Oxfordshire County Council
Return to Social Work Programme – Children’s Social Care
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Rebuild Your Confidence. Refresh Your Practice. Return to Social Work with Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire County Council is pleased to offer an established Return to Social Work Programme for qualified social workers who have taken a break from practice and are looking to return to frontline Children’s Social Care.
We recognise that returning to practice can feel daunting. Our programme is designed to support, refresh and rebuild your social work skills and confidence through a structured, supportive and flexible return to statutory practice.
About the Programme
Our Return to Social Work Programme provides a structured supervised pathway aligned to Social Work England restoration requirements, enabling you to update your knowledge, evidence your practice, and return safely and confidently to professional social work.
Depending on how long you have been out of practice, you will follow one of the following routes:
- Pathway 1 (for returners away from practice approximately 2–5 years)
- Pathway 2 (for returners away 5+ years)
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What We Offer
As part of the programme, you will receive:
- A supervised practice placement within a Children’s Social Care statutory team
- Regular supervision from an experienced registered social worker
- Support from the Social Work Professional Development Centre (SWPDC)
- Induction and reflective learning programme covering safeguarding, assessment, recording and ethics
- Opportunities for direct observation and feedback
- Support to complete a professional portfolio mapped to Social Work England Professional Standards
- Guaranteed interview for substantive Social Worker post (Grade 10) with Oxfordshire County Council following successful completion of the programme and restoration of SWE registration
Who We’re Looking For
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This programme is suitable for you if:
- You hold a recognised social work qualification
- You have previously practised as a registered social worker in the UK and have experience working with Children and Families.
- You are currently not registered with Social Work England and need to restore your registration
- You are committed to returning to children and families social work
- You are reflective, motivated, and willing to engage in learning and supervision
- You meet Social Work England’s eligibility requirements for restoration
Our Commitment to You
At Oxfordshire County Council, we:
- Value reflective, relationship-based practice
- Prioritise learning, development and wellbeing
- Offer flexible working options wherever possible
- Are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion
We want you to feel supported, welcomed, and confident as you return to practice.
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Jessica, London
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