A paid, work-based route to qualifying as a social worker in Scotland will be developed, the Justice Secretary has revealed.

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Angela Constance officially announced that the Scottish government will work with sector representatives to create a new social work graduate apprenticeship at the profession’s annual conference.

The scheme will enable employers to offer an apprenticeship route to qualifying as a social worker to those wishing to enter the profession who are unable to access traditional routes.

Those without a first degree wishing to progress in their career will also be able to benefit from the scheme.

The announcement has been welcomed by Social Work Scotland.

A spokesperson from the professional leadership body for the social work and social care professions said:

"We welcome the news of more routes into social work, especially those which promote a more inclusive, diverse workforce.

“Implemented well and resourced appropriately, such a scheme will help the social work profession better reflect all of Scotland’s communities.”

A similar apprenticeship scheme already operates in England but is not yet available elsewhere in the UK.

In Scotland, most people currently qualify as social workers through undergraduate or postgraduate degrees.

Some Scottish universities offer part-time, distance-learning options for those already working in a related role in the sector.

Development of the new graduate apprenticeship will, according to the government’s Chief Social Work Adviser, draw on expert knowledge to ensure the programme is ‘high quality, robust and supports enhanced capacity of an agile, future workforce’.

Opportunities for participation will soon be circulated within the sector.

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