CPD courses
Build on your skills and experience
Keep your knowledge up-to-date while working in the field.
If you're a qualified social worker wanting to enhance your experience and knowledge, our CPD courses will allow you to do so by fitting study around your job.
Whether you want to move into a leadership role or build your capabilities for other opportunities, our CPD courses will help you to achieve your goals.
Courses include:
- Nursing, midwifery and social work Level 6 (UG CPD units)
- Nursing, midwifery and social work Level 7 (PG CPD units)
- Return to Social Work
You can also search a full list of the Faculty's CPD courses.
On this page:
Contact us
How can we help?
If you have a query about a specific course, including admissions-related questions, you will find contact details for that programme on the relevant course page.
If you're a business and want to find out how we can help you with CPD for your staff, please refer to our CPD for businesses page.
Return to social work
30 days to update your skills, knowledge and experience as a social worker returning to practice.
As a previously registered social worker who has not been registered with Social Work England (SWE) for between 2-5 years, this course will enable you to re-register and return to practice.
Social Work England refers to this process as restoration. Find out more about restoration on the Social Work England website.
The Return to Social Work programme is run by The University of Manchester and the Greater Manchester Social Work Academy (GMSWA). The GMSWA is a Social Work Teaching Partnership which includes all ten local authorities within Greater Manchester, one health trust and four universities. The programme is devised to offer a robust mechanism for social workers to meet registration requirements and apply to Social Work England for re-registration.
Support from employers across Greater Manchester ensures that the course will prepare you to be confident in your updated knowledge and skills.
The course comprises:
5 days of refresher training
You will receive updates on social work practice, particularly on legislation and safeguarding practices. You will be supported in seeking out current research and evidence to inform your practice and to prepare for employment. Employers will join the programme to provide interview guidance and undertake mock interviews with you directly.
10 days of supervised practice placement
You will have the opportunity to return to a practice setting to re-familiarise yourself with hands-on practice within a local authority or other statutory team. You will be offered supervision to guide you in this process. Placements and practice supervisors will be arranged by GMSWA.
15 days of private study
This will be evidenced in addition to the above to meet SWE requirements. This can be completed independently, or guidance can be given.
Course details
Upcoming dates
Refresher training
- Monday 15, Tuesday 16, Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 of April 2024.
- Wednesday, 22 May 2024.
Supervised practice placement
A ten day placement within Greater Manchester, organised in conjunction with availability of the candidate and placement provider between the dates of Monday, 22 April and Wednesday, 22 May 2024.
Course fee
The programme is offered free to qualified social workers living within Greater Manchester who intend to work for a Greater Manchester local authority after completing their studies. GMSWA are fully funding these places for applicants who meet this criteria.
Social workers from outside Greater Manchester can self-fund for £1,500.