Planning your career in children's social care

There are a variety of rewarding roles in children's social care ranging from support workers, residential care workers and personal assistants (these are examples, not an exhaustive list).

There is a national framework that can help you plan your career and see the different opportunities and pathways to develop your career. For more information about the national children's social care framework see Gov.uk: Children's social care - national framework.

Free training to start a career in Children's Social Care

The Care Academy offers free and flexible training to give you all the skills you need to start a career in children's social care - including personalised support and the opportunity to apply for a role in one of the council's Children's Homes.

Make a real difference to lives of those who need our support the most.

Who the course is for

In County Durham we provide services for children and young people who require the support of dedicated and highly skilled care and support staff, particularly those who cannot live at home or those with an additional need who enjoy short breaks from home.

If you've got a caring nature and would like to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people in County Durham, this course is a great opportunity to get the entry-level skills needed to begin a rewarding career in children's social care.

This free, part-time programme runs over 10 weeks and can be either face-to-face or online.

What you will learn:

development of children
Children's Home Regulations and Key Quality Standards
effective communication and working in a team
the rights of the child
Equality and Diversity
developing positive relationships with young people to support the achievement of health and wellbeing
developing positive relationships with young people to support the achievement of positive outcomes
safeguarding
employability skills and personal development including interview skills and preparation for work