A “GROUNDBREAKING initiative” to improve training and standards among social workers is being run by the University of Bradford and Bradford Social Ser-vices.

The pilot scheme to upskill social workers is being funded by the Council and is backed by the Department for Education.

It will be run as part of the Bradford Social Work Teaching Partnership with the aim of upskilling dozens of frontline social workers and give students valuable first-hand experience of what social work entails.

The university is due to enrol up to 30 social services staff seconded from the council onto a programme created especially for them.

In addition, Bradford Social Services will provide up to 40 placements for students on university social work programmes.

Robert Strachan, head of the Social Work and Care department at the University, said: "The staff in both the Social Work Department at The University of Bradford and, under the auspices of The Bradford Teaching Partnership, Bradford Social Services staff, have worked incredibly hard to develop and deliver this truly groundbreaking initiative.”

Robert Mitchell, Director of Adult Social Services at Bradford Council, said: “This will lead to more people experiencing first class social work education, practice placement opportunities and hopefully fulfilling careers within social work services to the benefit of children, young people, families and adults at risk across our local communities.”