Program Overview

The main aim of this programme is to produce competent, reflective, analytical and research-minded social workers, who are vocationally qualified, with advanced knowledge and skills to bring about innovations through collaborative practice and continuous learning.

The programme has been accredited since 2010 and is now subject to annual monitoring and validation by Social Work England (SWE). The content and delivery of the programme is subject to continued input from a range of stakeholders, with support from an established service user group; practitioners; and both former and current students. Our teaching methods facilitate participative learning, with students engaging with practice scenarios in our simulation suite.

The School of Social Science has an active research base framed within the spheres of social justice and radical social work and prides itself on a policy oriented approach. The MA is taught within this ethos and students are encouraged to consider questions about inequalities in social work policy and practice and how they might be countered. The social work team are all research active and contribute regularly to relevant social work journals. The team has expertise in children and family social work, theorising childhood, racism and anti-racist social work, mental health and mental health user movements, youth justice, radical social work histories, community engagement and international social work.

The School also organises regular conferences that give students the opportunity to engage with some of the leading social work academics in the country. In recent year’s we have also been facilitating ‘Integration Days’ providing opportunities for social work students to further develop the links between theory, research and practice. We have held Integration days based around ‘race’ and ‘LGBTQ+’ with guest speakers from nationally known writers/campaigners and local community organisations, with small group discussion enabling students to work together to develop key themes.

The programme also offers opportunities for students to take part in field trips to Palestine, Turkey and Michigan, USA. In addition, students can opt to undertake part of their practice placement in India or Gambia.

Why choose this subject?

• Choose this subject if you want to make a difference to people’s lives and feel passionate and committed to social justice.
• Our students say: “The MA in Social Work delivered at Hope gives prospective Social Workers an opportunity to engage with what I have found to be a unique blend of traditional, mainstream and radical ideas on Social Work which is also underpinned by current and critical and cutting edge teaching and research” (Imogen Christie, MA student).
• The student intake each year is limited to 25- 30 students – you will get to know the teaching team well and also have the opportunity to develop excellent peer group support.
• The team has expertise in children and family social work, theorising childhood, racism and anti-racist social work, mental health and mental health user movements, youth justice, radical social work histories, community engagement and international social work.