Help Shape the Future of Ireland’s Social Work Workforce

The Social Work Apprenticeship offers organisations a meaningful way to develop a skilled, diverse, and work‑ready social work workforce. As Ireland’s first Level 9 CORU‑approved professional apprenticeship, the programme blends rigorous academic learning with sustained on‑the‑job experience, and employers play a vital role in making this model successful.

Although UCC leads the academic delivery, the apprenticeship is delivered nationwide, with apprentices currently employed across 23 counties. This means the programme is not limited to Cork‑based employers - organisations across Ireland can participate and grow their own future social workers within their local services.

Over the two-years apprenticeship, apprentices spend more than 50% of their time on-the-job, completing five employer‑based practice blocks, including two CORU‑assessed placements. This extended exposure to frontline environments enables apprentices to integrate theory with practice and develop professional judgement, resilience, and confidence.

When at UCC, apprentices study alongside traditional‑route students and complete the exact same Master of Social Work or Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies that UCC has always delivered. The academic programme has not changed - the apprenticeship is simply an additional pathway into this long‑established professional qualification.

Apprentices are fully registered UCC students and have full access to all university supports, including academic skills support, digital learning resources, wellbeing services, disability supports, counselling, and the Skills Centre.

Whether you are considering hiring one apprentice or a larger group, we are here to guide you through every stage of becoming an apprentice employer.

Why Become an Apprentice Employer?

Build your future workforce

Apprentices are employed for the full two years of the programme, enabling them to grow professionally within your organisation. Employers consistently report the value of this continuity:

“Apprentices are fully integrated into teams and make a meaningful impact from day one.”
Tusla Apprentice Coordinator

Support diversity and widen access to the profession

The apprenticeship opens doors for people with a wide range of experiences – for example frontline workers, individuals with lived experience, and those entering higher education for the first time.

“A gamechanger… bringing a more diverse cohort into social work.”
Vivian Guerin, Former Chair, Irish Association of Social Workers

Contribute to a national workforce solution

The apprenticeship responds to long‑standing national shortages in social work. By participating, employers actively strengthen the talent pipeline across Ireland.

 

Your Role as an Employer

Support high-quality learning in a practice setting

Throughout the apprenticeship, learners spend more than half of their time on-the-job, completing five blocks in your organisation, two of which are CORU‑assessed placements. Your organisation provides the real-world experience, challenge, and learning conditions that help apprentices develop strong professional skills and confidence.

Appoint a qualified mentor

Every employer must provide at least one mentor, or two co‑mentors, to support the apprentice throughout the two‑year programme. Mentoring responsibilities apply during the apprentice’s on‑the‑job blocks, but mentors are not expected to provide supervision or support during the periods when apprentices are completing their off‑the‑job learning at UCC.

Mentors must be CORU‑registered social workers with a minimum of three years’ post‑registration experience, and they receive dedicated training from UCC. 

What Support Will Your Organisation Receive?

✔ Tailored mentor training including the option to complete a 5‑ECTS mentoring module
✔ Support from the programme’s Work-Based Learning Coordinators at UCC.
✔ Clear guidance on expectations, assessment, and apprentice progression
✔ Regular meetings with other apprentice employers

✔ Ongoing communication and problem‑solving support
✔ Hybrid academic delivery enabling participation from apprentices nationwide.

Who Can Become an Employer?

Any organisation employing CORU-registered social workers can apply, including:

• Child protection and family support services
• Hospitals and healthcare settings
• Mental health and disability services
• Community and voluntary organisations
• Probation, justice, and semi‑state bodies

Interested in Hiring Social Work Apprentices?

Whether you are exploring the idea or ready to recruit, we’d love to hear from you.

We can talk you through:

• registering with the National Apprenticeship Office
• application process
• recruitment timelines
• mentor training
• programme commitments
• supports available for employers

Get in touch, and help us to strengthen the future of social work in Ireland.