Social Work

Course overview: Social work is a profession that is in demand. Our course has a strong focus on employability skills that extends beyond the practice placements and is embedded throughout all the modules.

As a social work practitioner, you work with your local community supporting those experiencing issues such as domestic violence, homelessness, disability, drug and alcohol addiction and more. You engage with children, adults of all ages, families, refugees and asylum seekers, carers and care leavers and those with mental health problems, touching the lives of many.

This course is informed by decades of collective experience, providing you with the knowledge and practical skills to prepare you for work. You also gain an understanding of the British Association of Social Workers’ Professional Capabilities Framework, considering emotional intelligence, resilience, reflective practice and safeguarding.

Explore development from birth to end of life, the changes we go through and the impact of social work at each stage in our lifespan. You delve into the intricacies of communication and how to adapt to meet the varying communication needs of service users. You also examine reasons for service use, the ethics of conducting research and the legalities of social work.

In the second and final year, you take part in practice placements in real-world settings where you act as a social work practitioner supported by your lecturers and practicing social workers. You take on real cases and have responsibility for your own caseload. With regular exposure to the lived experiences of service users, you gain an enriched understanding of the needs of the profession.

Top reasons to study this course 1. Expert teaching: you are taught by social work practitioners, giving you practical insight and experiences of the profession through open discussion and debate. 2. Real-world experience: as a second year and final-year student, you attend quality-assured practice placements where you’re guided as a social work practitioner. You also learn from service users who give talks and Q&As on their lived experiences, providing you with authentic insights on the realities of service interaction. 3. Flexible learning: taught sessions, multi-agency skills days and tutorials are all accessible online, allowing you to access materials at a time and place to suit you. 4. Industry support: employability events with local authority partners and the charity sector offer you support on CV writing, interview techniques and job searching, giving you the skills employers look for.

After the course: An honours degree in social work can lead to a long career as a professional social worker with adults or children. There are many job opportunities in local authority social work departments as well as voluntary sector organisations and increasingly new types of employers such as social enterprises and the private sector. The degree also provides you with transferable skills including report writing and interpersonal skills which can be applied across a range of graduate employment opportunities.