Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) has launched a new apprenticeship opportunity for people who would like to become social workers.
Social workers aim to help improve people’s lives, particularly those who are vulnerable or need protection from harm. They recognise the wider issues affecting people’s lives, such as trauma, discrimination and poverty, and work with them to identify their needs, strengths and goals, and help them make changes and informed choices about their own lives.
Elanor Fitzgerald is one of the first to start a social worker apprenticeship at EPUT and one of many social workers we’re celebrating at EPUT this Social Work Week.
Elanor had been wanting to become a social worker for a long time, so she jumped at the chance when the apprenticeship opportunity came up.
She said: “I have wanted to be a social worker for a long time but I also wanted to stay within EPUT as I have found my time here so rewarding and supportive.
“The apprenticeship was a way of working while I trained and being able to stay in the North East Essex Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) team and learn from those I work with.
“I love how holistic social work is and it is that whole person, individualised approach I am most looking forward to using when I come to graduate myself.
“I am currently a support worker, and I have loved my role within the EIP team. I have learned so much, met and worked with wonderful people, and really value my team and my role within it.”
Elanor started her three-year social worker apprenticeship in January this year and is one of four people on the first cohort of the course.
The apprenticeship is a three-year graduate programme and is supported academically by Anglia Ruskin University where apprentices are required to attend one day a week with remaining time spent in their current post. They undertake placements in their second and third year.
Entry requirements for the apprenticeship include that an employee is in a suitable role on a permanent contract exceeding 30 hours and can evidence a level two qualification in Maths and English. The Trust also offers support to those without these qualifications to maximise opportunities for potential applicants.
Consultant Social worker, Claire Purchese, who works for the west of the trust as part of social work leadership team, said: “EPUT has embarked this year on an exciting new apprenticeship programme for future social workers in the Trust. In my 25 year social work career I have worked with many extremely effective and passionate support workers who have wanted to further their careers but have not been in a position to end their employment to undertake an undergraduate degree course.
“I have been keen to find opportunities to enable these amazing workers to develop and flourish and recognise the strengths that their experiences and knowledge will bring to their work with those needing care and support from the Trust.
“I am very excited to have been able to realise this ambition and to be part of the inaugural programme. The first cohort of four social work apprentices started in January this year from a range of mental health teams across the Trust. The apprentices remain in their current roles in the teams and are all supported by senior social workers and myself.
“The course is demanding, requiring juggling of work, family and study commitments but is an amazing opportunity for our talented support workers to realise their potential, undertake a graduate programme and remain in teams doing the work they are passionate about as qualified social work professionals.”
Find out more about our apprenticeship opportunities at EPUT.