Objective: Using data from our evaluation of the Frontline fast-track social work training program, introduced by the Government in England, we compare the performance of the first cohort of Frontline trainees with students from regular social work programs using simulated practice. Method: Forty-nine Frontline trainees were compared with 36 postgraduate students in high-tariff universities and 30 students from a range of other regular programs. Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to compare the performance of the three groups in interviews and written reflections. Results: Frontline trainees were rated significantly higher than comparison groups for the quality of their interviewing and written reflection. Despite these higher ratings for practice quality, the Frontline trainees’ rating of their own confidence in their abilities was lower than their counterparts on regular programs. Conclusions: The practice quality of Frontline graduates is promising. Longitudinal research is needed in real practice settings.

Frontline is a fast-track training scheme for social workers in children's services in England, which aims to attract 'outstanding' graduates who may not previously have considered a career in social work. This implies that students recruited onto the Frontline programme will be of a higher academic quality than those on mainstream social work courses. This article presents findings from an independent evaluation of the Frontline pilot stage which compared the pre-training characteristics of Frontline participants with those of social work training enrolments in England for 2013-14, derived from Higher Education Statistics Agency data, the Frontline participant database and a questionnaire administered to postgraduate students in five 'high tariff' universities. Frontline participants have significantly better prior academic qualifications than students on mainstream programmes. They are significantly younger, more likely to have parents who are graduates and more likely to have attended private schools. The Frontline programme has fewer minority ethnic students than mainstream programmes. Frontline's objective of attracting those who may not have previously considered social work as a career has featured recruitment of a more socially advantaged and less diverse group of entrants. How likely Frontline trainees are to stay in the profession remains to be seen.

This article utilises a range of secondary research methodologies in an exploration of the challenges and opportunities that have arisen from the establishment and first years of delivery of a new single and predominantly distant learning national post-qualifying framework. The CPEL framework is directly commissioned by the professional regulator Social Care Wales (SCW, formerly the Care Council for Wales (CCW)), provided by an alliance of four universities (Bangor, Cardiff, Glyndwr and Swansea) and actively involves employers, practitioners and service users in their development. Critical reflections on the early implementation of the Experienced, Senior and Consultant Programmes that contribute to the CPEL framework will help understand the key characteristics, challenges and opportunities post qualifying education for social workers can bring. The paper commences with an analysis of the moves to design a national post-qualification framework that is more accessible, flexible and responsive than the previous patchwork quilt setup , including an examination of the increased role of distance learning and the teaching methodologies that support it. It then critically summarises the specific context and developments of the CPEL framework. This is followed by substantive analyses of the key messages. These messages are of the value of; provider collaboration, quality of e learning experience, employer commitment and student perceived competence/satisfaction.