Program Overview

This course is designed to develop your professional knowledge and skills so that you may achieve a recognised social work qualification, enabling you to apply for registration with Social Work England1.

Upon successful completion of this course, you will:

• Have developed the knowledge, cognitive skills, ethical understanding and interpersonal skills necessary for qualified social work practice
• Be able to engage with people from a diverse range of backgrounds, balancing the need to be sensitive to differences, cultural and otherwise, whilst remaining committed to upholding universal social work values
• Have developed the self-efficacy, autonomy, self-awareness, reflective ability, emotional intelligence and organisational skills to work as an effective and empathic social worker.

Why you should study this course

There aren’t many careers that make you feel like you are giving back to society in the way that social work can. Social work is much more than ‘helping people’. At its best, it helps save lives, protect vulnerable people from harm and enhances the life chances of those in social need. Approved by Social Work England, on successful completion of this course you will be eligible to apply to Social Work England to register as a social worker (additional costs apply)1.

The course facilitates transformative learning through practice-led and research-inspired teaching. You will be taught by a dedicated team of experienced social work academics with substantial practice and research experience across a range of social work practice settings. We incorporate real-life case studies, serious case review findings, and the involvement of social work practitioners and experts2 to enhance the student learning experience.

The curriculum reflects the changing demographics of society and emerging social issues. This course is designed to develop the required skills and capabilities to engage with diverse groups of people facing modern-day social problems. Many of the modules aim to equip you with an understanding of the impact of current social problems and how you may constructively and creatively respond to these.

You will receive a comprehensive induction to support your transition into a new learning environment which aims to promote positive communication and working relationships between staff and students. You will be supported through a range of university support services including welfare service, Student Success Coaches and student mentors. You will also be allocated a personal tutor who can help provide academic, personal, pastoral and welfare support. Many of the modules throughout the course are aimed at equipping you with the awareness of the nature, causation and impact on people of current social problems and how you may constructively and creatively respond to these.

You will gain practical experience during your placements in years two and three 2,5. Practice placements are sourced by the university and include a range of social work and care settings. On placement, you will learn from complex situations while being supported by experienced social work practitioners. Your personal tutor also plays a key role in ensuring that practice placement provides a quality learning experience for you and that the course requirements are met.