Research and analysis

Step up to social work: surveys of the 2022 cohort

Findings from surveys of people who applied to and people who completed cohort 7 of the step up to social work programme.

From:
Department for Education
Published
29 January 2026

Applies to England

Documents

Step up to social work cohort 7: surveys of applicants and completers

Ref: ISBN 978-1-83870-740-8, RR1597

PDF, 640 KB, 75 pages

Details

The report presents and analyses headline findings from surveys of people who applied to, and those who completed, cohort 7 of the step up to social work programme.

The survey of applicants considered:

  • why they wanted a career in social work
  • why they applied
  • their future plans, if their application was unsuccessful

The survey of completers considered their:

  • satisfaction with the programme
  • employment 6 months after finishing the programme
  • job satisfaction and likelihood of staying in social work

The research investigated recruitment and retention in cohort 7, which began in January 2022.

Updates to this page

Published 29 January 2026

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