Social Work England

The guiding principles of equality, diversity and inclusion are core to our new strategy and these principles are championed by our chair and with our board. Our board’s hosting of a boardroom apprentice in Year 1 is testament to its commitment to supporting diversity in public appointments and to developing a talent pipeline to achieve this. We want to build on this by hosting a Year 2 boardroom apprentice. We can offer a stimulating and supportive learning environment for a boardroom apprentice:

Our board has a positive attitude to learning and development

Positive working relationships have been established between non executive directors and our executive leadership team and the wider organisation. The chair of the board, committee chairs and non executive directors are open and willing to provide support to a boardroom apprentice. Building on what we provided for our Year 1 boardroom apprentice, we can offer a comprehensive induction involving introductory meetings with our executive leadership team and assistant directors. We can also provide a diversity of corporate governance experience through our policy, audit, risk and assurance committee and main board meetings. We will provide a non executive director as a supportive ‘buddy’. We aim for the learning exchange to be mutually beneficial, so that our host board can share their experience, but also gain insight and knowledge from our boardroom apprentice and the wider learning opportunities that the programme has to offer. 

Our governance arrangements will be renewed

Lord Patel of Bradford OBE recently stepped down as chair of our board. Dr Andrew McCulloch stepped up as interim chair on 1 March 2023 to serve in this role until a substantive chair is in place. Recruitment for the new Chair will take place through the rest of 2023 to be in post by March 2024. We will also see 2 new board members appointed by the Secretary of State for Education this year.

We have a new strategy

In steering forward our new strategy, our board is keen to be more visible and to build on its stakeholder engagement, through our Regional Engagement Leads and our National Advisory Forum, and through wider opportunities, Hosting a boardroom apprentice for a second year will add value and fresh insight towards this approach. 

We are focused on delivery and improvement

In accordance with high standards of corporate governance good practice, our board conducted an annual self-appraisal of its performance. The findings from this exercise are informing the board’s strategy and training plan for 2023 to 2024. Areas identified for further development include a review of the board induction process and increasing visibility of the board with staff and key stakeholders.

We listen, engage and co produce with those directly influenced by our work

Our board and its committees have agreed to provide this opportunity for a Boardroom Apprentice to support the development of the talent pool for prospective boardroom candidates. We believe we can offer a welcoming and supportive Host Board environment and we are eager for the new insight and learning this opportunity would open up for our Board members, leadership team and management.