Councils offer social care graduate training schemes

University leavers looking to find a graduate job in the social care industry of the public sector may be interested in working for their local council.

Several London councils such as Newham and Tower Hamlets are helping young people get into graduate jobs by providing social care work experience and training through schemes, according to the Guardian.

One law degree-holder, James Beckles, joined the Newham scheme in October 2007 and so far has enjoyed paid-for postgraduate training, investigating the experiences of children in care and working on a council strategy.

He told the newspaper: “There’s a recession, so there is more competition for jobs, but we are in a position where we are able to compete.”

Children’s secretary Ed Balls recently announced a funding effort of £58 million to encourage 200 graduates into social care services in the wake of the Baby P scandal.