produced over 350 high calibre graduates since its initiation and 99% of these graduates have been successful in gaining employment as social workers in authorities across this region. This initiative has proven to be highly successful in resolving recruitment difficulties in social work in children and families and raising standards in social work education. Research undertaken is proven that the retention rates of Step up to Social work graduates is higher than mainstream graduates.

 

 

11.3.3

Sheffield City Council submitted a bid to the DfE on 31st October 2022 for 65 places on behalf of the Yorkshire and Humberside region and notification of success for 55 places has been made by the DfE with a grant agreement due in January 2023. The total amount of funding bid for is £1.9m which is for 55 places across the partnership. Sheffield is the lead authority and acts as the broker for the grant funding with the responsibility of distribution of funding to each authority as directed by the Department of Education and oversees the success of the programme

 

 

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

11.4.1

Sheffield City Council has been the lead authority for the Step up to Social Work programme since its inception at a pilot stage in 2010. The Regional Partnership is one of the largest in the country and is highly praised by the DfE for its success. The DfE asks Sheffield City Council for expert guidance and seek our advice for new Partnerships and for knowledge of the degree programme.

 

 

11.4.2

Sheffield City Council wishes to continue to act as the lead authority for Step up to Social Work within the Yorkshire and Humberside region as it raises the profile of the authority not only for the workforce across the region but nationally.

 

 

11.4.3

Sheffield City Council continues to be the lead authority for the Trailblazer Teaching Partnership for the South Yorkshire region providing expert advice for new and existing Teaching Partnerships. The South Yorkshire Teaching Partnership allows Sheffield City Council to contribute nationally to the future and raising of standards of social work education which includes Step up to Social Work and the Social Work Apprenticeship degree programme.

 

Report author: Dorothy Smith

Publication date: 26/01/2023

Date of decision: 24/01/2023

Decided at meeting: 24/01/2023 - Strategy and Resources Policy Committee

Accompanying Documents: