Agenda item

8.1

The Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families submitted a report in relation to the Step Up To Social Work Programme.

8.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

notes the contents of the report;

(b)

notes that the Council has entered into the Grant Funding Agreement for the Step Up To Social Work Programme as the lead authority for the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Partnership;

(c)

approves that Inter Authority Contracts between the authorities of the Partnership, which have been agreed in principle, are now executed;

(d)

approves that the Council enters into a contract with Salford University for Cohort 4 and approves an extension to that contract for a further cohort if the Council should be successful in receiving another grant for any future cohort; and

(e)

delegates authority to administer the Department for Education funding awarded to the Partnership to Sheffield City Council Assistant Director of Children’s Fieldwork Services.

8.3

Reasons for Decision

8.3.1

The Step Up To Social Work programme is a national initiative which is wholly funded by the Department for Education (DfE) 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.

8.3.2

The Programme has been running since 2010 and has flagship status both regionally and nationally. The Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Partnership is the largest of the 18 national partnerships participating in the Step Up To Social Work programme. This initiative has produced 108 high calibre graduates since its initiation and 98% 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. 

8.3.3

This year the DfE have approved funding for the Yorkshire and Humberside region to host 50 students which means that external funding awarded will be £1.7m for the 14 month programme which will start in January 2016. Admissions recruitment took place in June/July 2015.  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.

8.3.4

The other nine local authorities in the Partnership include:  City of Bradford MBC, Doncaster Children’s Services Trust, Kirklees Council, Leeds City Council, Calderdale County Council, North Lincolnshire Council, North East Lincolnshire Council, North Yorkshire County Council and Wakefield Council.  Letters of Commitment from all these authorities were received at the point of submitting the bid and Inter Authority Contracts have been prepared in accordance with the DfE template.  The Grant Offer Letter from the Department for Education was received on 26 June 2015. Salford University has been procured to deliver the 14 month post graduate degree programme and the relevant contract terms have now been agreed (Appendix 1). The grant will be paid on a monthly basis and any underspend on funding as at March 2017 will be repaid to the DfE.

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.4.1

8.4.2

8.4.3

8.4.4

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 the largest in the country and is highly praised by the DfE for its success.  The DfE has advised prospective new partnerships to contact Sheffield for expert guidance and the lead Step Up co-ordinator from Sheffield visited Somerset and Dorset in March.  This led to the South West forming a new partnership and they continue to seek guidance from Sheffield.

Sheffield City Council is currently participating in a DfE longitudinal national study of graduates from past Step Up Cohorts and was recently invited to be interviewed by Consultant Economists who have been commissioned by the DfE to audit the value of different social work degree programmes.

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. 

Sheffield City Council has recently been successful in the bid for the Early Adopter phase of Teaching Partnerships for the South Yorkshire region.  22 Partnerships bid nationally; these were shortlisted to 8 with a requirement for a further application which resulted in Sheffield City Council being one of the final 4 successful bidders.  This new partnership will allow Sheffield City Council to contribute to the future of social work education and it is believed that the bid was successful due to the expertise gained from the Step Up to Social Work Programme. 

8.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

8.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

8.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Jayne Ludlam, Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families

8.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Children, Young People and Family Support

8.1

The Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families submitted a report in relation to the Step Up To Social Work Programme.

8.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

notes the contents of the report;

(b)

notes that the Council has entered into the Grant Funding Agreement for the Step Up To Social Work Programme as the lead authority for the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Partnership;

(c)

approves that Inter Authority Contracts between the authorities of the Partnership, which have been agreed in principle, are now executed;

(d)

approves that the Council enters into a contract with Salford University for Cohort 4 and approves an extension to that contract for a further cohort if the Council should be successful in receiving another grant for any future cohort; and

(e)

delegates authority to administer the Department for Education funding awarded to the Partnership to Sheffield City Council Assistant Director of Children’s Fieldwork Services.

8.3

Reasons for Decision

8.3.1

The Step Up To Social Work programme is a national initiative which is wholly funded by the Department for Education (DfE) 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.

8.3.2

The Programme has been running since 2010 and has flagship status both regionally and nationally. The Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Partnership is the largest of the 18 national partnerships participating in the Step Up To Social Work programme. This initiative has produced 108 high calibre graduates since its initiation and 98% 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. 

8.3.3

This year the DfE have approved funding for the Yorkshire and Humberside region to host 50 students which means that external funding awarded will be £1.7m for the 14 month programme which will start in January 2016. Admissions recruitment took place in June/July 2015.  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.

8.3.4

The other nine local authorities in the Partnership include:  City of Bradford MBC, Doncaster Children’s Services Trust, Kirklees Council, Leeds City Council, Calderdale County Council, North Lincolnshire Council, North East Lincolnshire Council, North Yorkshire County Council and Wakefield Council.  Letters of Commitment from all these authorities were received at the point of submitting the bid and Inter Authority Contracts have been prepared in accordance with the DfE template.  The Grant Offer Letter from the Department for Education was received on 26 June 2015. Salford University has been procured to deliver the 14 month post graduate degree programme and the relevant contract terms have now been agreed (Appendix 1). The grant will be paid on a monthly basis and any underspend on funding as at March 2017 will be repaid to the DfE.

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.4.1

8.4.2

8.4.3

8.4.4

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 the largest in the country and is highly praised by the DfE for its success.  The DfE has advised prospective new partnerships to contact Sheffield for expert guidance and the lead Step Up co-ordinator from Sheffield visited Somerset and Dorset in March.  This led to the South West forming a new partnership and they continue to seek guidance from Sheffield.

Sheffield City Council is currently participating in a DfE longitudinal national study of graduates from past Step Up Cohorts and was recently invited to be interviewed by Consultant Economists who have been commissioned by the DfE to audit the value of different social work degree programmes.

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. 

Sheffield City Council has recently been successful in the bid for the Early Adopter phase of Teaching Partnerships for the South Yorkshire region.  22 Partnerships bid nationally; these were shortlisted to 8 with a requirement for a further application which resulted in Sheffield City Council being one of the final 4 successful bidders.  This new partnership will allow Sheffield City Council to contribute to the future of social work education and it is believed that the bid was successful due to the expertise gained from the Step Up to Social Work Programme.