Social Work

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University? You can benefit from our strong reputation within the world of Social Work, with high-quality placements, locally and in the London area, to enhance your skillset as well as gain valuable work experience throughout your degree. Many of our graduates have gone on to become employed with their degree placements due to the highly desirable skillset and the relationships built while studying at BNU. You can work closely with people with lived experience, so you can hear first-hand about the impact you could make on individuals and communities.

We collaborate with a broad range of partners to offer placements within local authorities, healthcare trusts, and organisations from the voluntary and independent sectors, all of which are within a 25-mile radius of our High Wycombe Campus. We understand employers want to see experience and skills with a proactive attitude to learning. BNU offers you the opportunity to not only demonstrate those traits to a potential future employer but see the benefits of BNU first hand in both your professional skills and personal life and goals.

What facilities can I use? With fantastic facilities in the Buckinghamshire area, we are the only institution that can offer our equipment in High Wycombe and the immediate surrounding area. Our High Wycombe campus is located only 35 minutes from central London which makes commuting super easy and stress free. At our High Wycombe Campus, we have purpose-built facilities, including well-equipped simulation clinics and rehabilitation teaching rooms.

What will I study? Our social work course develops you into a future proof social worker who has the knowledge, skills and values required to practice in a challenging environment. At the end of your course you will be able to demonstrate knowledge about the nature of social work practice across a range of settings, with the ability to apply your understanding of social sciences, law, research and social work theory.

Developed in consultation with employers and local social work organisations, we will provide you with the skills, knowledge and ability to fulfil demand both locally, nationally and abroad. You’ll graduate with a highly specialised skillset and a deep theoretical knowledge backed up with your working experience. You are required to undertake placement at year two and three where your knowledge, skills and values are further developed to help you become adequately prepared to enter the world of social work.

Our course is designed to help you develop both personally and professionally and has been developed to meet the standards for education and training of Social Work England (SWE), Social Work England Professional Standards, the QAA Benchmarking Statements for Social Work, the Professional Capabilities Framework and the Knowledge and Skills Statements.

Career Prospects We’re proud of our consistently high employability rate for our social work graduates. We have close relationships with a range of Local Authority employers, and many of our graduates work with them now. We offer a recruitment event in your final year where you’re able to meet with employers to explore the next steps in terms of your first year of newly qualified status. Our employer partners are very keen to ensure that they provide opportunities for our successful graduates every year.

We also encourage you to start networking in your final year placement, which is often a springboard to future employment. We recognise that your journey to becoming a Social Worker does not simply end with graduation and we strive to provide a clear path from your education to your new career. When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to apply for professional registration with Social Work England (SWE) and your degree can also be recognised and accepted in other countries around the world.