People are drawn to train as social workers for a range of reasons – professional, personal and a desire to make a difference. Once qualified, having opportunities to continue to learn and train are an integral part of the job. This training and career support is something Essex County Council has been focusing on, says Paul McGee, head of Essex Social Care Academy: “There’s a very strong commitment to progression and development that’s very much led from the top.”
In Essex, the council is putting an emphasis on the importance of career progression at every stage, from apprentice to senior staff. It set up the social care academy in 2012 to offer continuing professional development and training in areas such as adult mental health, internet safety and understanding trauma for separated migrant children.
