Consultation on funding placements for social work students

The Department of Health has launched a consultation looking at new ways of funding placements for social work students to make sure money is spent most efficiently and provides students with excellent learning opportunities.

The consultation is asking for people’s views on how the Education Support Grant (ESG) could be set up to make sure it stays within its £28million budget. The grant has been running more and more over budget year on year and the current annual overspend is about £3million.

It also looks at how the quality of placements can be improved as a result of these proposals. This includes looking at giving higher education institutes more flexibility over how this grant is spent, so they can reward the providers that offer high quality placements or work with others to improve standards. This will ensure every social work student has access to high quality practical experience before they begin their career.

The Department of Health has worked with a range of stakeholders in developing these options.

To download the consultation document and response form visit www.gov.uk/government/consultations/funding-placements-for-social-work-students.

The consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 6 December. Responses should be sent by email to ESGconsultation@dh.gsi.gov.uk or post to ESG Consultation, 2N12 Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UE.