The training office and directors of the company decide to support three of their members of staff through social work training. This involves agreeing to pay the fees and also provide practice placements where the students can be assessed. Bessington has often offered placements to students who were not employees, so they have a qualified practice teacher who can support and assess the students. Bessington also has good links with other local organisations, through which students have been able to ‘swap’ placements to give them experience of a different work base.

Bessington Care provides each sponsored student with a day a week to do their studies. Employees study whilst remaining in contact with the children who they work with. This consistency is very important. The sponsored students also welcome the support and enjoy talking about their essays and studies generally with each other.