Public sector recruitment agency Reed Social Care plans to offer bursaries to students who enrol in a three-year social work degree this autumn.

This is the second year Reed Social Care has offered the £3,000 bursaries to social work students, while the degree itself has only been running since September 2003.

According to Angela Morris, director for Reed Social Care, the aim of the scheme is to attract experienced social workers who wish to gain a formal qualification.

The 10 bursaries are only given to people who have already been accepted on a recognised social work degree course.

Successful applicants must commit to working for Reed Social Care as locum social workers for one year after their course.

Morris said: “Lots of local authorities offer similar incentives but apply a ‘golden handcuff’ so that if social workers don’t work for them for a certain amount of time they have to give the money back. It’s about showing we have an investment to make.”