Learning Journey – Staff Story 1
I have worked for Salford Adult Social Care for twenty years, during this time I was given the opportunity to complete two secondments one with the enablement project and one opening a new extra care scheme in Salford. I have always been encouraged and supported by the Learning and Development team. I completed my social work apprenticeship in September 2022 and was supported through my ASYE in November 2023. Following completion of my ASYE I was given the opportunity to present to the Chief Social Worker for England, and this led to me writing a blog that she shared on her page. I have been supported to do my Best Interests Assessor training and have completed my first assessment. I am now working towards my level three, experienced social worker progression. I will also be applying for my practice educator training in April, it is really important to me to give back some of the support and knowledge I have learned through the encouragement and opportunities I have been given from the Learning and Development team and from Salford.
Learning Journey – Staff Story 2
I currently work within a community social work team in Salford. I joined the team as a student in March 2022 for my 100-day placement. I was welcomed straight into the team and despite the impact from the covid-19 pandemic still affecting practice I was able to begin my placement and fully observe my colleagues through shadowing their visits.
My interest in social work began through my life experiences, I had left a domestically violent relationship and moved back to Manchester with my three children and started to care for my grandmother who had dementia. Within this time, I had reflected upon my life and its direction and wanted to use my experience to help others and enrolled on a college course and this led to applying to university. From this I completed my degree in social work, and my journey began with Salford.
From starting my journey in Salford as a student I knew that I wished to remain within my team to build upon my skills and knowledge when I gained my professional registration. I had settled well and felt extremely supported within my role from management and my colleague’s and immensely enjoyed working with the clientele base in the locality due to its vast demographic base. Since qualifying I have gone on to continuously develop my skills and knowledge base immensely and utilised the capability requirements as a guideline to do so as set out under the PCF. This was done initially through the ASYE programme and then the following year where I was compounding my skills and knowledge. I am now in a position of completing my level 3 experienced social worker progression in Salford.
I am looking forward to further developing my career and in the future, I am looking to complete the Best Interests Assessor and Practice Educator courses to build upon my skills and support others on their own learning journey.
Learning Journey – Staff Story 3
I’ve worked in Salford Adult Social Care for over a decade. I started in the Adult Health and Social Care Contact Team as an admin officer, I was able to progress into a Community Assessment Officer post there and later moved onto a community team after being accepted onto the Apprenticeship Programme. This was a decision that truly changed my life, and not just mine, but my family’s too.
For the past five years, I’ve been part of the Walkden Team, where I’ve grown both professionally and personally. I’ve found my voice and my passion, especially in supporting people with compassion and dignity. This is a story of that journey.
The journey hasn’t been easy. I had to take two significant breaks from work after losing my dad and my gran, two of the biggest role models in my life. When I was grieving, I honestly didn’t think I could come back to the job. It felt too painful, too close to home. I doubted myself and whether I could carry on.
What helped me was the final university module on grief and loss. It gave me the space to understand myself better and recognise the stages of grief I was going through. It helped me realise that I wasn’t alone, and that what I was feeling was valid. Coming out the other side, I saw that I could use my experience, my dad’s journey with cancer and my grans with dementia, to support other families. I could offer empathy, not just from training, but from lived experience.
I wouldn’t be standing here today, as a qualified Social Worker (registration pending!), without the support of my colleagues and my manager. They encouraged me, believed in me, and helped rebuild my confidence when I needed it most. Their support reminded me that even when life throws its hardest challenges at you, you can still achieve something meaningful.
So, if you’re thinking about doing the apprenticeship, but you’re worried about what life might throw your way, I want you to know that it’s possible. You can do it. And you won’t be doing it alone.
September 2025
