Social Work Apprenticeship - Information for employers

INTRODUCTION

The Open University's Social Work Apprenticeships (SWA) support employers to develop their support workers towards registration as a social worker with Social Work England (SWE).

This webpage sets out some key information for our employer partners supporting apprentices on this programme. This information is correct at the time of publishing and this webpage will be reviewed regularly.

Please contact your local Staff Tutor or your Apprenticeship Programme Delivery Manager with any queries.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

The Social Work Apprenticeship is delivered in partnership between the OU and your organisation.

There are two Level 6 pathways to choose from depending on the apprentice's prior experience and learning:

BA (Hons) in Social Work (England) Apprenticeship - for those without a current honours degree. The programme has a start date in February and October each year. Comprising six 60-credit modules, the apprenticeship will take 3-3.5 years to complete depending on the start date.
Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Apprenticeship - for those with a current honours degree. The programme has a start date in February each year. Comprising two 60-credit modules, the apprenticeship will take 17 months to complete.

Both programmes are approved by SWE.

The programme is suitable for new and existing social care support staff who are responsible for delivering direct services, and who have the potential to take on greater challenges and responsibilities as qualified social workers. With the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work (Apprenticeship), candidates will already hold an honours degree.

The programme supports the development of social work apprentices across a wide range of settings, including services for adults, children and families, and mental health.

The curriculum is underpinned by the following standards and frameworks:

Once qualified, all social workers need to demonstrate that they can practice according to the Social Work England Professional Standards and, in local authority contexts, the Knowledge and Skills Statements (KSS) for children and families and/or adults.

The theory elements of the programme are delivered by the OU using our innovative tutor-supported distance learning delivery model. Tutor supported online learning is accessible 24/7 and provides consistently high-quality training for staff through online learning, tutorials, written assignments and wider reading, regardless of location. Face-to-face workshops support the delivery of learning social work skills.

Modules provide apprentices opportunities to apply and evidence their academic knowledge to social work duties. Further information is contained within the practice learning section.

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

Click here to learn more about the programme schedule.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

All BA (Hons) Social Work Apprenticeship applicants must:

Have GCSE grade 9–4/A*–C/Functional/Key Skills Level 2 in English and maths, or a certified equivalent
Must work at least 30 hours per week, in order to meet the assessed practice learning requirements.
Demonstrate IT competence through self-declaration
Have an enhanced DBS with lists check (i.e. checks against all registers including both children and vulnerable adults) dated within one year prior to starting the programme
Demonstrate the potential to study at undergraduate level
Complete an application pack consisting of:
- An OU application form, which will include a personal statement, references and employer's endorsements
- Declaration of Suitability for Social Work form
- Equal Opportunities form
Complete the initial assessment, including the Skills Scan, that measures an apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours against the standard’`s to ensure that the programme is beneficial for the apprentice and the employer.
Take part in an interview and assessment process, including a written test.

In addition to meeting the entry requirements for the BA (Hons), all Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Apprenticeship applicants must also:

Hold an honours degree with a minimum 2:2 classification in any discipline together with a proven record of experience of engaging directly with Service Users in a professional setting. Candidates’ experience will be considered individually on application, but we would normally expect a minimum of one year's experience – either paid or voluntary – in a setting such as a local authority or a health or social care provider in the private, voluntary or independent sector.
Applicants who do not meet the work experience requirement but hold a 2:1 classification in a cognate discipline will also be considered. Relevant subjects include:
- Health and Social Care
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Psychology
- Sociology/Social Studies
- Law/Legal studies
- Teaching/Education
Demonstrate the potential to study at postgraduate level.
Achieve an International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS) score of 7, if English is not their first language.

For the latest information on vaccination requirements for frontline health and social care workers, please check the NHS England website.

Below is a summary of the eligibility criteria as set by the government for apprentices. For further information, see the Government funding rules.

To be eligible for government funding, at the start of the apprenticeship, apprentices must:

Be over 16 years old
Not be in full-time education
Not currently on another apprenticeship
Have the right to live and work in England
Spend at least 50% of their working hours in England

All entry checks will occur upon application to either pathway prior to commencing study. Applicants must have successfully completed the required qualifications prior to applying to the programme and be able to evidence this with certification. The OU cannot accept applications if qualifications are still in progress or if results are pending.

Details on obtaining replacement educational certificates is available at the Gov replacement exam certificate website. Details of the level 2 qualifications accepted by the ESFA can be found on the ‘Level_3_Apprenticeships’ tab of the Gov website English and maths requirements in apprenticeship standards at Level 2 and above document.

If your staff do not currently meet the entry requirements, our free OpenLearn courses can help prepare your employees to achieve Functional Skills in maths and English. Assessment will need to be organised separately by your organisation with a local provider.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Recruitment and selection are conducted jointly with the employer together with The Open University and will include a formal application with a written statement, written test and interview with service user involvement.

The SWA is an employer-led combined academic and work-based qualification. Employers should carry out an internal sift or expression of interest process to select candidates to put forward. All candidates attend an interview and take a written test with an OU academic and service user or carer.

All candidates are assessed against the Professional Capabilities Framework.

The OU admissions team will provide full guidance notes to support the process from start to finish.

Completing the Skills Scan

The Skills Scan is part of the initial assessment carried out by the OU. This systematic review of the apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours must be completed jointly by the apprentice and their line manager. The Skills Scan provides a picture of the apprentice’s prior learning to establish a baseline against the apprenticeship standard and how much new learning is needed.

Employer responsibilities breaks down your role and responsibility at each stage of the apprenticeship.

Training Plan part two

By signing the Training Plan part one: commitment to learning, apprentices are agreeing to engage with the requirements of the apprenticeship, including timely and effective documentation of off-the-job learning and practice learning.

Following completion of the Training Plan part one: commitment to learning, at the beginning of the apprenticeship The Open University will help apprentices produce and maintain a Training Plan part two: individual learning plan, tailored to their specific needs and career goals. The Training Plan part two: individual learning plan, is necessary for apprentices to collate and track information, including details of all their learning and relevant workplace training, and helps them plan their workload to complete tasks in line with their development goals. 

SUPPORT

There is a shared responsibility for the support of apprentices between the OU and your organisation. There are a number of key staff who will be involved in your apprenticeship. Here is an overview of their roles and what they do.

Roles and responsibilities at the OU

Staff Tutor – The Staff Tutor manages the OU Practice Tutors and will be the main point of contact for the Agency.
Practice Tutors – Liaises with agency coordinators, practice educators, workplace supervisors and apprentices to agree a work plan and to monitor progress.
Academic Tutor – Facilitates learning within the theory modules at each stage of the qualification through personalised tuition, delivery of online tutorials, marking of assignments and detailed feedback.
Apprenticeship Programme Delivery Manager (APDM) – This role supports employers to recruit and onboard applicants on to the chosen apprenticeship programme. APDMs provide information, advice and guidance and carry out an initial assessment to ensure the apprenticeship is the right one at the right level for the individual. APDMs provide quarterly management information reports to employers detailing learners progress and put interventions in place where an apprentice is in need of support. Employers will have a named APDM to be the primary contact for apprenticeship delivery throughout the programme.

In addition, The Open University provides the following support for apprentices:

Access to a dedicated Apprentice Enrolment and Support Team
Disability and accessibility support
Access to an online library, containing a world-class collection of high-quality academic and professional resources.

Roles and responsibilities at the Agency

Agency Coordinator – The main point of contact for the OU and is responsible for arranging placements.
Line Manager – Will manage the apprentice in the workplace when not on placement.
Practice Educator – Responsible for the teaching and assessment associated with practice learning on the programme.
Workplace supervisor – If the practice assessor/educator does not work in the practice setting.
Mentor – Provides informal support and guidance to the apprentice.

OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING TIME

An apprenticeship is a job with a formal programme of training which meets the requirements of the Apprenticeship Standard (in England), Framework (in Wales). The time that employers must allocate to this training can vary between programmes. The planned training hours will be detailed in the Training Plan. Note that in England and Wales, this time is called 'off-the-job training' in England and in Scotland, it is called 'protected time'. This is time for the apprentice to engage in the learning with the OU during their contracted working hours.

This off-the-job training time is in addition to the practice placements,

For full guidance, visit: gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeships-off-the-job-training

RECOGNISED PRIOR LEARNING AND CREDIT TRANSFER

Please note that Recognition of prior learning is only available for Candidates applying for the BA (Hons) Social Work Apprenticeship.

If an applicant has previously studied elsewhere and their studies were completed at the same academic level as The Open University modules, we may be able to award credit transfer towards the programme. For previous study, completed up to 5 years ago, the maximum amount of credit transfer into the SWDA is 120 credits.

Find out more on our RPL Factsheet.

PRACTICE LEARNING

Apprentices must undertake two substantive periods of assessed work-based learning, arranged by the employer and including assessment by a practitioner in the role of practice educator.

There must be differentiation between the setting and/or client group experienced in the two placements, one of which is:

70 days long and the other 100 days for the BA (Hons) Social Work Apprenticeship
80 days long and the other 90 days for the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work (Apprenticeship)

Your Staff Tutor can provide advice about ways in which you can achieve a contrast in placements.

All practice learning will be assessed in accordance with the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF).

Readiness to Practice

It is a requirement that learners on all courses leading to a degree in social work in England demonstrate that they are prepared for their practice learning.

BA (HONS) SOCIAL WORK APPRENTICESHIP

Foundation for social care and social care practice (KXY123)

In Stage 1 KXY123 apprentices must complete a structured programme of 20 practice skills days preparing them for their first assessed practice learning opportunity in Stage 2. This includes a minimum 10-day period of supervised practice learning in a social care setting and attendance at 15 online workshops.
Assessment is via tutor-marked assignments; an end-of-module assessment and satisfactory completion of the 10-day practice learning period.

Practice placements

Applied social work practice (KXY216)

The first of the two practice-based modules includes 70 days of assessed practice learning under the supervision of a Practice Educator. Timing of this placement would take place between February and July. Apprentices must also attend seven obligatory workshops, of which five are face-to-face.
Assessment on the module is via three tutor-marked assignments; an end-of-module project and satisfactory completion of the 70-day practice placement.

Critical social work practice (KXY315)

The second practice-based module includes 100 days of assessed practice learning under the supervision of a Practice Educator. Timing of this placement would take place between February and August. Apprentices must also attend a further seven workshops, of which five are face-to-face.
Assessment is via five tutor-marked assignments; an end-of-module project and satisfactory completion of the 100-day practice placement.

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN SOCIAL WORK

Developing social work practice (KXY832)

In their first module, KXY832, apprentices must complete a structured programme of practice skills days preparing them for their first assessed practice learning opportunity in the module. This includes a minimum 10-day period of supervised practice learning in a social care setting and attendance at a skills and experiential knowledge learning event.
The readiness for practice assessment must be successfully passed in order for apprentices to undertake their first practice placement experience and there is a resubmission opportunity for this assessment built into the module.

Practice placements

Developing social work practice (KXY832))

The first of the practice-based modules includes 80 days of assessed practice learning under the supervision of a Practice Educator. Timing of this placement would take place between March and September. Apprentices must also attend a skills and experiential knowledge learning event (or online alternative), and three obligatory face-to-face workshops.
Assessment on the module is via tutor-marked assignments; an end-of-module assessment and satisfactory completion of the 80-day practice learning period.

Advancing social work practice (KXY833)

The second module includes 90 days of assessed practice learning under the supervision of a Practice Educator. Timing of this placement would take place in May. Apprentices must also attend a further three face-to-face workshops.
Assessment is via tutor-marked assignments; an end-of-module project and satisfactory completion of the 90-day practice placement.

Practice Portfolio

The Practice Portfolio records evidence of application of knowledge and demonstration of the skills, values and behaviours required to meet the apprenticeship standard. Apprentices and their workplace practice educators are supported in practice by an OU Practice Tutor to ensure the apprentices achieve the full range of practice learning requirements.

Practice learning supervision

The Practice Educator will be responsible for the teaching and assessment tasks associated with practice learning on the programme. Agencies are responsible for appointing appropriately qualified practice educators. Guidance about who can become a practice educator is detailed in the BASW England Practice Educator Professional Standards for social work.

In some circumstances there may not be a suitable Practice Educator working in the practice setting. In these instances, an Off-site Practice Educator can be brought in to undertake the formal requirements of supervision, teaching and assessment. In this instance, a workplace supervisor is designated to undertake day-to-day support and supervision of the apprentice.

The Workplace Supervisor will be responsible for day-to-day supervision of the apprentice in circumstances where the practice assessor/educator is not working in the practice setting of the apprentice. This may be the apprentice’s line manager, or someone else with whom they work in the practice setting.

For the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work (Apprenticeship) module Advancing social work practice (KXY833), the workplace supervisor should be a registered social worker in a post requiring Social Work England (SWE) registration.

For the BA (Hons) Social Work Apprenticeship module Critical social work practice (KXY315), the workplace supervisor should be a registered social worker in a post requiring Social Work England (SWE) registration.

ASSESSMENT

Theory assessment

Your apprentices’ theory work will be assessed by the OU through a combination of Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs), and End-of-Module Assessments (EMAs).

Practice-based assessment

E-Portfolio

The OU uses an e-portfolio system that acts as both a repository for apprenticeship specific work, and as a recording mechanism.

Skills Days

Practice skills workshops count towards the requirement for 30 practice skills days and – like placement days – are compulsory; they must be satisfactorily completed, in addition to placement days, before apprentices can pass the module. Please see the Practice Learning section for more information.

Progress reviews

The Practice Tutor will conduct tripartite progress review meetings at least every quarter with the apprentice and their line manager or apprentice workplace supervisor. The record of the progress review must be signed by all parties.

Progress updates

Each quarter, the APDM will provide a summary report outlining apprentice performance.

If required, meetings can be arranged with the APDM and the Staff Tutor to discuss the report and the progress of the apprentices and the programme in general.

End-point assessment (EPA)

The end-point assessment (EPA) determines whether apprentices have successfully demonstrated the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the Social Work standard.

FUNDING THE APPRENTICESHIP

Employers will need to register with the Apprenticeship Service to get funding to pay for apprenticeship training and assessment costs. Create an account to manage apprenticeships on the Gov website.

Using your apprenticeship levy

Organisations operating in the UK with an annual pay bill of more than £3 million are required to invest in apprenticeships through the apprenticeship levy. The levy is charged at a rate of 0.5% of your organisation’s annual pay bill. If your organisation pays the levy, you may utilise your levy payments to cover the cost of the Social Work Degree Apprenticeship.

Non-levy payers

For non-levy paying employers, the Government will fund 95% of the cost of training an apprentice, with a 5% contribution from the employer. Funding can be reserved through the Apprenticeship Service for non-levy organisations.

Levy Transfer

Alternatively, levy paying organisations may transfer their levy funds to a non-levy paying organisation in a way that benefits them both. Read more in our levy transfer blog post.

Incentives

There are currently government incentives to encourage employers to engage with apprenticeships. Further information can be found regarding current funding incentives on the gov website.

Other costs to consider

Further costs that cannot be claimed through the apprenticeship levy and should be taken into consideration include:

The apprentice’s salary (the apprentice must be employed for a minimum of 30 hours a week for the duration of the apprenticeship).
Backfill for the off-the-job training time.
Backfill for apprentices while they are completing Social Work placements.
Travel expenses associated with attending face to face tutorials.
The cost associated with appointing a qualified Practice Educator to assess the apprentices during placements.

Can my employees self-fund on the programme?

Apprenticeships cannot be self-funded. If you are interested in Social Work programmes which have the option for students to self-fund, you may wish to consider our non-apprenticeship routes:

How can I procure the SWA for my organisation?

The OU is on many apprenticeship procurement frameworks, or you can contract directly. Please speak to your Relationship Account Manager to discuss options.

BACK TO SOCIAL WORK APPRENTICESHIP - BA (HONS) / POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA

Last update: 27 Feb 2025