Note to all Students:

2 April 2013 - Department of Health announce new arrangements for the Social Work Bursary Scheme
 
There have been changes to the social work bursary (which although administered by the NHS Business Services Authority is NOT part of the NHS bursary). Following a consultation last year, changes are being introduced from the 2013 academic year. An announcement was made on 26 October 2012 about this: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/3765.aspx. In summary the new arrangements are:

• retaining the postgraduate bursary as is
• retaining the undergraduate bursary in years 2 and 3
• restricting the number of bursary recipients at both postgraduate and undergraduate level.
 
This means that no new undergraduates in 2013 will receive a bursary until their second year (if they are within the cap). For the 2013 academic year there will be 1500 new postgraduate bursaries available. For the 2014 academic year the cap has been set indicatively at 2500 undergraduate and 1500 postgraduate bursaries. The Department of Health (DH) will be reviewing (with the advisory group) the application of the cap in 2013 and the figures may change.

This was the option that most respondents to the consultation favoured and recognises the need to support students through study while they are on placements. While the bursary will support fewer students, the aim is for them to be of high quality. The DH recognised the bursary would work in combination with the Social Work Reform Board (SWRB) reforms on education to improve quality. A Social Work Bursary Prioritisation Advisory Group has been set up to advise on the capping arrangements and there will also be a Monitoring Group with wider membership. You can read more about this here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/10/social-work-bursary/. The consultation response document will be published at a later date and we will share this will you once it is available.

The DH have been working with the advisory group on the capping methodology and hope to make further details available soon. Information booklets for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and students are also being prepared.

Social Work Bursary
 
The Department of Health have confirmed that no changes will be made to the social work bursary for the 2012 academic year.  Department of Health will consult in the new year on reforming the bursary with changes planned to take place from the 2013 academic year.
 
Existing students, including those starting in the 2012 academic year will continue to receive the bursary at the existing rates.  

You can read about the consultation by clicking this link: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/05/consultation-launched-on-social-work-bursary/.