FOUR new social workers will be joining Wiltshire Council's child protection team as part of training programme Frontline's expansion into the south west of England.

More places have become available to join the Frontline programme and the charity has reopened applications for the programme today until Sunday 16 December.

The two-year programme includes a five-week summer institute before joining the local authority's children services’ department where the trainees - top graduates and career changers -work towards becoming a fully-qualified social worker.

In the second year participants will be working in their local authority as a newly qualified social worker while also studying towards a Master’s degree.

In the South West of England, there are currently over 5,000 looked-after children, with 34,960 children referred to and assessed by children's social services in the last year.

To apply to join the Frontline programme, visit thefrontline.org.uk/apply/.

Josh MacAlister, Frontline’s Chief Executive said:

"Children and families often on the fringes of society rely on social workers to stand alongside them during their most difficult moments. We need more outstanding individuals joining the profession to support vulnerable children and families up and down the country.

"It is an exciting prospect that we will now be able to support an even greater number of children and families with the announcement of our expansion into eight local authorities across the South West."