| Salary £27269 - £31067 Per Annum | Fixed Term, Full Time, Until 31-Dec-2028, 37 Hours Per Week | Countywide |
International Sponsorship – this role is not open to international sponsorship
Social Work Apprenticeship (Children's)
We are pleased to announce the third cohort of the Social Work Degree Apprenticeship, starting in January 2026. We are opening to external applicants who meet the essential criteria.
1. Earn while you learn, study for a Social Work Degree with UCLan whilst working for Lancashire County Council within Social Work teams.
2. An opportunity for career progression and development from a support worker role or similar multi-agency equivalent to qualified Social Worker.
3. University fees paid for, for the duration of the 3-year programme.
4. Commitment from the Service that you will be offered a permanent Social Worker role upon successful completion of the Apprenticeship Programme.
To complete the degree, you will undertake:
5. Learning opportunities in your employed role working alongside qualified social workers.
6. 20% off the job training, students will attend University one day a week for the full duration of the 3-year programme.
7. A full time 70-day placement in an alternative team during your second year, supported by a Practice Educator. As part of the revised programme, a further 100-day placement will be undertaken during the third year.
8. Additional studies/completion of academic assignments and portfolio work, in your own time.
In Year 1 & Year 2 of your Social Work apprenticeship, you will undertake work based placements, which seek to enhance your understanding of children's needs and our services. These placements will expose you to how we work to support children and families in Lancashire; providing a solid foundation for your knowledge of children's social care and our core working model of practice.
In Year 3 you would join a Social Work team, working alongside Social Workers to develop your skills and prepare you for the role. The overall purpose of the role is to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people in Lancashire ensuring that the right support is provided by the right service at the right time. You will be involved in ensuring children and young people are safe and protected from harm, assisting with completing Social Work assessments and leading on direct work with children, young people and their families.
In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on LCC Vacancies website.
Apprenticeship Information events are being held during August 2025. These are taking place 21st August at 11:30am & 27th August at 09:30am.
Both will be via teams – to book a place on either of these events, please stating your preference.
Due to the Apprenticeship starting in January 2026 you must be available to commence your role in Lancashire on Monday 5th January 2026.
Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence.
There is an expectation that the apprentice will commit to remaining with Lancashire County Council for two years post qualification. The apprentice will be offered a permanent Social Worker post upon qualifying.
Applicants must have completed prior to application GCSE or equivalent in English Language and Maths at Grade C or above. (Acceptable equivalents include Functional Skills level 2, Key Skills level 2, British Sign Language level 2, .
For an informal and confidential discussion please contact Tonya Harrison, Principal Social Worker by will be held from 30th Sep – 2nd Oct 2025.
If you are an internal candidate, there is an option for internal recruitment and you are encouraged to follow this route with your managers support. Contact Tonya Harrison, Principal Social Worker by for more information.
The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab.
You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability.
We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.