Information for Applicants to Social Work Courses at London Metropolitan University. for entry

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1 Infrmatin fr Applicants t Scial Wrk Curses at Lndn Metrplitan fr entry Last updated 7 March 2015

2 We hpe the infrmatin in this bklet will be useful t help yu decide t apply t Lndn Met. If yu require any further infrmatin r clarificatin please d cntact us. We have a series n pen days where yu can attend prir t applying and ask any further questins please see ur Admissins webpage fr details. If yu are shrtlisted fr an Admissins day yu will have further pprtunity t speak t us. We wuld be happy t receive feedback n this bklet t imprve the infrmatin made available t yu t make an infrmed chice fr yur place f study. Please nte that while we endeavur t ensure that the infrmatin cntained here is the mst up t date: the dynamic nature f the curse and external envirnment means that changes are likely. Please d check. 2

3 CONTENTS 1. What are the Entry Requirements? 5 Page Qualificatins fr BSc Scial Wrk Qualificatins fr PG Diplma/MSc Scial Wrk What s the difference between PG Diplma and MSc Scial Wrk Standard f English: reading, writing and spken IT Skills Experience f wrking with vulnerable peple Disclsure and Barring Service and Health Status Internatinal students Hw d I apply? 7 UCAS applicatin Persnal statement Lndn Met s UCAS institutin cde Can I get credit fr prir learning? Wh d I cntact if I need mre infrmatin befre applying? Hw is selectin carried ut? Shrtlisting What happens at the Admissins day? What if I have a disability? What if I can t attend an Admissins day? Offered a place what next? Hw much des it cst t study? Curse fees: BSc, PG Diplma/MSc UK, EU and Internatinal Student Lans Bursaries Childcare, Travel and Disability Supprt DBS check csts schlarships and fee reductins What yu will study - an verview 10 Curse design 10 Key study areas 10 4 th hur 10 Placement and Skills days 10 Study cmmitments 11 Indicative timetables BSc and PG Dip/Msc 11 3

4 6. What supprt is available? 12 Persnal Academic Tutr Hllway Hub WebLearn Library Study hub Students Unin What is expected f me? Career and Emplyment Opprtunities 14 Eligibility t apply fr HCPC registratin Types f jb rles Assessed and Supprted Year in Emplyment CPD Key cntacts 15 Admissins Office Scial Wrk Admissins tutr HCPC NHSBSA (Scial Wrk bursaries) Student Finance England TCSW

5 1. What are the Entry Requirements? We ffer 3 scial wrk curses all f which lead t eligibility t apply fr HCPC registratin: BSc Hns Scial Wrk PG Diplma Scial Wrk MSc Scial Wrk There are different qualificatin requirements fr the undergraduate (BSc) and pstgraduate curses (PG Diplma/MSc) see belw but all ther entry requirements are the same fr all curses. Qualificatins required fr BSc Hns Scial Wrk In additin t the 's standard entry requirements, yu shuld have at least: 280 UCAS pints frm three r mre A levels (e.g. BBC) r 320 UCAS pints frm a BTEC Natinal (e.g. DDM) r a Merit frm an Access t Scial Wrk curse Qualificatins required fr MSc/PG Diplma in Scial Wrk In additin t the 's standard entry requirements, yu shuld have at least: An upper secnd (2.1) class hnurs degree r abve (nrmally in a scial science subject) What s the difference between the MSc and PG Diplma in Scial Wrk? Bth curses lead t eligibility t apply fr HCPC registratin and they are identical except that a dissertatin is undertaken t gain the Masters award. It is recmmended that all pstgraduate applicants apply fr the MSc Scial Wrk in the first instance, NHS bursaries are allcated t the Masters curse nly and if at a later pint yu need t pt ut and take the PG Diplma as an exit award this is pssible. Standard f English: reading, writing and spken It is essential that yu have and can demnstrate a gd standard f English in all frms. All applicants must specify n the UCAS applicatin frm that they hld, r are in the prcess f taking, GCSE Mathematics and English grade C, r Key Skills cmmunicatins level 3 and Numeracy level 2, r anther English/ Mathematics qualificatin deemed by the t be equivalent t GCSE Mathematics and GCSE English grade C r abve. If English is nt yur first language, yu will require an IELTS 7 (with n element less than 6.5) r equivalent. Please nte that we are nt ffering university equivalence tests t students ffered a place n this curse. Shrtlisted applicants will be tested n their standard f English during the Admissins day. IT skills Yu shuld have basic IT skills including: wrd prcessing, internet searching and sending s with attachments. Shrtlisted applicants will be asked t cnfirm they have these skills and this will be explred at the interview stage. 5

6 Experience f wrking with vulnerable peple It is highly desirable that yu have experience in either a paid r vluntary capacity f wrking directly with vulnerable peple nrmally within a scial care r health cntext. Successful applicants will be required t prvide a reference frm a current r previus emplyer/rganisatin in which the candidate gained the abve- mentined experience. Disclsure and Barring Service (DBS) and Health status All ffers f places are subject t satisfactry health and enhanced plice checks and suitable references. Yu have tw pprtunities t self declare yur DBS and Health status n yur UCAS frm and if invited t a selectin day ur Admissins day. Applicants must pay fr their DBS checks currently this is 44. All thse are ffered a place will als be required t shw riginal dcumentatin cnfirming their stated qualificatins and DBS in rder t receive an uncnditinal ffer f a place. Internatinal applicants Please nte if yu are an internatinal student r are living abrad yu need t allw sufficient time t acquire the crrect dcumentatin fr yur clearance checks. If yu are an EU r Nn EU Natinal (and yu are nt nrmally dmiciled in the UK fr a perid f three years prir t the prpsed curse start date), yu will be required t prvide an fficial enhanced plice clearance check frm yur cuntry f dmicile(1). Applicants will nt be cnsidered fr initial applicant review and interview selectin until the Nn UK enhanced plice clearance check is prvided. If successful at interview, applicants must cmplete an Enhnaced DBS Check (2) in the UK. The deadline fr meeting all mandatry admissins requirements fr thse requiring a student visa t study in the UK is 26 th June (1) recrds- checks- fr- verseas- applicants (2) Please nte that this academic/prfessinal qualificatin is an accredited requirement fr pst- graduatin prfessinal practice in the United Kingdm nly and may nt be accredited fr prfessinal practice in ther cuntries. Applicants are advised t research prfessinal accreditatin recgnitin fr scial wrk in their cuntry f rigin. 6

7 2. Hw d I apply? UCAS applicatin Applicatin fr all Scial Wrk curses is by cmpletin f an electrnic applicatin frm via the and Clleges Admissins Service (UCAS) (with the exceptin f partnership arrangements with Lcal authrities fr staff wh apply directly t the ). UCAS accepts applicatins fr full- time curses starting in September ne year befre the start f the curse. Please nte there are deadlines fr cmpleting yur UCAS applicatin. Yu will be given a UCAS ID number and will be able t track yur applicatin. Yur persnal statement This is an essential part f yur UCAS applicatin, please make sure yu take time t prepare this as it is very imprtant t shrtlisting candidates fr the next stage f ur selectin prcess i.e. an invitatin t the Admissins day. Our UCAS institutin cde is L68. ** PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR UCAS APPLICATION HIGHLIGHTS HOW YOU MEET THE ABOVE CRITERIA IN SECTION ONE. GIVEN THE VOLUME OF APPLICATIONS PER YEAR ANY FORM THAT DOES NOT MEET THE ABOVE CONDITIONS UNFORTUNATELY WILL NOT BE PROCESSED** Can I get credit fr prir learning? Students will nt nrmally be exempted frm any part f the Scial Wrk prgramme, including the transfer f credits acquired by prir certificated learning and experiential learning due the extensive prfessinal standards that must be met and the capabilities embedded acrss the whle curse. Fr this reasn it is nt nrmally pssible t ffer credit fr prir learning r transfer nt a Scial Wrk prgramme frm any ther prgramme, including scial wrk at anther institutin. Hwever all relevant prir learning shuld be carefully addressed in yur UCAS applicatin frm and will be taken int cnsideratin with regards t shrtlisting. Wh d I cntact if I need mre infrmatin befre applying fr the curse? There is a series f Open days run thrughut the year that yu can attend see the main website fr the dates. Yu can als visit the Admissins Office r cntact the Admissins staff n admissins@lndnmet.ac.uk r phne +44 (0) Yu may als cntact the Scial Wrk Admissins tutr, Gavin Tucker g.tucker@lndnmet.ac.uk 7

8 3. Hw is selectin carried ut? Shrtlisting Yur UCAS applicatin is reviewed and if yu meet the requirements yu will be shrtlisted and invited t attend an Admissins day. Yu will be sent a letter with sme reading t help prepare fr the day but all candidates are asked t familiarize themselves with the HCPC standards f cnduct, perfrmance and ethics uk.rg.uk/assets/dcuments/10003b6estandardsfcnduct,perfrmanceandethics.pdf and the Cllege f Scial Wrk Prfessinal Capabilities Framewrk Yu will als be sent a self- declaratin frm fr the DBS and Health checks t cmplete in advance and yu must bring with them n the day. We d nt admit candidates wh have nt attended the Admissins day. What happens at the Admissins day? The day cnsists f a written test, grup activity and individual interview. Yu need t be prepared t stay fr the whle day - 10am- 6pm - thugh there is usually a lnger break fr lunch it can be a lng day. Yu will be asked t bring pht ID e.g. passprt when yu register at the start f the day and yur DBS and Health frm will be cllected at the interview stage. An essential criterin will be yur cmmunicatins skills and the standard f yur English in all frms will be tested acrss the day - reading, writing and speaking. The written test lasts abut 90 minutes and is usually taken in the mrning. The test invlves reading an article and prviding a written respnse based n sme questins, the marking criteria are supplied n the day. Fllwing this there is a talk frm a member f the scial wrk team where the key aspects f the curse are cvered and yu have the pprtunity t ask any questins. Meanwhile the tests are marked by the scial wrk staff - the marks are held fr bursary ranking purpses fr MSc Scial Wrk students nly (see sectin 4). If yu are unsuccessful at the test stage, we will give yu sme feedback and will advise yu abut pssible alternative curses. Successful applicants will be invited t prceed t the bserved grup activity fllwing a shrt vide. After this there will be an individual interview with usually tw interviewers. As well as the scial wrk team, service users, partners and practitiners participate in the selectin prcess. The results f the interview are usually sent via within 2 wrking days. What if I have a disability? Yu need t cntact the Admissins team as sn as pssible and let them knw s that reasnable adjustments can be made fr the Admissins day. Depending n the nature f the disability they will advise what evidence they require in advance cncerning this e.g. an independent reprt identifying dyslexia needs. What if I can t attend an Admissins day? If yu are nt able t attend the Admissins day yu must let us knw as sn as pssible and yu will be re- bked int the next available day. There are nrmally 12 per year but n ffer f a place can be made withut ging thrugh the cmplete selectin prcess. Offered a place - what next? If Lndnmet is the right place fr yu shuld accept yur ffer as sn as pssible yu need t ensure that all cnditins are met as sn as pssible. This will help with ensuring yu are included in the bursary allcatin fr pstgraduate students. We will keep in regular cntact with yu via ur Admissins team and Admissins tutr up t yur enrlment n the curse when the rest f curse team takes ver. 8

9 4. Hw much des it cst t study? Curse fees (fr September 2015 entry) BSc Scial Wrk UK and EU students: 9,000 a year Internatinal students: 10,500 a year PGDip/MSc Scial Wrk UK and EU students: 7,000 a year Internatinal students: 10,800 a year Students Lans UK and EU undergraduate students wh meet the eligibility criteria may get a student lan frm Student Finance England (SFE). Applicatins are made n line directly t SFE see fr- student- finance At the end f their first year scial wrk undergraduate students may be eligible t apply fr an Scial Wrk bursary. Bursaries The NHS Business Services Authrity (NHSBSA) is respnsible apprving and administering bursaries fr Scial Wrk curses. Annually all universities are allcated a number f bursaries fr their curses. Students must meet the NHSBSA criteria t be eligible fr a bursary. The is required t prvide a ranked list f students names t the NHSBSA wh meet the criteria and in accrdance with their allcated number f bursaries. Students must apply t NHSBSA fr the bursaries. There are deadlines fr when students may apply and when Universities supply names t the NHSBSA. Please see Bursaries are nrmally fr 2 years and granted in the year f the first placement. Only pstgraduate students names are put frward prir t starting the curse as they take their first placement in year 1 (see verview f the curse). Aside frm the ther eligibility criteria we rank pstgraduate students accrding t the test perfrmance n the Admissins day. Undergraduate students wh are eligible are put frward at the end f their first year and ranked based n their first year perfrmance. Childcare, Travel t placements and Disability Supprt Yu need t be aware that there will be travel and ther csts when in placements, this may include additinal child care csts. The NHSBSA ffers sme assistance t students with the csts f travel t placement and childcare subject t eligibility. Student Finance England ffers Childcare grants t eligible undergraduate students. There is als sme supprt available t eligible students with a disability. It is imprtant t weigh up the ptential csts befre yu start the curse. DBS check csts Applicants must pay fr their DBS checks currently this is 44 - see sectin 1. schlarships and fee reductins The ffers a number f schemes including fee reductins fr pstgraduate curses fr Alumni - please see yur- studies/ 9

10 5 What yu will study an verview Curse design The curse reflects the required Standards f Prficiency (SOPs) as defined by the HCPC and is als aligned t the Cllege f Scial Wrk s Prfessinal Capabilities Framewrk. At the end f the curse students wh have cmpleted and passed all their assessment will have met the SOPs. Research and evidence, current plicy, practice and theretical perspectives infrm the curses. Experienced staff, service users, partners and practitiners all cntribute t learning and teaching. A central feature is inter- prfessinal learning. Yu will learn in a dynamic way with cnsiderable interactin. Key study areas The key areas yu will learn abut include: Cmmunicatin, Skills and Values Human Grwth and Develpment Assessment, Planning and Ethics Scial Cntexts fr Prfessinal Practice Partnership Wrking Safeguarding Children and Adults Prfessinal Law Theretical Perspectives in Scial Wrk Research and Evaluatin fr Prfessinal Practice Prtecting Children and Adults Practice 4 th hur In additin t the taught curse in the first year f all curses we have a study prgramme which addresses students study needs and rientatin t scial wrk practice. It is intended t help with persnal, prfessinal and academic skills and practices. Placements and Skills Days We draw upn a wide range f statutry, private, vluntary and independent placement agencies that are quality assured by us, mst f which are in Lndn. Yu will be required t undertake tw assessed practice placements, lasting in ttal a minimum f 170 days, in tw different scial wrk agencies r services, as determined by the. The minimum number f days in the first placement is 70 days and in the secnd placement is 100 days. There is an additinal 30 skills days that are delivered acrss the whle curse. Yu will have a Practice Educatr wh will guide and assess yur prgress. There is a dedicated Placement Office n site with experienced staff wh prvide supprt and guidance as when allcating placements, with the Placement lead. We endeavur t take persnal preferences and circumstances int accunt when placing students. Students will be required t travel t placement but the maximum recmmended travel time is 45mins each way using public transprt. Study cmmitment Yu will nrmally study 2 mdules per day n the schedule days in as indicated n the timetables belw. Classes usually start at 10am but can be prgrammed earlier exceptinally. Private study needs t arranged arund the frmal study requirements including when n placement advice will be given but planning ahead is advisable. 10

11 Indicative BSc timetable Mnday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Year pm in 10-5pm in 10-5pm in Year pm in 10-5pm in In practice In practice In practice Year pm in In practice In practice In practice In practice Indicative PG Dip/MSc timetable Mnday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Year 1 Semester pm in 10-5pm in 10-5pm in Year pm in 10-5pm in In practice In practice In practice Semester 2 Year pm in In practice In practice In practice In practice 11

12 6. What supprt is available? The curse is intensive, demanding and challenging but hpefully ultimately rewarding and designed t help yu meet yur gals. Aside frm yur Curse Leader, Mdule leaders, Administrative staff and Practice Educatr the prvides a number f diverse supprt mechanisms including: Persnal Academic Tutr All students have a persnal academic tutr (PAT) fr the duratin f the curse. Yur PAT will advise, guide and supprt yu and t discuss yur prgress. Hllway Hub This is a ne- stp shp student service t help with all aspects f being a student. This includes range f specialist advice, infrmatin, guidance and persnal cunselling t supprt yu in achieving yur academic aims. We prvide services related t: Academic Finance and Debt Cunselling and Persnal Develpment Persnal and Emtinal wellbeing Faith and Spirituality Careers and Emplyment Disabilities, medical and mental- health cnditins, Specific Learning Differences Accmmdatin Vlunteering and Student Develpment WebLearn All students have access t the s virtual learning envirnment which huses the electrnic resurces fr their mdules and can be accessed remtely. In additin there is a dedicated curse WebLearn site fr Scial Wrk Library There is an extensive cllectin f electrnic and hard cpy texts lcated in the newly refurbished Learning Centre n campus and students may access the full library catalgue and databases remtely. Scial Wrk has its wn Academic Subject Librarian wh prvides dedicated supprt t the subject area. Study Hub Yu will have access t a range f interactive resurces designed by ur Centre f Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) t help yu develp and hne yur study skills there are individual and grup sessins yu can bk, DVDs and special resurces available remtely via CELT. Students Unin Yu are autmatically eligible t be a member f the SU with access t supprt as well as a vice within the wider university cmmunity. 12

13 7. What is expected f me? As indicated earlier the curse is intensive and interactive being designed t develp and test the knwledge, skills, capabilities and prfessinal values required fr the demanding wrk as a scial wrker. The fllwing list indicates ur general expectatin f ur scial wrk students yu will be a student wh: Undertakes study preparatin Keeps the attendance requirements Seeks help and advice Participates in grup wrk and rle play Develps as an independent learner Is pen, flexible and resilient Exhibits prfessinal values and cnduct Is able t give, seek and receive feedback Becmes a reflective practitiner We will help students t develp and meet these expectatins t the required standard thrughut the curse. They relate clsely t being a lifelng learner as a Registered Scial Wrker. 13

14 8. Career and emplyment pprtunities Eligibility t apply fr HCPC registratin On cmpletin f yur curse yur will be eligible t apply fr Health and Care Prfessins Cuncil (HCPC) registratin t becme a Registered Scial Wrker. Scial Wrk is a prtected title and nly thse registered can wrk in scial wrk rles. Types f jb rles As the curse prepares yu t be a generic scial wrker yu are nt limited t any particular field f scial wrk and ur students take up psts in a variety f settings and care grups fr example:- children and families, adult care t include, mental health, wrking with lder peple, learning disabilities. Assessed and Supprted Year in Emplyment prgramme The Cllege f Scial Wrk (TCSW) has designed a career pathway fr scial wrkers thrugh the PCF levels. TCSW cnsiders it gd practice fr all scial wrk emplyers t ffer the Assessed and Supprted Year in Emplyment prgramme t newly qualified scial wrkers. The prgramme will help graduates prepare fr newly qualified scial wrkers skills, knwledge and capabilities, and t strengthen their prfessinal cnfidence fr this next stage in prfessinal develpment. CPD As a scial wrker yu are expected t undertake cntinuing prfessinal develpment (CPD) thrughut yur career, t make sure that yu keep yur knwledge, skills and practice up t date. This is als a requirement fr cntinued registratin with the Health and Care Prfessins Cuncil and yu will be required t keep a prtfli f evidence f yur CPD. Examples f CPD drawn frm Lndn Met s prvisin include: Practice Educatin curse (with 2 years experience) Shrt curses/ accredited mdules: Vilence Against Wmen: Issues, Research and Plicy Sexual Vilence: Causes, Cnsequences and Interventins Sexual Explitatin f Children and Yung Peple Researching Cmmunities Impact Assessment Mental Health and Recvery Health in the City Managing public services Management f Health and Scial Care Managing change in rganisatins Pstgraduate curses MA Children and Wmen Abuse MA Mental Health and Wellbeing, MSc Health and Scial Care Management and Plicy Masters in Public Administratin Dctral studies PhD r Prfessinal dctrate 14

15 9. Wh t cntact Admissins Office Lndn Metrplitan Hllway Rad Lndn N7 2DB Tel: +44 (0) admissins@lndnmet.ac.uk Web: Scial Wrk Admissins tutr Gavin Tucker g.tucker@lndnmet.ac.uk HCPC Health and Care Prfessins Cuncil Park Huse 184 Kenningtn Park Rad Lndn SE11 4BU Tel: +44 (0) Fax: + 44 (0) Web: uk.rg.uk/apply/students/ NHSBSA Scial Wrk Bursaries Bridge Huse 152 Pilgrim Street Newcastle Upn Tyne NE1 6SN Tel: Fax: nhsbsa.swb@nhs.net Web: Student Finance England PO Bx 210 Darlingtn DL1 9HJ Tel: Mnday t Friday, 8am t 8pm, Saturday and Sunday, 9am t 4pm Textphne: Mnday t Friday, 8am t 4pm Web: student- finance- england TCSW The Cllege f Scial Wrk 30 Eustn Square Lndn NW1 2FB Tel: +44 (0) Fax: Web: 15