The University of East Anglia, whose School of Social Work consistently tops league tables, has teamed up with Suffolk and Essex County Councils to provide jobs and the chance of a place on a highly rated MA course.

"Social work has had a bad press over recent years, but it can be one of the most rewarding professions - a job where you can really make a difference," said Professor June Thoburn, Dean of Social Work at UEA.

"The trouble is that, for people who have already graduated and want to start a career in social work, it can be a bit of a Catch-22: you usually need experience to secure a place on a masters course - but you need an MA combined with a recognised social work qualification to obtain a social work post," said Prof Thoburn, a leading international expert on child care and adoption, who has advised the Government on its child welfare policies. "We hope this partnership approach, including financial support for the MA course, will attract good graduates who have some experience in a helping role but may not previously have thought of a career in professional social work, as well as those who graduated some time ago and whose life experience has led them to think of it."

Trainees will be offered a social work assistant or similar post by Suffolk or Essex Social Services department for 12 months then, all being well, will be offered a place on the UEA MA/Diploma in Social Work programme - supported by a student bursary. They will be expected to continue to work for the local authority for a further two years.

If you are a graduate with a good degree - in any subject - and want to expand your experience of working in a caring role, why not find out more?

For application form and further details, contact: Norma Blake, School of Social Work and Psychosocial Studies, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ. Tel: 01603 592068, email norma.blake@uea.ac.uk or see: www.uea.ac.uk/swk