Return to Social Work

Please complete the master’s application form to apply for this course. You will need to:

• Select option 4. Non-degree courses (including Pre-sessional English Language and Executive Education)
• Choose 2025/6 Academic Year (courses starting between August 2025 and July 2026)
• Click on Return to Social Work

If you have any questions please email pgtaught.socialwork@manchester.ac.uk

Closing date for applications: 26th January 2026

Please be clear on your application form whether you have been out of practice between 2 – 5 years or more than 5 years as this is important in terms of the length of your placement.
If you are currently working for a local authority in the North West please make that clear on your application.

Please be clear if you are currently living or working in either Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside or Blackpool. Free places are available for people who can show this.

We strongly advise internationally qualified social workers to confirm if your course is recognised by Social Work England before you apply to this course as this will be required for your subsequent registration.

Social Work England also require an IELTs at Level 7 in order to register with them as a social worker. We strongly advise international applicants to obtain their required IELTs before applying as some local authorities require this in order to offer placements on this course.

Return to Social Work is a short CPD course aimed at previously registered social workers who have not been registered with Social Work England for between 2 and 5 years or 5 years plus.

If you are a qualified social worker who has been absent from practice, this course gives you the opportunity to update your knowledge and skills and revitalise your practice. Upon completion of the course you will be able to apply to re-register with Social Work England.

Duration

For people who have been out of practice for 2-5 years the course involves completing 5 taught days, 20 practice placement days and 5 private study days.

If you have been out of practice for more than 5 years you will need to complete 30 placement days with 5 taught days and 25 private study.

The 5 taught days include:

• Updates on contemporary social work practice, particularly on legislation, legal literacy, policy, safeguarding practices and mental health social work.
• Support on how to find and utilise current research and evidence to inform practice.
• Opportunities to meet with employers who support the course throughout and provide interview guidance and preparation.

Placements

The practice placement takes place in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside or Blackpool, depending on where you live or want to work. You will be given the opportunity to return to a practice setting to re-familiarise yourself with hands-on practice within a local authority or other statutory team. Placements and supervision are arranged by the Greater Manchester Social Work Academy and the Cheshire and Merseyside Teaching Partnership and Blackpool Council. Private study is also evidenced in addition to the above to meet the re-registration requirements of Social Work England. You will receive guidance on undertaking this study.

Free places

There are 45 free places for social workers who live in regions of Greater Manchester and Cheshire and Merseyside, and/or are planning to practice in these regions after they re-register with Social Work England. Places will be prioritised for returning social workers who want to work in Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside or Blackpool. If all 45 free North West places are not filled by social workers from these areas, candidates from across the North West will be considered. All course places are funded by the Workforce Workstream of the Department for Education's Regional Improvement Plan Pilot (North West).

Return to Social Work is a CPD course run jointly by The University of Manchester, the Greater Manchester Social Work Academy (GMSWA), Cheshire and Merseyside Social Work Teaching Partnership (CMSWTP) and Blackpool Council. GMSWA includes all ten local authorities within Greater Manchester, an NHS Foundation Trust and four universities. CMSWTP includes eight local authorities, two NHS Trusts, one voluntary sector organisation and four universities.

Completing this course enables social workers who have been out of practice for between 2 and 5 years plus to apply to re-register with Social Work England. After re-registration social workers are then able to apply to work in qualified social work positions.