Why study this course at Warrington?
On successful graduation you will achieve a BA (Hons) Social Work degree and be eligible to apply to register with the General Social Care Council (GSCC) Social Care Register to practise as a Social Worker. All social workers have to be registered with the governing body, currently the GSCC. However, please note that the functions of the GSCC are expected to transfer to the Health Professions Council in 2012. This ensures that everyone who is called a social worker is appropriately trained and assessed as fit to be in the workforce, and they follow a code of practice. For details of this code visit www.gscc.org.uk.
At the Warrington campus, you will study and prepare yourself for a professional career with:
- A very supportive core staff team - all of whom are qualified social workers offering a wide range of specialisms and expertise
- Excellent Learning Resources Team provision
- Excellent Student Support and Guidance provision
- On-site Finance Officer Student Union provision
- 'Family friendly' hours of university attendance (9.30am to 2.45pm inclusive of morning coffee and lunch breaks). Nursery provision available on campus, in addition, the core staff group are supplemented by service users, carers and practitioners with a range of different experiences, to provide a vibrant and contemporary approach to the course.
Throughout your three years of study you will also be provided with frequent opportunities to:
- discuss issues that arise in learning about social work in small discussion groups/action learning sets with other students
- and learn from practice placements, with experienced practice teachers and assessors who are committed to your personal and professional development
Features:
Social workers find their job to be challenging, fascinating and highly rewarding. Social work practice frequently involves working with some of the most vulnerable children, young people, adults and their families/carers in our society, at times in their lives when they are experiencing great stress and difficulties.
Social workers help people to find solutions to their problems and offer support, protection, security and reassurance. Social workers therefore need to have good intentions and professional expertise, and knowledge acquired through intensive education, training and practical experience. Social workers need to be quick thinking, persuasive, non-judgemental and committed to social justice and equality. It is essential therefore that students are properly equipped for the challenges ahead.
Note from the GSCC
Social work is a regulated profession. As a social work student you will be expected to register with the General Social Care Council (GSCC), the social work profession's regulator, and adhere to the standards set out in the Code of Practice for Social Workers.
As well as regulating individual social workers and students, we also regulate the performance of social work courses, the reports of which are published on our website, so you can check to see how each university is performing.
As stated previously it is important to highlight that the functions of the GSCC are expected to transfer to the Health Professions Council in 2012.
Important Note
The Social Work Reform Board have just announced (September 2011) that from 2013, Higher Education Institutions will be required to develop a new curriculum for the social work degree based on the new Professional Capabilities Framework. It is possible that at the University of Chester we may seek to implement some of these changes for the 2012 intake. Further details will be available at our open days and interview days.
Programme Structure:
Year 1
Skills for Practice
This module will enable students to develop some of the Key Skills, and in particular interpersonal skills, and will enable students to learn about the range of services that are provided to people who experience difficulties in their lives.
People, Society and Social Divisions
This module will introduce students to psychology, sociology and social policy and explore the way in which the social sciences can inform social work practice.
Social Work Law and Policy
This module will enable students to learn about the legal system and the main legislation, government guidance and social policies which impact on the provision of social work services.
Social Work Methods, Models and Theories
This module will provide students with an opportunity to explore the range of methods, models and theories which are used by social workers to underpin their practice. It will introduce students to the National Occupational Standards for Social Work.
Practice Placement 1
This involves students undertaking 40 days of practice in a voluntary organisation which provides services to meet people's social care needs.
Year 2
Working with People 1:
Assessment: Purpose, Process and Approach
This module provides students with an opportunity to understand the assessment process and the formulation of a care plan.
Practice Placement 2
This involves students undertaking 80 days of practice in a voluntary or statutory organisation. Students will be able to work directly with service users and carers, assessing and meeting their needs.
Social Work Law and Ethics
In this module, students will be able to critically analyse how law, ethics and policy relate to practice situations.
The Critical Practitioner
This module will enable students to focus on their individual progress in working towards becoming a critically reflective practitioner. It will also enable students to critically explore evidence based and research orientated approaches to their social work practice. Students will utilise this module to propose their dissertation study which is undertaken in Year 3l.
Year 3
Working with People 2: Social Work
Interventions
In this module, students will explore the issues which are involved in protecting children, young people and adults. Students will learn about the range of interventions and services which are provided to meet people's needs.
Dissertation
This module requires students to select a topic of their choice and to undertake an 8,000 word research study.
Practice Placement 3
In this module, students will have the opportunity of applying their learning from the programme to practice. They will be expected to take responsibility for more complex work and demonstrate qualifying levels of practice.
The programme uses a wide range of assessment methods, including coursework assignments, essays, observations during practice placements, presentations, role-play, an open book examination, and observation of communication skills.
The assessment of practice centres on the Social Work national occupational standards' key roles: work with individuals, families and carers, groups and communities to assess needs and circumstances; to plan, carry out, review and evaluate practice; to support individuals to represent their needs, views and circumstances; to manage risk to service users, self and colleagues; to manage and be accountable for personal practice; to demonstrate professional competence.
The ‘benchmark statements' for Social Work represent the requirements for the achievement of an academic award and, at honours degree level, the study of Social Work ‘involves the integrated study of subject specific knowledge, skills and values and the critical application of research knowledge from the social and human sciences to inform understanding and to underpin action, reflection and evaluation.
On completion of the course you will be able to practice as a qualified social worker in a wide variety of settings.
Single Honours
As part of the selection procedure, all candidates admitted will be formally interviewed. Representatives of stakeholders, particularly service users and employers, will be involved in the selection process. Candidates also have to complete a written task and participate in a group interview.
UCAS points:
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A minimum of 240 - 280 UCAS points, of which 240 - 280 points must be obtained from GCE A Levels. The remaining points may be achieved from GCE AS Levels, or Level 3 Key Skills |
BTEC:
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BTEC National Diploma/Certificate: merit/distinction profile
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Irish/Scottish Highers:
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B in 4 subjects
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| International Baccalaureate: |
26 points |
QAA:
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QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma: 60 credits to achieve Access to HE Diploma, of which 45 credits must be at Level 3 with 15 credits achieved from any units awarded at Merit. |
| OCR: |
OCR National Extended Diploma/Diploma: merit/distinction profile |
Extra Information:
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The Advanced Diploma: acceptable on its own
Open College Units or Open University Credits
Please note: A BTEC National Award, OCR National Certificate or the Welsh Baccalaureate (core) will be recognised in our tariff offer.
All students will have achieved GCSE grade C (or above) in English Language and Mathematics, or at least Key Skills Level 2 in Communication and Application of Number.
Prospective students will have substancial experience of working in a social work setting, with a minimum of 200 hours experience.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a group interview. The topic that is discussed within the group interview will be provided to candidates with the invitation letter in order to provide an opportunity to undertake preparation and research. Candidates will also have to complete a written task. Candidates will then attend an individual interview, which will consider the applicants attributes, background, motivation and suitability for social work.
The interview follows an Equal Opportunities format in that all applicants are asked the same questions.
Suitable reference from either an academic tutor or a work-based supervisor.
Satisfactory completion of an Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau and a Declaration of Health form.
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