In 2017 there were 90,369 social workers registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Once you’ve gained the right combination of qualifications and experience you could join them.
Fast-track training schemes such as Step Up to Social Work, Frontline and Think Ahead often lead directly into full-time employment as do apprenticeships, but if you didn’t qualify through these routes here’s how to find social worker vacancies:
- Search online – check local authority and council websites, NHS Jobs for careers in NHS Trusts and the job pages of charitable organisations you’re interested in working for.
- Use your contacts – make use of social media channels such as LinkedIn and Twitter and your university alumni network to let contacts know that you’re looking for a job in social work.
- Join professional bodies – gaining membership of The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) opens up a variety of opportunities. You can search for vacancies and attend conferences and networking events.
- Sign up to an agency – social work agencies such as Secure Healthcare Solutions is a recruitment agency that specialises in nursing and social work roles. Gaining work through an agency means you’ll likely work on short-term contracts, providing experience in a range of settings.