Opis tego kierunku w języku polskim znajdziesz tu>>
COURSE OVERVIEW
Train as a social worker, both in university and out on placement, with this accelerated postgraduate course. Places are fully funded by the Government: apply through the Department for Education from February 2019.
Step Up to Social Work is a Government-led initiative to encourage graduates with related experience into the field of practice with children and families.
Our course is taught by passionate, knowledgeable tutors and practitioners. We’ll support you to integrate academic knowledge with the practical skills you need to support services users.
Days in university will be spent focusing on social work knowledge in the morning and skill development in the afternoon. We will be joined by service users and practitioners to help you locate your learning in practice.
You will spend blocks of time in University (four days per week) then you will be in placement for the rest of the semester. The timetable does not fit within the usual University teaching periods, so please be aware that you will be studying and in placement during school.
University days are 10am-5pm. During University blocks you will attend from Monday–Thursday; Friday is used for independent study. While in placement, you’ll work the hours of the setting.
You will spend 170 days in practice. These practice placements will be in contrasting settings, and will include one placement in children’s services and one in adults. You may have to travel for up to an hour and a half to reach your placement and you will be expected to hold a full current driving licence and have access to a car with business insurance.
The local authority areas are:
- Cambridgeshire County Council
- Peterborough City Council
- Thurrock Council
- Southend on Sea Council
- Essex County Council
- Norfolk County Council
- Suffolk County Council.
Our course enables you to achieve a generic social work qualification in a supportive and dynamic environment. You’ll be allocated a professional mentor, personal tutor and have access to bespoke study skills support during the course. You will also be supported to make links with former students and partnership colleagues to help you think about where you want to work in the future.
After completing this course, you can opt to take an additional module to gain credits for a Masters award. This element is self-funded.
CAREERS
On successful completion of the course you’re eligible to register as a social worker and work in statutory practice.
Social work is a varied profession and this qualification will enable you to work with different people in a range of settings. These include local authorities, housing organisations, voluntary sector projects, schools, health settings, private sector agencies and independently.
While the aim of the course is to train you to become a social worker with children and their families, it’s generic enough that there are a number of other options you could consider. These include working with people with mental ill health, learning or physical disabilities, those who have committed criminal offences, who misuse drugs or alcohol, or who live in communal settings.
Social work is a versatile qualification and you’ll gain a lot of transferable skills and knowledge, resulting in a career that can be varied and develop in many different ways.
MODULES & ASSESSMENT
-
Becoming a Social Worker
This module covers the foundation knowledge needed to work with families including: context of social work (social and political), communication skills, social work theory and child development and impact on adulthood. -
Preparation Skills for Practice
This is a skills based module and is a requirement of the regulatory body. It will help you develop the skills required for your first placement and uses interactive methods supported and led by tutors, practitioners and service users. -
Working with Families
This module builds on the first block and first practice placement experiences and develops your understanding of the journey for families through social care services. Additional focus is given to: legal context of practice, assessment and intervention, management of risk and working with people with diverse needs. -
Advanced Skills for Practice
This is the second skills-based module and focuses on skills required for statutory settings. We will also support you to build your skills in communicating in challenging situations and using different approaches and styles. These sessions are supported and led by tutors, practitioners and service users.
At the end of each block you’ll complete a practice placement. The first will be 70 days in adult practice and the second 100 days in a children and families setting.
Assessment
We’ll assess you through academic assignments, simulated practice, presentations, practice debriefs and the portfolios detailing your professional development.
