Funding for periods of practice learning
The GSCC provides funding to help students experience social work in real settings. This is called 'practice learning’. We pay the money to universities that offer the degree in social work programmes, as well as those running the outgoing DipSW programmes. This practice learning funding is passed on by the university or programme to the agency where the student undertakes their placement.
Funding is initially calculated from the estimated number of practice learning days that a university or programme requires. It is then adjusted at the end of an agreement period, based upon the actual number of placement days delivered.
The per-day admin funding for universities
In addition to the funding for placements, there is a payment of £2 per practice learning day made to the university or programme. This is a contribution towards the costs of administration and distribution of this funding.
Funding to support the involvement of people who use services and carers
To support the involvement of people who use services and carers in the design and delivery of social work degree courses, the Department of Health has provided the GSCC with funding for grants to teaching institutions.
Work undertaken by higher education institutuions should include:
- consulting with people who use services and carers to make sure their needs and opinions are reflected in the design and development of courses;
- making sure the views of people who use services and carers are taken into account in the assessment process;
- involving people who use services and carers in important processes, including designing, delivering, developing and reviewing courses; and
- making sure that representatives of people who use services are involved in the selection process.
The grant can be used as a contribution to the costs of travel expenses, and/or systems to support the involvement of people who use services, such as the provision of interpreters, advocates or any other special needs which may need to be met. The money may also be used for the production of handouts or questionnaires.
Grants to voluntary organisations releasing staff for social work qualifying training
This funding is intended to improve the quality of service provided by enabling voluntary organisations to second staff that would not otherwise be released for social work qualifying training (diploma in social work and new social work degree). The General Social Care Council encourages applications from as wide a range of eligible organisations as possible and are keen to receive applications from those groups who are currently under-represented amongst trained social workers.
Voluntary organisations making applications for financial assistance must meet the following criteria:
- the organisation must be based in England, be non-profitmaking and provide personal social services similar to those provided by local authority and social services departments;
- the application must be in respect of named member(s) of staff;
- the application should include evidence of a provisional or definite offer of a place on a specific course; and
- the application form must be received by the deadline.
For more information about any of these grants, contact the GSCC's Rugby office.