What the national offer is
From autumn 2027, you will be able to access a national offer made up of 5 programmes that support you at different stages of your social work career.
| Programme | Aim | Who it is for | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
Early career development programme | Provide structured early career development based on national standards, replacing Assessed and Support Year in Employment (ASYE) | Registered newly qualified child and family social workers in statutory roles within 3 years of qualifying (does not include agency) | 2 years |
Lead child protection practitioner programme | Develop lead child protection practice based on national standards | Experienced social workers in, or moving into lead child protection practitioner roles | 12 months |
Family help team management programme | Strengthen team management in family help services | Family help team managers in statutory children’s social care | Approximately 6 months (26 weeks) within a 12‑month cycle |
Leadership programme | Build senior leadership capability across children’s social care | Middle and senior leaders, including heads of service | 12 months |
Directors of children’s services (DCSs) leadership programme | Develop current and future directors of children’s services | New and interim DCSs and selected aspiring DCSs | Up to 12 months |
How this supports your development
The national offer supports children's social care reforms and aims to provide you with a consistent approach to professional development as child and family social workers.
It will help you:
- strengthen your practice, supervision and leadership skills
- build your capability and confidence, and support you to stay in the profession
- follow clear and structured career pathways
- deliver consistent, high‑quality practice wherever you work
- improve outcomes for children and families you support
All programmes are underpinned by Social Work England’s professional standards and align to national standards, including:
- early career standards
- lead child protection practitioner standards
- the national framework for children’s social care
How you will access the programmes
The national offer provides a clear and consistent model for development, aligning with national standards and expectations.
Your employer will:
- give you access to nationally developed programmes and materials
- support your learning in your local practice context
- work with approved training providers who meet national quality standards
Keep up to date with developments
We will provide regular updates as the national offer is developed.
You can:
- check this website for the latest information
- look out for updates from the Department for Education
- engage with sector communications through your organisation
These resources have been developed by
Department for Education.
Published: 23 June 2026
Last updated: 23 June 2026
Published: 23 June 2026
Last updated: 23 June 2026