Department Of Sociological Studies. MA in Social Work

Transcription

1 Department Of Sociological Studies. MA in Social Work

2 1 Introduction 3 Why study social work at the University of Sheffield 6 Teaching and assessment 7 Course outline 8 Practice placements 9 Entry requirements and the selection process 10 Supporting you Starting the social work degree as a mature student was somewhat daunting, however any initial concerns were quickly removed. The University has a range of events targeted at mature students including opportunities to work with a specific mentor and a variety of social events. The Department provides a calm, settling and inclusive environment in a beautiful location, all of which have contributed to my positive learning experience. I have found my lectures challenging, interesting and thought provoking with a wide range of views presented by a diverse cross section of fellow students. This has helped me understand and challenge my preconceived ideas. Both my practice placements have provided valuable experience of social work practice in challenging environments adding realism to the study modules. Anthony Brough, Social Work student

3 Introduction The Department of Sociological Studies is at the forefront of social work education and training in the UK. We have been teaching social work for sixty years. Our professional training courses are among the most popular in the country. The MA in Social Work is a postgraduate course for those who already have a degree and wish to obtain a professional social work qualification, which requires some experience of working in a social work related setting. The course has been specifically designed to ensure that when you graduate you will be able to apply your skills, knowledge and analytical abilities in a practical setting to deliver a high quality service. You will also have learned: To reflect social work values in your practice To manage change and deliver required outcomes To communicate effectively with users and carers of all ages and from all sections of the community To apply social work theory in practice To function effectively and confidently in multi-disciplinary teams

4 Why study Social Work at Sheffield? The Information Commons

5 All of the teaching in the department, including social work, has been awarded the highest possible rating in the Government s Teaching Quality Assessment exercise. Our Social Work degree courses were 1st in The Independent Newspaper's University Subject Table rankings for 2010 and 1st in The Times prestigious Good University Guide 2010 league tables. The Department has excellent facilities. We have an impressive array of tutorial, seminar and lecture rooms and dedicated computer labs for students use. We provide study space, a student common room and, of course, our students have full access to extensive university facilities. At Sheffield you will receive some of the best teaching on offer in the UK, by acknowledged experts at the forefront of their field. The Department has excellent relations with the social service agencies in the region, including local Social Service departments and voluntary sector agencies. These links give staff access to teaching materials firmly rooted in the current realities of social work, and ensure that you get the best placements as a key part of your training. A University of Sheffield degree gives you an internationally recognised qualification and the opportunity to study at a university with a reputation for quality and a high success rate built over one hundred years. There are opportunities to make the most of your time here at Sheffield. That could mean getting involved in a student club or society, volunteering in the local community or undertaking paid or charitable work. This kind of experience can give you the edge when it comes to impressing an employer. We ll make sure you re aware of all the options open to you. Who are our Students? There is no simple stereotype. At Sheffield we celebrate the diversity of our student body. Many have a degree in a social science subject, but some have degrees in humanities and natural sciences. As the MA is a British professional qualification in social work, most of our students come from around the British Isles, or wish to work in Britain after they have qualified. Academic staff There are around 25 full-time academic staff in the Department, about half of whom contribute to the social work degree programmes. Sheffield is a world leading research-university, which emphasises the importance of research-led teaching. In Social Work this approach is at the heart of our approach to teaching. Our Social Policy research has an international reputation, particularly in community care of older people, learning difficulties and innovations in social services provision. Our Social Work research leads the way in Practice Curriculum Development, Child Care/Protection, Service Delivery and User Studies. Careers Social work offers a wide variety of challenging career opportunities. Many of our recent graduates are employed as field social workers working with children, vulnerable adults or the elderly. Others find jobs working in partnership with other community professionals such as doctors, teachers or the police, to tackle a wide range of problems from substance misuse, mental health or youth offending. Once qualified, social workers typically enjoy good salaries.

6 Teaching and Assessment The MA in Social Work is a full-time course, designed to enable students to both broaden and deepen their knowledge and understanding of social work theory and practice over their two years of study and is based on a set of core modules which conform to the HCPC requirements for training social workers. Assessment At Sheffield we believe that there is no single best method of assessment as different methods test different abilities and suit different people. As a result we have a variety of different types of assessment. These include: Written essay assignments Group projects Practical reports Examinations Seen case study assessments In addition students have the opportunity to undertake a substantial literature based dissertation project, on a topic of their choice, in their final year. Expectations You will attend a combination of lectures, workshops and group seminars. You will be expected to attend all timetabled teaching and to read around topics in advance to enable you to participate in discussion and group projects. You will be expected to complete module assessments appropriately. We will give you timely and appropriate feedback on all assessed work including a non-assessed practice essay at level one, and carefully supervise independent research. Progression At level one on the postgraduate programme, your examinations will influence your final classification. The professional nature and accreditation of this MA degree means that all modules are prescribed; students must pass all modules in each year in order to progress. Students must gain 180 credits in total to complete the course. Shape of the year Your first year begins with an Intro Week when you register, settle into your accommodation, and attend our welcome events. You will take half your modules in semester one, and undertake your first placement in the second semester. In year two the format will be the same but you also have a dissertation to complete.

7 Course Outline Commencing in , the programme will be subject to changes as a result of proposals of the national social work reform agenda and recommendations of the Munro review of child protection and to ensure full conformity to new regulatory requirements. As a social work student you will be expected to work to the standards of performance set out by the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council, the new regulator for social work). The College of Social Work, the professional body, has developed a Professional Capabilities Framework which sets out key capabilities expected of you as you develop in your career. Our programme is designed to ensure that you can demonstrate the relevant standards and capabilities. The new programme for is currently under construction, in line with the above required changes. However it will contain teaching in relation to law and policy; relevant theory and knowledge, including life course development and safeguarding; practice skills; social work values; a dissertation; and two placements (70 and 100 days) with local employers (local authority, NHS, private, voluntary or independent sector service providers).

8 Practice Learning A central part of your training involves placements in social care organisations so you gain firsthand experience of the practise of social work. You will prepare for this by having opportunities to shadow qualified social workers and begin to learn about the diversity of practice in social care. Placements and practice learning setting In total students spend 170 days on placement in two different practice learning settings. The two placements are in different types of settings, for example, working with different service-user groups or in different sectors of social work provision. They are with a range of agencies and may be with voluntary sector services such as NSPCC, or Sure Start, or statutory services such as older people s care management teams, or community mental health teams. Students are supervised and assessed by qualified social workers and are expected to produce a practice learning portfolio. Practice Placement One This placement takes place in the first year of the MA. Students will be placed with an approved practice assessor in a practice setting. The practice teacher will not only provide learning opportunities for students to work directly with service users but will also assess the student s performance against agreed criteria. Practice Placement Two This placement takes place in the final year. This placement will provide opportunities for students to build on the knowledge and skills gained during the course and apply this to their intended specialist area of social work practice. I have just finished my first placement, within a local authority department. I really enjoyed the placement, gaining practical hands on experience of working with a variety of service users and professionals in different settings. I was fully supported by both the university and the local authority during the placement and was provided with numerous learning opportunities, giving me the chance of putting into practice the knowledge, skills and theories I had learnt during the first semester. I feel I have gained a valuable insight into the rewards and occasional challenges of social work and I m now looking forward to the year ahead and my next placement opportunity. Lisa Mckenzie, Year Two MA in Social Work

9 Entry Requirements Previous Experience We take a broad view of what constitutes relevant experience. The experience must have demonstrated your potential for social work, so it must be: sufficient in quantity to test your commitment (around the year s experience, paid or voluntary, would be advantageous) and involve some of the skills required in social work. Academic Qualifications Normally, a minimum 2:1 honours degree is required and approximately one years experience in a social work setting. In exceptional cases, applicants holding a 2:2 may be considered where there is evidence of extensive relevant employed work experience. Applicants are also required to have GCSE English and Mathematics, grade C or above (or equivalent). This course is highly competitive. It is recommended that you apply before the UCAS deadline to ensure the course is not full. See the departmental websites for updates on the availability of places. The Selection Process The Application Forms We only accept applications through UCAS. Please see their website for information on the process: Selection Procedures There are three stages in the selection process: initial scrutiny, interview/written test and final decisionmaking. Initial Scrutiny All application forms are carefully scrutinised by the Admissions Tutor. We are looking for: - A commitment to a career in social work and some understanding of what this entails - Academic ability/potential - Relevant experience - Evidence of social work skills - Commitment to social work values Interview and Written Test It is a HCPC requirement that all applicants who are accepted onto the course will have undertaken a satisfactory interview. Therefore, those applicants who are not rejected on the grounds of their application form will be invited for an interview. This is no guarantee of a place on the course. The interview panel normally consists of one service user, one social work agency representative and one social work academic. The interview will provide us with an opportunity to find out more about you and your suitability for the course. You will be provided with more information if you are invited for an interview. Police Checks To protect the public, you must sign a declaration relating to any criminal convictions, bindings-over and cautions and undergo a criminal record check. If you have serious or recent convictions we may be unable to accept you on the course. If you fail to declare convictions, after admission you may be required to leave the course. See for more information or should you wish to discuss your personal circumstances relating to criminal convictions please contact Nora McClelland - Tel or n.mcclelland@sheffield.ac.uk. Funding Please see for information on fees and funding.

10 Open Days Social Work open days are held on a bi-annual basis. At our open days you will have an opportunity to: See the Department and the City Meet current students and talk to them about studying social work at Sheffield Obtain more detailed information about our courses Receive more information about accommodation Have the chance to visit the Student s Union, sport facilities and halls of residence Supporting You Academic Support We offer a personal tutor system for all our MA in Social Work students. You see your personal tutor at least once every semester; to discuss your progress, review your marks and to discuss your future options. They will also visit you on a minimum of two occasions during your placements. Your tutor is also your first point of call if you are having problems which are interfering with your work, in times of crisis or ill health, or if you need support in dealing with problems. The university and Students Union also offer a range of welfare and counselling services. Students with Special Requirements We are committed to responding effectively to the needs of disabled and dyslexic students. Let us know what your requirements are and we ll do everything we can to support you. If you would like further information about our facilities, please contact the Disability and Dyslexia Support Service, In the Department We re based in the Elmfield building, where all our staff have their offices and most seminar and small-group teaching takes place. The University Sports Centre is just next door. Student accommodation, the Information Commons, and the Students Union are all within walking distance. Volunteering and Getting Involved There are lots of opportunities to do this in the department, from becoming a student representative on the departmental staff student committee to taking part in the annual study tour to the Gambia. The Information Commons Our Information Commons is a brand new building born out of fresh thinking about learning resources for the 21 st -Century student. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The latest IT resources are combined with library facilities and a range of study spaces.

11 Student Services The Student Services Information Desk (SSiD) is an important point of contact for you throughout your time at the University. Staff are trained to deal with a wide range of enquiries and the office is a key central point for general information on many University services. See: Accommodation There s a great choice of accommodation so you can live the way that suits you best: catered or selfcatering, city centre or leafy suburb. All of our student housing is within easy walking distance of campus and close to a frequent bus service. As a first-year, you re guaranteed a place in University accommodation, provided you meet a few simple conditions. There is also plenty of good quality accommodation in Sheffield, and by national comparison, the cost is relatively low. Our Union of Students It s the best. Winner of countless awards, our Union has live music, club nights, a 400-seat cinema, shops, an advice centre, travel agent, banks and much more. There are 250 different clubs and societies to get involved in so you ll never be short of something to do or someone to do it with. Sheffield Graduate Award The Sheffield Graduate Award enhances the opportunities available in the department and gives you the opportunity to bring together the valuable skills and experience gained at university but outside your degree course and to have them formally recognised. This prestigious award is open to all students, bringing an extra dimension to your qualifications when you graduate, enriching your personal development and substantially boosting your career prospects. dex.html Sports The University s sport facilities include a 33m swimming pool with sauna and steam room, bouldering wall, synthetic pitches, squash and tennis. Join a team, start your own, or just play for fun whatever your level is, there s something for you. You won t have to look off-campus for a hightech gym either - we ve got one of our own.

12 Our City As the fourth largest city in England, Sheffield has all the facilities of a major city, but is small enough to be compact and friendly. - City Centre with easy walking distance of University campus and accommodation. - Good public transport, including a tram link from the University - Convenient centre of England location, close to motorways and about an hour s travel by road or rail from Manchester, Nottingham and Leeds. - An affordably low cost of living helps your money go further. - Room to breathe- Sheffield is England s greenest city, with 150 woodlands and 50 public parks, and the Peak District National Park only fifteen minutes away. - Sheffield people have a well deserved reputation for friendliness and hospitality, so it s easy to feel at home here. - Recent crime statistics names Sheffield as the UK s safest city. - more than 30 cinema screens, bringing you everything from mainstream films to alternative cinema at the independent Showroom - The Sheffield Scene - the Virgin 2008 Alternative Guide to British Universities gives Sheffield the maximum five stars and describes the scene as seriously good.

13 Department of Sociological Studies The University of Sheffield Elmfield Northumberland Road Sheffield S10 2TU Tel +44(0) Fax +44(0) Web