Report: Independent evaluation of Frontline fast-track social work pilot
Frontline is a fast-track training scheme for social workers in child protection, which aims to attract outstanding graduates who may not previously have considered a career in social work.
Compared to most mainstream students, the training model emphasises direct practice skills, with a single over-arching theoretical framework – a systemic model – and teaching of two evidence-based interventions, i.e. motivational interviewing and a parenting programme based on social learning theory. Frontline participants have generous financial support and considerable resources are invested in selecting the best possible candidates. Frontline has some strong supporters and backing from many employers but has not been welcomed by some in the profession, especially some social work academics.
It has been claimed that it has an overly narrow focus on child protection, that the duration of the training is too short and that it may be more suited as a post-qualifying course for social workers wishing to specialise in child protection and systemic practice. Frontline accepted its first cohort of graduate trainees in 2014. Originally funded as a pilot, this evaluation considers the pilot stage only.
Evaluation objectives
The Department for Education set out the following objectives for the independent evaluation:
- Assess whether Frontline is successful in attracting high quality graduates
- Examine the quality of the delivery of Frontline to assess whether the key elements are being delivered to a high standard
- Measure objectively how well Frontline prepares participants to be outstanding social workers
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/frontline-pilot-independent-evaluation
