How To Become A Social Worker

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1 BA (Hons) Social Work Professional Accreditation The programme is built upon the following standards and requirements for social work training: the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) Standards of Proficiency for social care workers, the DOH (Department of Health) Requirements for social work training, The College of Social Work Professional Capabilities Framework and the QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) benchmark statements for social policy administration and social work. The course has HCPC approval and endorsement by The College of Social Work (TCSW). As a social work student you will be expected to adhere fully to the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (see and to be committed to working towards the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Social Workers in England (see Successful completion of our programme does not result in automatic registration with the HCPC. The responsibility will lie with the student to apply to the HCPC for registration in order to practise as a qualified social worker in England. When does it start? The next intake is September 2016 How long is the course? Three years (full-time) What are the admissions requirements? We usually require successful applicants to: Have passed the Bradford Foundation Year with an average of 60% or above, Access to Higher Education Diploma overall pass with 45 level 3 credits at Merit or to have 300 or more UCAS points, from AS / A levels (including at least 160 points from 2 full A levels) or other academic qualifications, such as AVCE or BTEC. Applicants with relevant vocational qualifications such as NVQ level 3 in Care may be considered if they also have appropriate experience. However, they will be asked to provide an essay to demonstrate appropriate study skills. Demonstrate that they have a minimum of 100 hours relevant work experience (this can include any placements through school or college) during the previous two years at the point of application. (This may be paid or voluntary work and could be undertaken on a full or parttime basis. Further details below.) Demonstrate that they have the potential to understand social work, to acquire relevant underpinning knowledge and to reflect on their experience.

2 Have Maths and English GCSE (at grade C or above) or equivalent qualifications e.g. Key Skills Level 2 in Application of Number / Communication or Adult Numeracy / Literacy at level 2. If unsure whether their qualification is equivalent, applicants need to contact Course Enquiries Team on or course-enquiries@bradford.ac.uk. Demonstrate that they have Information, Communication Technology (ICT) skills which are sufficient to allow them to begin both study and practice and that they will be able to develop these skills during their progress through the course. Complete a health disclosure form. Complete a declaration form regarding matters, such as criminal convictions, in order to satisfy the programme that they are suitable to work with vulnerable children and adults. All information obtained from the admissions process will be used to assess a candidate s potential to successfully complete the social work programme and to eventually practice as a qualified worker in accordance with the Code of Practice for Social Work and Social Care and the Professional Capabilities Framework Are there bursaries available? A limited and capped number of bursaries will be available for students on years 2 and 3 of the BA Social Work. (Bursaries are no longer available for year 1 of BA Social Work courses following changes in the Government s policy implemented in 2013.) How are bursaries allocated? The main criteria will be the average marks achieved across all modules in year 1 of the course, with bursaries being allocated to the students with the highest average. In the event of several students having the same average mark, marks in the Values and Ethics module, in the first instance, and, if necessary, in the Introduction to Social Work module will be used to determine who is nominated. Further information regarding bursaries should be sought from the NHSBSA, directly at: Web: Tel: or Social Work Bursaries Bridge House 152 Pilgrim Street Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 6SN Bursaries and Scholarships from the University of Bradford The University of Bradford provides a range of scholarships to help students during their time at University. Further details can be found at: What experience do I need? At the point of application, applicants need to demonstrate they have a minimum of 100 hours of relevant social care work experience. This should have been undertaken within the last two years. Experience in a social care setting (either paid or voluntary) is essential. We also welcome experience in social work overseas, either because you lived there or because you have undertaken paid or voluntary work in another country. Relevant social care experience includes direct work with people and could include: 2

3 Direct work with people who need practical or emotional help or support either through faceto-face work or on an individual or group basis or telephone work. Mentoring or counselling. Care work (such as working as a health care assistant). Youth work. Working with children or young people who are socially excluded or have additional emotional and/or practical support needs. Placements through school or college which have been undertaken within the last 2 years at the point of application. having a parent(s) who is a foster carer. Personal experience as a service-user of social work intervention. We attach importance not only to the amount of experience that you have gained but crucially to the learning that you have gained from it and are able to bring to the course and your professional development. It is helpful if you include the following information in your personal statement: Your roles and responsibilities. Reflections on the ways in which your experience has helped to prepare you for social work. The task of finding relevant work will obviously be dependent upon your knowledge of local resources. Simply finding out about your local voluntary/statutory resources is very important in itself, and will undoubtedly help you with your future studies. Listed below are a few ideas for finding local information and also the names of a few organisations that may be helpful in obtaining employment: Organisations which may be helpful in finding employment: Community Volunteer Service, local councils, local authorities Children s Social Care and Adult Care sections, social care recruitment agencies (there are at least five of these who employ unqualified workers) and organisations which help to coordinate all voluntary agencies within a particular town/ region. Do It is a national database of volunteering opportunities. Their website can be found at: V Inspired connects 16 to 25 year olds with volunteering opportunities in England. Their website can be found at: Roles and responsibilities of a social worker We expect successful applicants to have a good understanding of the roles and responsibilities of social workers. It would be helpful to visit the College of Social Work website and view the Professional Capabilities Framework ( It will also be advantageous to keep abreast of debates in the field of social care and changes in social policy and we suggest you read a quality newspaper such as The Guardian which has a social care section on a Wednesday and can be accessed online ( It would also be helpful to look at publications like Community Care ( and The British Journal of Social Work ( What sort of students are we hoping to recruit? Social work is a challenging profession. We want to recruit enthusiastic, politically-minded individuals who are actively committed to social work values as outlined in our manifesto (below). We are also looking to recruit students who are: Open to learning and development 3

4 Have the potential to integrate theory with practice Have a good understanding of the roles of social workers and the skills and knowledge they use Have an ability to analyse their experience Have potential to develop into a reflective practitioner Open to exploring their own values Have potential to develop an active commitment to social work values Have some capacity to cope with stressful situations Have potential to respond appropriately to distressing situations Is the course full-time? Yes. Placements (which take place during the second and third year of the course) are full-time for up to 5 days per week (usually 9am 5pm) and, although attendance at the university is usually required only 3 or 4 days per week, students are expected to undertake substantial private study in addition to this. They will, therefore, need to manage their time and other commitments to facilitate this throughout the course. If you are unclear about any of the above please contact the relevant BA Admissions Tutor, Dr Jones Adu-Gyamfi (J.Adu-Gyamfi@bradford.ac.uk) Is there a placement requirement? Students will need to pass two assessed practice placements in contrasting settings, one of which must include statutory tasks. The first will run for 70 days in year one and the second for 100 days in year two. Students need to be prepared to travel to practice placements within a 30 mile radius of the University of Bradford and many placement providers will expect students to possess a full UK driving licence. What values and principles underpin this course? We are committed to social work based in social justice and in critical reflection and analysis (please see the attached Manifesto for Social Work at the University of Bradford.) Bradford Foundation Year Applicants currently studying the Bradford Foundation Year meet the academic requirements (including those for English and Maths) to be selected for interview for a place on the BA (Hons) Social Work. If, following a selection interview, they are offered a place on the Social Work degree, (subject to passing the Foundation Year at 60%) they would be able to transfer directly to the first year of the programme. Students on the Bradford Foundation Year who wish to be considered for a selection interview must complete an internal application form during semester one. In order to be considered for interview they will also need to demonstrate that they have appropriate work experience in a social care setting. Adult Learners The University welcomes applications from adult learners and is able to provide information, advice and guidance to those wishing to return to education. Further information is available at: Our Adult Learner Adviser is Caroline Priestley and she works closely with the Division of Social Work and Social Care. Caroline can advise you on your application. If you are unsure whether we would consider your application for this degree, she is happy for you to contact her with details of your qualifications and experience. Caroline can also offer support with interview skills. She can be contacted by at c.priestley4@bradford.ac.uk or by phone on

5 We recognise that many potential students already possess a range of knowledge and skills gained through a variety of experiences that are good preparation for social work. Appropriate relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis, alongside any formal academic qualifications. Disability Service If you have additional support needs, you can contact the Disability Service for information about how we can support your studies. All new students at the University of Bradford are offered the chance to undergo a screening exercise. This is offered in all introductory lectures at the beginning of semester one. Contact details: Telephone: disabilities@bradford.ac.uk What are we looking for when someone applies with vocational qualifications? It is helpful for you to have an NVQ3 or equivalent in an area relevant to social care, such as Health and Social Care and to be able to demonstrate considerable and relevant work experience, and the potential to succeed academically at degree level. In addition, it is helpful to have undertaken further relevant training within your work place and you should include brief details about this in your personal statement. We expect a well-written personal statement that demonstrates your ability to write clearly and use grammatically correct English. We are looking for applicants who: Understand what social work is, Can reflect on and learn from their experiences, education and training, to date, Have the potential to make connections between their experiences, learning and reading and social work practice, Have appropriate values in place. It is an advantage to already have, or have begun to work towards, qualifications in English GCSE (at grade C or above) or equivalent qualifications e.g. Key Skills Level 2 in Communication or Adult Literacy at level 2. Applicants with vocational qualifications such as NVQ level 3 may also be asked to provide an essay to demonstrate appropriate study skills, etc. We recognise that many potential students already possess a range of knowledge and skills gained through a variety of experiences that are good preparation for social work and you need to tell us about these in your personal statement. We are looking for applicants who: Understand what social work is, Can reflect on and learn from their experiences, education and training, to date, Have the potential to make connections between their experiences, learning and reading and social work practice, Have appropriate values in place. It is an advantage to already have or have begun to work towards qualifications in Maths and English GCSE (at grade C or above) or equivalent qualifications e.g. Key Skills Level 2 in Communication or Numeracy or Adult Literacy or Numeracy at level 2. Applicants with relevant vocational qualifications such as NVQ level 3 may also be asked to provide an essay to demonstrate appropriate study skills, etc. What is the content of the course? 5

6 The course has been designed to ensure that students obtain the appropriate skills and knowledge to pass the professional social work award at graduate level. The BA Social Work has been developed in close collaboration with partner social work agencies to ensure you develop the right skills and knowledge to pass the professional social work award at graduate level. A key focus is synthesizing theory and practice. You will study communication skills with adults and children, law, Sociology and Psychology. You will explore values and ethics in social work. In years two and three you will develop your practice skills in Practice Learning modules, which help you to link what you are learning out on placement with social work theory. You will undertake modules that explore social policy and legislation. You will explore issues around confidentiality and information sharing. Social Workers are encouraged to develop skills in direct work and you will be introduced to a range of practice skills and learn hands-on techniques to work with individuals, families and groups including the use of art, play and role play. Throughout the three years of the degree, you will be encouraged to develop into a reflective practitioner. Teaching and Assessment Methods We recognise that students all learn in different ways; our teaching and assessment methods reflect this. Teaching will be delivered through lectures, seminars and tutorials. Each student is allocated a personal academic tutor who will support you in your studies. Assessment methods include academic essays, group presentations, poster presentations and portfolios. In addition to your academic studies, the Division of Social Work and Social Care has a strong history of supporting our students to develop their employability skills. Preparation for practice opportunities We offer an exciting programme of skills development sessions on top of your academic modules and practice placements. The main purpose is to prepare students for their first placement by providing structured opportunities to practice key generic skills and to increase their understanding of the social work role, without the immediate pressure of assessment, and without the need to be in a social worker role with service users and carers. We also provide opportunities later in the course to develop more advanced skills. 6

7 The modules are as follows: Year One Semester 1 Semester 2 SJ-4002D Academic skills SW-4002D Social Work Values and Ethics SW-4005L Communication Skills: Children and adults SJ-4008L Introduction to Psychology SJ-4005D State and Society SW-4001D Introduction to Social Work Year Two SW-5002D Law SW-5004D Working with Adults SW-5001D Child and Family Social Work SW-5003Q Practice Learning I SW-5005D Mental Health Year Three SW-6001D Users Perspectives SW-6002D Organisations and Professional Development SW-6004K Practice Learning II SW-6003K Research Methods for Social Workers 7

8 How do I apply? Unless you are currently a student registered with the University of Bradford, you need to make your application to any undergraduate degree programme via UCAS, who can be contacted using any of the following methods: Website: If you need help or advice on your individual application, you should contact your careers adviser or call the Customer Service Unit on (or from outside the UK), open Monday to Friday, 08:30-18:00 (UK time) Minicom (designed for people with hearing difficulties): Tel: +44 (0) enquiries@ucas.ac.uk for an automated response regarding UCAS procedures Tuition Fees All students are required to pay tuition fees Full-time home and other EU students (2014/15) - 9,000 per annum Full-time international (non-eu) (2014/15) - 11,000 per annum For more information regarding tuition fees and financial support for students, please see Professional Regulation Social work is a profession regulated in England, since 1 August 2012, by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). As a social work student you will be expected to adhere fully to the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (see and to be committed to working towards the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Social Workers in England (see SocialworkersinEngland.pdf ). The College of Social Work is central in upholding and strengthening professional standards across the board. The Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) was developed by the Social Work Reform Board (SWRB) and is embedded within our programme to ensure professional development is addressed throughout the course. As well as regulating individual social workers and students, the HCPC also regulates the performance of social work courses. Satisfactory completion of the programme does not mean automatic registration with the HCPC. Graduates will be expected to apply independently to the HCPC for registration. For more information please visit: Disclosure and Barring Scheme All students will need to consent to and co-operate with enhanced DBS checks. Students are responsible for paying the relevant fees. Applicants who make a disclosure will also be processed in accordance with The University of Bradford Criminal Convictions Policy and University of Bradford Social Work and Social Care Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) Panel and Procedures. Students who have lived outside the United Kingdom All students will be required to provide information and relevant documentation, in lieu of DBS checks, for all periods they have lived outside the UK. Again, students are responsible for paying any fees required by the agencies involved 8

9 Opportunity to gain the necessary qualification in Maths and/or English if you do not already possess it. All applicants need to demonstrate adequate ability in Maths and English, i.e. equivalent to GCSE at grade C or above e.g. Key Skills Level 2 in Application of Number / Communication or Adult Numeracy / Literacy at level 2. The minimum level of English Language attainment for entry to Undergraduate or programmes is IELTS 7 or equivalent If you do not possess such a qualification, you will need to obtain one and you may wish to look at where, by following relevant links, you should be able to find information about the "e-learning" and assessment they offer. Learn Direct do charge some fees, but the government discounts fees for skills for life courses, and further discounts are available according to individual income, circumstances and age. Alternatively, you could contact your local College regarding any opportunities for gaining a qualification in Maths and/or English that they might have. 9

10 Manifesto for Social Work at the University of Bradford We believe that social work must be committed: To the provision of services which bring positive change in the lives of individuals and communities, and especially those facing trauma, disadvantage and oppression. To the ongoing development and active promotion of policies and practice which provide positive benefits for vulnerable people. To working alongside others and in partnership with vulnerable people to create a more socially just society which endeavours to meet the needs of all communities and groups, and To working alongside others and in partnership with vulnerable people to challenge agencies and institutions whose policies and practices have negative consequences for vulnerable people. As social work educators, we will, therefore, in partnership with practitioners and agencies providing practice placements, encourage students to develop: Practice which is informed by: Ø Critical reflection and analysis. Ø Relevant underpinning knowledge and research. Ø Service users needs and views. Ø Social work values and ethics. Ø The practice experiences of colleagues and partners in social work and other agencies in both the statutory and voluntary sectors. Ø Recognition that the problems faced by most service users are aggravated by, or have their origins in, the inequitable nature of social structures. Critical reflection on and analysis of: Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Their practice and its outcomes for service users. Their values and ethics and the consequences of these for service users. Others practice and its outcomes for service users. The policies of central and local government and the consequences of these for service - users. The policies of social work agencies and other organizations, and the consequences of these for service users. Knowledge and skills which will result in interventions which are : Ø Effective in improving the lives of service users. Ø Relevant to the identified needs of service users. Ø Acceptable to and welcomed by service users. Ø Respectful of service users. Ø Culturally competent. Ø Equitable. Ø Effective in challenging unacceptable practice, policies and situations. 10

11 Division of Social Work and Social Care An example of a First Year, Social Work timetable Semester 2 Days and times are subject to change 9-10 MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY Introduction to Psychology Social Work Values and Ethics State and Society Introduction to Psychology Social Work Values and Ethics State and Society 12-1 Social Work Values and Ethics State and Society Introduction to Social Work 3-4 Introduction to Social Work You will also be an opportunity to attend preparation to practice workshops throughout the year. 11