Apprentice Social Worker

Sunderland City Council

Sunderland (SR1 3AD)

Closes in 14 days (Friday 6 March 2026)

Posted on 19 February 2026

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Contents

Summary

Sunderland City Council, in partnership with the University of Sunderland, is delighted to offer an exciting three‑year, fully funded  Degree Apprenticeship. This is your chance to gain a recognised professional qualification while working within a dynamic, forward‑thinking Adult Social Care service.

Wage

£26,403 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Grade 3 (SCP 7 - 11) £26,403 - £28,142

Training course
Social worker (integrated degree) (level 6)
Hours
Typically Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (with the ability to work flexibly and on an agile basis at various locations).

37 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

3 years 6 months

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

  • You will work with a range of customers, carers and families to assess, monitor and review the care and support of individuals using a strengths-based approac
  • Under the supervision of your manager, you will experience a range of work with adults, their carers and families, which will gradually increase in complexity as your skills, knowledge and confidence develop
  • You will complete 2 placements (1 of 70 days and 1 of 100 days) in social work teams
  • You will take responsibility for effectively managing your own supervised caseload and activity
  • With support from your manager, you will be responsible for ensuring all written, financial and electronic records are maintained and managed to the organisation’s standards
  • To complete all required academic elements and self-directed learning to enable you to complete the apprenticeship degree in Social Work
  • To complete any other training deemed necessary to meet the duties and responsibilities of the post
  • To ensure that practice is informed by evidence and theory
  • To uphold social work values including being person centred and taking a strengths-based approach to work with families and individuals
  • To undertake a range of assessments and evidence-based interventions in partnership with customers, carers and families alongside multi agency colleagues in accordance with agreed policies, procedures and guidance
  • To develop skills that will enable you to understand and analyse the needs of adults, their families and informal networks by gathering information through direct work with them
  • To develop skills that will enable you to understand and correctly assess levels of need in order to formulate Care and Support Plans with clearly measurable outcomes
  • Develop knowledge of and understanding of legislative frameworks related to social work in adult services
  • You will be supported to develop excellent communication skills in order to effectively communicate with customers, carers, families, internal and external agencies and partners
  • You will be supported to take part in multi-agency work and close partnership work with customers, carers and other professionals.
  • You will actively support in all areas of the work as appropriate and work within a team
  • Undertake such other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grading and nature of the post

 

Where you'll work

Plater Way
Sunderland
SR1 3AD

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND

Training course

Social worker (integrated degree) (level 6)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Ensure professional ethical standards are developed, maintained and promoted.
  • Take responsibility for your decisions and recommendations.
  • Be aware of the impact of your own values on practice.
  • Exercise authority as a Social Worker within the appropriate legal and ethical frameworks.
  • Ensure the highest standard of person centred approach, so that people are treated with dignity and their rights, values and autonomy are respected.
  • Practise in a non-discriminatory manner.
  • Hear the views of people who use services, carers, their families and communities, recognise their expertise, and enable their views to have validity and influence.
  • Promote the best interests of people who use services, carers, their families and communities.
  • Work with people to enable them to make informed decisions and exercise their rights.
  • Work to promote individual growth, development and independence.
  • Undertake assessments of need and/or capacity.
  • Initiate resolution of issues and use initiative.
  • Gather, analyse, critically evaluate, and use research information and knowledge in your practice to develop an understanding of the individual’s situation.
  • Make and receive referrals appropriately.
  • Use social work methods, theories, and models to enable individuals to identify actions to achieve change and improve life opportunities.
  • Manage and weigh up competing/conflicting values or interests to make reasoned professional judgement.
  • Work within scope of practice as an autonomous professional.
  • Maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct.
  • Manage the physical and emotional impact of your practice.
  • Identify and apply strategies to build professional and emotional resilience.
  • Use supervision to support and enhance the quality of your practice.
  • Maintain your own health and well-being.
  • Recognise the need to manage workloads and resources effectively.
  • Keep your skills, knowledge and ongoing professional development up to date.
  • Show an awareness of current and relevant legislation.
  • Use a range of research methodologies to inform your practice.
  • Work in partnership with others
  • Balance appropriate levels of autonomy within a complex system of accountability
  • Respond appropriately to unexpected situations, identify and challenge practices which present a risk to, or from, people you are working with, their carers or others in order to uphold professional requirements.
  • Respond appropriately to signs of harm, abuse and neglect.
  • Establish and maintain personal and professional boundaries.
  • Follow health and safety policies and procedures.
  • Communicate in English at the level required by Social Work England.
  • Communicate your role and purpose sensitively and clearly, using appropriate language and methods.
  • Communicate in a way which is engaging, respectful, motivating, and effective, even when dealing with conflict or resistance to change.
  • Exercise professional curiosity.
  • Have difficult conversations with empathy.
  • Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills.
  • Engage with individuals and their families/carers and sustain effective relationships in order to effect change
  • Engage effectively in inter-professional and inter-agency working to achieve positive outcomes.
  • Support networks, groups, and communities to meet needs and outcomes.
  • Maintain accurate and complete records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols, and guidelines.
  • Prepare formal reports in line with legislation, policies, and procedures.
  • Critically reflect on/review practice and record the outcomes of reflection appropriately.
  • Present reports in formal settings.
  • Use technology to manage your work.
  • Use technology to communicate appropriately.
  • Maintain individuals’ information security and protect data.
  • Advise people on how to use assistive technology.
  • Promote the use of technology to achieve better outcomes.
  • Ensure professional ethical standards are developed, maintained and promoted.
  • Take responsibility for your decisions and recommendations.
  • Be aware of the impact of your own values on practice.
  • Exercise authority as a Social Worker within the appropriate legal and ethical frameworks.
  • Ensure the highest standard of person centred approach, so that people are treated with dignity and their rights, values and autonomy are respected.
  • Practise in a non-discriminatory manner.
  • Hear the views of people who use services, carers, their families and communities, recognise their expertise, and enable their views to have validity and influence.
  • Promote the best interests of people who use services, carers, their families and communities.
  • Work with people to enable them to make informed decisions and exercise their rights.
  • Work to promote individual growth, development and independence.
  • Undertake assessments of need and/or capacity.
  • Initiate resolution of issues and use initiative.
  • Gather, analyse, critically evaluate, and use research information and knowledge in your practice to develop an understanding of the individual’s situation.
  • Make and receive referrals appropriately.
  • Use social work methods, theories, and models to enable individuals to identify actions to achieve change and improve life opportunities.
  • Manage and weigh up competing/conflicting values or interests to make reasoned professional judgement.
  • Work within scope of practice as an autonomous professional.
  • Maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct.
  • Manage the physical and emotional impact of your practice.
  • Identify and apply strategies to build professional and emotional resilience.
  • Use supervision to support and enhance the quality of your practice.
  • Maintain your own health and well-being.
  • Recognise the need to manage workloads and resources effectively.
  • Keep your skills, knowledge and ongoing professional development up to date.
  • Show an awareness of current and relevant legislation.
  • Use a range of research methodologies to inform your practice.
  • Work in partnership with others
  • Balance appropriate levels of autonomy within a complex system of accountability
  • Respond appropriately to unexpected situations, identify and challenge practices which present a risk to, or from, people you are working with, their carers or others in order to uphold professional requirements.
  • Respond appropriately to signs of harm, abuse and neglect.
  • Establish and maintain personal and professional boundaries.
  • Follow health and safety policies and procedures.
  • Communicate in English at the level required by Social Work England.
  • Communicate your role and purpose sensitively and clearly, using appropriate language and methods.
  • Communicate in a way which is engaging, respectful, motivating, and effective, even when dealing with conflict or resistance to change.
  • Exercise professional curiosity.
  • Have difficult conversations with empathy.
  • Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills.
  • Engage with individuals and their families/carers and sustain effective relationships in order to effect change
  • Engage effectively in inter-professional and inter-agency working to achieve positive outcomes.
  • Support networks, groups, and communities to meet needs and outcomes.
  • Maintain accurate and complete records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols, and guidelines.
  • Prepare formal reports in line with legislation, policies, and procedures.
  • Critically reflect on/review practice and record the outcomes of reflection appropriately.
  • Present reports in formal settings.
  • Use technology to manage your work.
  • Use technology to communicate appropriately.
  • Maintain individuals’ information security and protect data.
  • Advise people on how to use assistive technology.
  • Promote the use of technology to achieve better outcomes.

Training schedule

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4 / C or above)
  • Maths (grade 4 / C or above)

Other in:

Any (grade Pass)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Customer care skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Team working
  • Relevant work experience
  • Professional boundaries
  • Report writing skills
  • Accountable
  • Resilient
  • Self-Motivated

Other requirements

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Experience in an Adult Social Care setting – paid or voluntary.

About this employer

Sunderland is a city full of ambition, and Sunderland City Council is a brilliant place to grow your career. We’re passionate about creating the best possible environment for our employees, communities, and local businesses to thrive. With around 2,500 employees delivering a wide range of services across the city, we offer opportunities at every level and in many different areas. Whether you’re just starting out in employment or looking for your next challenge, every role plays a vital part in helping us provide excellent services for the people of Sunderland. Come and be part of something meaningful and help shape the future of our city.

https://www.northeastjobs.org.uk/job/Apprentice_Social_Worker/291929 (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Access to Pension Scheme

26 days leave + bank hols

Statutory & organisational sick pay

3 days paid leave per year for voluntary work

Employee wellbeing support

Discounted public transport travel pass

Disability Confident

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Qualified Social Worker.

 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000016707.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Friday 6 March 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.