Council funded staff development scheme for aspiring social workers brings value to workforce

Chris, who is 35, currently works in the council’s Homelessness Prevention Team and is being funded by the council on a part-time course through the Open University to become a fully qualified social worker.

Chris

Chris is part of the council’s ‘Grow Your Own’ scheme, and studies alongside his full-time role. He is now going into his final year.

The ‘Grow Your Own’ scheme gives existing council staff the opportunity to train alongside their current role to become fully qualified social workers.

Speaking on the opportunity, Chris said:

“I have been working in the Homelessness Prevention Team for the past 5 years, and I’ve been working underneath a social worker. I have really seen the world in a different light working in this team, it has given me the skills to work with people and understand where they’re coming from.

Working under a social worker, and seeing the work they do, it made me want to progress and do more for people, and help them empower themselves.”

Back in 2022, Chris discussed the opportunity with his manager, and after being successful in a round of interviews, his journey towards becoming a Social Worker began. His first year consisted of two modules and lasted two calendar years.

Chris said:

“I always thought that university was beyond me, and I have struggled with self-confidence in the past. But when the opportunity came up, my manager showed belief in me, and encouraged me to do the course. The team have been brilliant.

Taking my first year over two years really helped break me in, and it meant I never had two assignments side by side.

It gave me time to breathe and get used to the style of academic writing.

With the family dynamic I have at the moment, the flexibility has really helped.”

Alongside Chris are four other local authority employees who work in different sectors. All applicants must pass the interview process before being able to begin their first year.

Chris added:

“My first placement was actually within the team that I currently work in, which was really helpful.

My second placement was fantastic, it was for around 90 days, and I can’t say enough about it. I was with a wonderful team. To go from my first placement, where I was with a team that I was really comfortable with, to another team, I was quite nervous.

But Denbighshire’s South Locality Team, which is where my second placement was based, were fantastic and so supportive. My practice educator was brilliant and so hands on, that I was never worried about my portfolio, they were a massive help.

The council gave me one study day per week during my placement, which to be fair to them, they didn’t have to actually give me, and that was a massive help.

It was so handy, as there was so much work to get through. I was so thankful for that study day, as I honestly think it would’ve been so hard to get through the last year without it.”

By doing his course whilst still working full-time, it has allowed Chris to continue to work through his normal role and study at the same time, without having to worry about his finances.

Chris said:

“At my age, and with the family I now have, there is no way I would’ve been able sacrifice my job to go and study in uni, and Denbighshire have done all they can to make sure I don’t have to.”

Chris will soon start the last year of his course, with graduation set for Autumn of next year.

Ann Lloyd, Head of Adult Social Care and Homelessness said:

“Our Grow Your Own scheme help those within our workforce who have an interest in becoming a social worker with a realistic, supportive and successful pathway to do so.

Working across Adult and Children’s social care this pathway has seen success now for a number of years, and helps our ambitious and hard-working staff, like Chris, upskill in a more flexible way than is traditionally offered.

I would like to wish Chris all the best in his third year, and thank him and his colleagues for the work they have done so far.”