Oldham Council is recruiting Social Work Apprentices in Children's Social Care, offering trainees £32,578 a year while they study, with university fees paid for them. The opportunity is aimed at people looking for a more rewarding career, including career changers, and applications must be submitted by 23:59 on Sunday 1 November 2026, so anyone interested needs to act this weekend. The council says applicants must be aged 18 or over, with no upper age limit, and people who already hold a degree can still apply, although the apprenticeship itself is at undergraduate level.

Earn while you qualify

The programme runs part-time over two and a half years at Manchester Metropolitan University's campus in central Manchester, typically with one or two days a week on campus and three or four days a week on placement. Over 30 months, apprentices train and qualify as social workers by completing a Social Work degree (BSc) through the Social Work Apprenticeship Programme, building the resilience, knowledge and compassion the role demands. The next cohort starts studying in early March 2027, and shortlisted candidates will attend a one-hour assessment centre on 17 or 18 November, followed by interviews on 1, 2 or 3 December and an online comprehension test with the university on 9 December. The council also highlights its benefits package, including 25 days of annual leave, a local government pension scheme and staff discounts, for apprentices who join its workforce. Apply through the official advert (reference 001774) at https://www.greater.jobs/job/75845953 before the deadline, and read the job description and programme booklet attached to the advert before submitting your application.

Apply through the official advert (reference 001774) at Greater Jobs: Social Work Apprentice, Oldham Council.