Transforming lives and advancing social work at Blackpool Council

Blackpool-Council-Social-Work.png.png

The university has recently collaborated with Blackpool Council to help them develop the skills of their social work professionals.

Blackpool Council is a local authority which employs around 2,500 staff. It has been a unitary authority since 1998.

In recent years the council has committed to developing its social work employees by encouraging them to engage in Degree Apprenticeships.

At present they have eight employees enrolled on the University’s Degree Apprenticeship in Social Work, and 17 have completed the course.

Developed in partnership with several employers, including Blackpool Council, our Social Work Degree Apprenticeships enable students to benefit from the industry knowledge and research expertise of the University’s academic staff as they put theory into practice.

Throughout their course students consolidate their learning through workplace-based activities and by undertaking placements across other departments, widening their experience of working within a team of social work professionals.

Julie Johnson, professional lead, social work practice and standards at Blackpool Council, said: “Right from the beginning, we wanted our apprentices to be treated like any other social work students, so we did two placements in the second and third years. We decided that the first placement of 70 days should be in a different team to the one where they usually work in. The second placement of 100 days is in yet another different team, so they get a breadth of learning across the organisation. That worked absolutely brilliantly.”

Alongside the learning they engage in at the university, Blackpool Council provides its apprentices with additional learning programmes and mentoring, further enabling them to understand the links between theory and practice.

Mick Currey, professional lead in Adult Social Care at Blackpool Council, said: “The university looks at the academic development of social work theory and policy, and what we do is support the apprentices to understand it in practice. They’re already using theory all day every day - they're just not aware of it. It’s a really useful way to help them to understand what's going on in different situations and relationships.”

Mick said: “When you get a new member of staff coming into the team who’s an apprentice, they don’t need as much support as a newly qualified social worker who’s come straight from university.

"Once [the degree apprentices] qualify, they’ve already got it. Ask the apprentices and they’ll tell you "I’m trying to help people empower themselves to change their lives, and if I can’t do it, I can use statutory powers to do it. And what I’m also doing is making sure that everybody around [the person I’m trying to help] is doing what they’re supposed to do.”

Enjoyed this? Read more from University of Lancashire

Latest news

1

EG Group agrees sale of Italian business EG

EG Group agrees sale of Italian business

12 Aug 2025

2

PM+M strengthens team with four key appointments across the business Joe Ellison Laura Jeffrey Georgia Molyneux and Ben Posthuma De Boer

PM+M strengthens team with four key appointments across the business

12 Aug 2025

3

Cruise retailer goes on hiring spree after record turnover of £35m Panache Cruises new hires with James Cole

Cruise retailer goes on hiring spree after record turnover of £35m

12 Aug 2025

4

LDC invests in Panthera Biopartners to accelerate expansion Stuart Young CEO Panthera

LDC invests in Panthera Biopartners to accelerate expansion

12 Aug 2025

5

Finalists of The Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026 Announced Lancashire Tourism Awards

Finalists of The Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026 Announced

12 Aug 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
Linkedin Cover.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
03 Sep 2025 - 03 Sep 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Harewood House , Leeds, LS17 9LG

09:30 - 16:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin