WIREDGOV

Social work degree applications have soared by more than 40% in the last year according to figures released by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) last week.

There were 52,238 applications to study for a degree in social work (as of 22 January 2010), an increase of 41.3% on last year's figures. This statistic has added significance as social work is also in the top 10 subject choices for all UCAS degree applications.

Jane Haywood, Chief Executive at the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC), said:

"We are delighted with this high take up to the social work degree this year and we believe this is not just a blip. There has been a consistent investment in social work over the last year through support for newly qualified social workers and their continuing development as well as a strong media campaign to recruit more social workers. It is important that we continue to highlight the importance of the social worker and the difference they make to the lives of children, young people and their families. "

In September 2009 CWDC launched the Be the difference campaign to recruit social workers with children and families, generating over 48,000 registrations to date. Six out of ten potential recruits are career changers looking to retrain as social workers, including those already holding degrees in psychology, education, sociology, and business.

The campaign is part of CWDC's £36 million workforce reform programme to tackle the significant challenges that face the children and families social work workforce today.

Anyone interested in a career in social work or would like more information should go to http://bethedifference.cwdcouncil.org.uk or call 0300 123 1220.

For more information about CWDC please contact Press and PR Manager Leigh Dowd on 0113 3907658 or at leigh.dowd@cwdcouncil.org.uk.

For further information about the campaign, please contact Band & Brown Communications on 0207 419 7000 or email socialwork@bbpr.com and ask for Rebecca Johnston, Andrew Farmer or Max Wilson.

About 'Be the difference'
Taking centre-stage in the 'Be the difference' campaign are seemingly ordinary household items including a kettle and bouncy ball, illustrating how social workers apply their training, skills and expertise to everyday objects to make major breakthroughs with children and families.

The Be the difference advertising campaign returned to TV screens on 3 January and will appear on ITV, Sky and Channel 4 until February. It is complemented by radio, print, outdoor, cinema, and online advertising, and is the second burst of the campaign which first launched on 11 September 2009.

The TV campaign was directed by iconic portrait photographer Charlie Crane with print creatives shot by renowned still life photographer Jenny Van Sommers. Actor Imelda Staunton is lending her voice to the campaign.

About CWDC and its social work campaign

Key initiatives led by CWDC include providing support to:

• more than 1,800 newly qualified social workers from 140 local authorities and 13 third sector organisations in their first year of employment. The programme offers a structured and guided first year of employment which improves social workers' skills and supports retention in the profession;
• social workers in their second and third years of employment by developing an Early Professional Development (EPD) programme. More than 800 social workers from 60 local authorities and third sector organisations started the EPD programme in September 2009;
• 11 local authorities as they develop new ways for social workers to spend more time with children and families and develop closer working relationships with colleagues from other services.

The Children's Workforce Development Council leads change so that the thousands of people working with children and young people across England are able to do the best job they possibly can. We want England's children and young people's workforce to be respected by peers and valued for the positive difference it makes to children, young people and their families. We advise and work in partnership with lots of different organisations and people who all want the lives of all children and young people to be healthy, happy and fulfilling. http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/