Frontline awarded £61m government contract to train child protection social workers

re The contract has been awarded to the organisation that was founded in 2013 by Josh MacAlister, who chaired the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care.

• Workforce shortage is threat to care reforms

• International safeguarding practice

It will see Frontline deliver the next iteration of the national fast-track social work training programme to train 500 people a year specialising in child protection, over three years from September next year.

Frontline says the contract specifically for child protection roles means Frontline’s flagship social care training programme is “evolving to meet the requirements of the DfE and the needs of the sector”.

It comes following the government’s response to the Care Review, which shares plans for its £45m Families First for Children Pathfinder.

The pathfinder, which will be rolled out in 12 local authorities over the next few years, will test a new model of multi-disciplinary support for families facing challenges such as domestic abuse and poor mental health before they reach crisis point.

The services will include the creation of the new specialist child protection lead role.

Mary Jackson, Frontline’s chief executive, said: “We have already brought over 2,000 people into the profession and are delighted to have the opportunity to keep doing this. We remain as committed as ever to training and developing many more skilled social workers working to protect children and keep them safe from harm. This is key to helping us achieve our mission to create social change for children by developing excellent social work practice, leadership and innovation.”

Claire Coutinho, children, families and wellbeing minister, added: “This programme continues to be a key part of our investment in the sector and will help build out the workforce, to create better outcomes for children and families across the country.”