Qualifying as a social worker

Getting qualified

We offer two alternative degree programmes for those wishing to qualify as a social worker and register with the General Social Care Council (GSCC):

• The 3-year undergraduate Social Work BA(Hons)
• The 2-year Social Work Postgraduate Diploma/MSW aimed at graduates with a good honours degree in a social science subject and demonstrable practical experience in social work or a related agency.

Gaining practical experience

If you're planning to study social work, you need to gain some relevant practical experience before you begin your studies. We're looking for people who understand what social work involves and whose life or work has given them an insight into social work issues. There are many different ways of gaining some experience. For example:

• Work as an unqualified social work assistant, or social welfare experience in the public, private, independent or voluntary sector
• Counselling or mentoring
• Health work such as nursing
• Education experience (especially work with children with special needs or excluded children) and child care or youth work
• Voluntary or charitable work such as Victim Support, The Samaritans, church work or community service
• Fostering or adoption
• Work involving close contact with the public and handling difficult situations, for example as a police officer or a social security officer
• Personal experience as a carer or a social work service user.

The world of social work

Social workers help people to overcome their problems and take control of their lives. They support people dealing with issues such as ill health, isolation, poverty, disadvantage, racism and other forms of discrimination. Their role is that of a guide, or an advocate, negotiating on behalf of service users. They often work with people who are in crisis and sometimes have to make difficult decisions and intervene to protect and prevent harm to vulnerable people.

Social workers assess people’s needs and draw up programmes of care and support. They are usually employed in either the public or voluntary sector and work alongside the police, health and education services and voluntary and independent agencies providing social care services. Many people enjoy this interaction with colleagues in other professions and the sense of working together to make a difference to other people’s lives.

Typical work environments include:

• Local authority social services and health trusts
• Hospitals and GP practices
• Schools and other services and settings for young people
• Residential homes and day centres
• Voluntary sector organisations providing family, counselling and drug and alcohol treatment services
• Prisons, probation services, police, youth offending and other criminal justice arenas
• Services associated with civil courts and family breakdown and divorce proceedings.

Social workers tend to specialise in either adult or children’s services.

• Roles for adult social workers include working with people with mental health needs or learning disabilities in residential care, working to support the rehabilitation of offenders, assisting people with life-limiting illnesses such as cancer and HIV/AIDS, supporting older people to remain independent at home by addressing problems associated with their health, mobility, accommodation or finances.
• Roles for social workers who specialise in children and young people are often focused on intervening to support families in crisis, protecting children from abuse and helping to stop young people becoming homeless, dropping out of, or being excluded from education. Social workers also work in children’s homes, managing the fostering and adoption process and supporting young people who are leaving care or who are at risk of getting into trouble with the police and courts. They also provide support to young carers and to those whose lives are affected by their own illness or disability or that of a family member.

Social work is difficult and challenging. It demands maturity and a high level of personal commitment. Social workers need to be open-minded and prepared to examine and even change their own attitudes and possible prejudices. They must have patience, determination and be both physically and emotionally resilient. However, the social work profession is highly rewarding, offering well-defined career progression and interesting and varied work.

 

Did you know the term 'social worker' is a protected professional title that can only be used by those who hold a GSCC-approved qualification?

Our qualifying degrees are accredited by the General Social Care Council (GSCC) which means that graduates can apply for registration as a social worker with the GSCC.