Education and training services

Tender description

Provision of education/training provider for post graduate diploma for social workers. “Step Up to Social Work” is a DfE funded initiative and is currently being delivered over 14 months at postgraduate diploma level. We anticipate the successful Higher Education Institution (HEI) to offer a self-funding pathway through to MA level on successful completion of the programme, should trainees wish to progress. Trainees will be high calibre graduates with an existing qualification at degree level with a minimum of 2:1 classification in any academic discipline or 2:2 classification with a post-graduate certificate or level 7 equivalent qualification. They will also require experience of working with vulnerable children, young people and their families and be seeking to re-train as social workers. The programme will enable trainees to build upon their existing knowledge and skills and develop the expertise required for social work practice. Following an initial selection of potential candidates against Department for Education (DfE) criteria, selection will be made through an “Assessment Centre” approach. We require significant involvement of the successful HEI in the Assessment Centres and the selection of students. Assessment Centres are expected to take place for up to 10 x days during June/July 2019. We expect these to be held in both Leeds and Sheffield and any attendance costs to the HEI to be covered in the pricing schedule. A Keeping in Touch day with all students from across the region including those in the West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Partnership will be held in September 2019 to finalise details of the programme and answer any questions that students may have prior to signing of trainee contracts. The HEI will be expected to attend this event in Leeds, giving any necessary presentations to students as agreed with the Lead Authority.