Department For Education
The application window for early adopter cohort 1 is now closed. This page will be updated when further opportunities are available.
About the programme
We are not currently taking applications for the programme. We would like to work with more organisations in the future to develop the early career framework (ECF) for social workers.
Through the early adopter programme, we aim to:?
- understand the support needs of early career child and family social workers
- test and gain insight to inform the design of the early career framework
- design a development programme for social workers
Organisations in early adopter cohort 1
We have recruited the first cohort of early adopters who are helping us to develop a new early career framework for social workers.
The following local authorities and trusts were successful in their application:
- Achieving for Children (led by Royal Borough of Kingston and London Borough of Richmond)
- Birmingham
- East Sussex
- Gloucestershire
- Plymouth
- Stockport
- Together for Children (Sunderland)
- Tower Hamlets
Organisations applying to cohort 1 had to:
- have an Ofsted rating of outstanding, good or requires improvement
- have an early career support offer for social workers beyond the provisions of the assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE)
- have been delivering extended early career support offer for at least 2 years
- be confident that participating in this programme will not affect the delivery of other work
- not be part of the families first for children pathfinder
The criteria is likely to be revised for future opportunities.
Whats involved
Early adopter organisations:
- attend regular policy design workshops and forums
- provide access to frontline social workers
- take an active role in the design and testing process
What youll get
Early adopter organisations have access to funding to support costs.
This is 50,000 for the 2023 to 2024 financial year, with further funding confirmed for the testing and delivery of some early models.
Funding will be paid in arrears based on delivery against the agreed terms. Well make payments throughout the length of the programme.
Who can apply
The application window is now closed. This page will be updated when further opportunities are available.
Further information
If you have any questions or comments, contact us at SocialWork.ECF@education.gov.uk.
Last updated 25 September 2023 +show all updates
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Updated with names of organisations that successfully applied to cohort 1. The guidance has also been updated to reflect that the application window is currently closed.
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First published.