Faculty of Health & Human Sciences School of Health Professions MA Social Work Welcome Week Information Academic Year 2015 If you require a copy of this handbook in an alternative format please contact a member of the School of Health Professions Programme Administration Team who will be happy to send it to you. Telephone: Email: Social Work Programme Administrator (Rolle Building): 01752 586968 Programme Administration (Peninsula Allied Health Centre) 01752 588800 pahc.reception@plymouth.ac.uk
Section Contents Page 1 Introduction and Welcome Week Timetable 3 2 Staff Location 3 3 Registration 3 4 Practice Learning 5 5 Occupational Health 5 6 Students with Disabilities 5 7 Timetables and Structure of the Course 6 8 Suggested Reading 7 9 Finance 7 10 Useful Contact Numbers 8 11 Good Luck 8 MA Social Work 2015 2
1. INTRODUCTION This booklet should contain all the information you will need before you start your degree programme with the Faculty of Health & Human Sciences on Monday 21 September 2015. Please take the time to read its contents before you arrive. The following gives details of the first meeting venue. A more detailed timetable of the welcome week is available on the student gateway website. Please note the timetable remains provisional and you will be given a paper copy of the timetable on your first day. Details of where you need to be on your first day are given below. It is expected that you will attend all sessions from Monday 21 September Friday 25 September 2015. The first session is detailed below: Time Event Co-ordinator Location 0930 The University has welcome events running throughout the week commencing 21 September 2015 details can be found on the student gateway welcome week website. 1.1 Teaching Teaching commences from Monday 28 September 2015. You will be shown how to download your timetable during welcome week. You must check your timetables very carefully for the times and venue. 2. STAFF LOCATION Where to find staff in the Faculty of Health & Human Sciences Programme Administrator Level 4, Rolle Building Programme Administration FF02, Peninsula Allied Health Centre Academic Team 10 Portland Villas Practice Learning Centre Monday 21 September 2015 Welcome and Introduction to the MA Social Work Programme / Registration Clare Colton, Programme Lead MA Programme Team / Administration Team 6 Kirby Place Babbage 002 3. REGISTRATION What is University Registration? This is when you officially register as a Plymouth University student. Failure to attend registration may result in late payment of any financial support for which you have qualified. You will also be unable to collect your ID card, join the library, Student Union and, more importantly, start your course. University registration is a staged process and begins with: MA Social Work 2015 3
3.1 On-line Enrolment The first stage is where we collect information from you about your personal details and the course you are studying. The University collects this data on-line. Details how to access the on-line enrolment screens are contained within the student gateway welcome week website and there are guidelines to help you through the process. It is recommended that on-line enrolment is completed prior to your arrival here at Plymouth. Please note that if you have only just accepted an offer you have to wait for 24 hours to enrol online. 3.2 Student Computing Accounts During completion of your on-line enrolment, you will be asked to create your computing account. Please make sure you record your username and password in a safe place. This will enable you to access the Student Portal and be able to access all programme and module information, your timetables, email accounts etc. 3.3 University Registration This is the stage of the registration process where we check (at welcome week) that you have completed everything you need to, and also check what arrangements you have made for the payment of your tuition fees. Please bring details of your NHS Bursary, if applicable. At Registration you will be given a University Card which will enable you to access the Library. 3.1 What do I need to bring with me in September? Please use the check list that can be found on the programme folder on the student gateway website to help you undertake the activity required and to ensure you bring the correct documents with you in September. 3.3.1 Certificates of recent education qualifications if not already supplied If you have gained any further educational qualifications since attending your interview or being offered your place, please bring the original certificates (and a copy) of proof with you. You will need to mention these additional qualifications during registration on Monday 21 September 2015 when the programme administration team will verify the documents so that you may retain the originals. 3.3.2 Completed self-declaration form As it is some time since you completed your application from we request all students to complete a self-declaration form to ensure all our records are correct and bring it with them to welcome week on Monday 21 September 2015. The form can be found in the folder for your programme on the student gateway website. 3.3.3 One photograph One passport photographs needs to be supplied. This will be placed on your student file. Please print your name on the back of each photograph and bring the photograph with you to welcome week on Monday 21 September 2015. MA Social Work 2015 4
3.3.4 Fees You may be requested to provide any of the following documents following confirmation of your on line enrolment which will be sent to you via e-mail. Details of your fee assessment or proof of sponsorship (if applicable). Any information you have received about your NHS Bursary status, if applicable. Cheque or credit card to make your tuition fee payment, if you have not completed an Instruction to collect Tuition fees by Credit/Debit card form or paid on-line see website www.plymouth.ac.uk/money Cheque or credit card if you are self-funding and have not made arrangements to pay by direct debit or online. If your fees are being met by your employer, please bring with you a letter confirming this. 3.4 Additional Information Handbooks relating to your programme will be available electronically via the University s electronic website for your programmes and modules known as TULIP. You will be given guidance on accessing this material during welcome week. 4. PRACTICE LEARNING and DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE (previously Criminal Records Bureau) 4.1 Practice Learning Practice Learning is an integral part of your training. During the course of your study you will undertake 170 days of Practice Learning. Whilst every effort is made to accommodate particular needs, arrangements for Practice Learning are negotiated through the Practice Learning Managers and you must be prepared to travel. Students are not permitted to make their own arrangements. 4.2 Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check As part of the admissions process you will have applied for an enhanced Disclosure through the Disclosure and Barring Service. If the application has been delayed and has not been cleared by 21 September 2015, we will need to consider whether / under what conditions you may join the course. A copy of the Declaration is sent to you; please keep it safe, a duplicate or photocopy cannot be provided. 5. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH Please see the separate documents on the student gateway website relating to Occupational Health. 6. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Help for students who have a disability may be available in the form of The Disabled Student s Allowance (DSA). The DSA can cover costs arising from attending your course, which have to be a direct result of your disability. You can find out further information on DSA allowances by contacting our Disability Assist department on http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/disability or by phoning 01752 587676. MA Social Work 2015 5
7. TIMETABLES AND STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE Your timetable will be available to you during the welcome week period. While lectures will probably not be on more than three or four days per week, please remember that this is a full-time course, therefore you should allocate your own study time accordingly. The lecture times and days will change between term one and term two, with lectures usually starting at 9am. You will also have allocated time during term one to meet with your tutor and the other members of your tutorial group, and time in term two to begin planning for your first period of practice learning. During the first year, you are required to study modules to the total value of 100 credits, 20 of which are based in a practice learning setting. This first practice learning period is from April until the end of July and is undertaken on a full time basis. In year two, you will have 8 weeks of teaching prior to commencing your second period of practice learning, which occurs from November until the end of June. This second practice learning period is also completed on a full time basis. Your programme of study will be: Module Term I Term II Term III YEAR I SCW701 Social Policy and Law SCW702 Professional Practice SCW703 Contemporary Social Work Theory and Issues SCW704 Ethics and Values for Social Workers SCW705 Research for Social Work Practice SCW706 Integrated Practice I 70 days in practice YEAR 2 SCW707 Integrated Practice II SCW708 Dissertation 100 days in practice MA Social Work 2015 6
Module Number Teaching Period Module Leader Credits Assessment SCW701 Penelope Examination and T1 and T2 20 credits Social Policy and Law Welbourne Coursework SCW702 Portfolio / T1 and T2 Clare Colton 20 credits Professional Practice Coursework SCW703 Contemporary Social Work Theory and Issues T1 and T2 Michael Sheppard 20 credits Coursework SCW704 Ethics and Values for Social Workers SCW705 Research for Social Work Practice SCW706 Integrated Practice I SCW707 Integrated Practice II SCW708 Dissertation T1 8. SUGGESTED READING Penelope Welbourne 10 credits Coursework T2 Michael Sheppard 10 credits Coursework T1, T2, T3 Clare Colton 20 credits Portfolio T1, T2, T3 Julia Wheeler 40 credits Portfolio T1, T2, T3 Michael Sheppard 40 credits Dissertation Suggested texts for a broad introduction to studying social work at Plymouth 1. Neil Thompson (2010) Theorising Social Work Practice Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan 2. Jones, K., Cooper, B. and Ferguson, H. (Eds.) (2008) Best Practice in Social Work: Critical Perspectives, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan 3. Masson, P. (2011) Effective Writing Skills for Social Work Students, Exeter: Learning Matters 4. Harrison, G. and Melville, R. (2009) Rethinking Social Work in a Global World, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan 5. Limber, M. and Pestle, K. (2007) Social Work: A Companion to Learning, London: Sage. 6. Teater, B. (2014) An Introduction to Applying Social Work Theories and Methods, Berkshire: Open University Press. At this stage we advise that you do not purchase too many text books as these will be available to you either electronically or in hard copy via the library. 9. FINANCES You should by now have made contact with the NHS Business Services Agency (NHS BSA) regarding bursary eligibility. Q: If I am awarded a bursary how is it paid? Once we have informed the NHS BSA that you have started training, they will, if appropriate, transfer the appropriate sum to your bank account. We hope that most MA Social Work 2015 7
monies will be received within the first few weeks of your course; however students whose application to the NHS BSA is received late may have longer to wait. We suggest that all students bring sufficient funds to get through this initial period. Q: Do I need to have a bank or building society account? Yes, you do. You should check that your bank or building society account accepts payments by the Bank Automated Credit System (BACS). Other important information about financial matters is contained in the booklet Essential Information for Students. 10. CONTACT NUMBERS The following numbers may be useful for you as you start your course: Name Contact Telephone Number Faculty of Health & Human sciences 01752 585332 Student Reception Social Work Programme Administrator 01752 586968 School of Health Professions 01752 588800 Programme Administration Team Accommodation Office 01752 588644 Multi-Faith Chaplaincy 01752 587760 International Student Gateway 01752 587740 Disability Assist, Plymouth 01752 587676 Counselling, Plymouth 01752 587701 Guidance and Community Liaison Worker 01752 587963 Medical Centre (Term-time only) (Peverell Park and Beaumont Villa Surgeries) 01752 222341 Student Hardship (Access to Learning Fund) 01752 587680 Student Union (UPSU) 01752 588388 Plymouth City Bus (General enquiries and information hotline) 0845 077 2223 Firstbus, Devon and Cornwall 0845 600 1420 National Express Go By Coach 0871 781 8178 National Rail Enquiries/Rail Easy 0906 2000 500 City Centre Residents Parking Scheme Enquires 01752 304021 11. GOOD LUCK Thank you for taking the time to read this booklet. We look forward to seeing you on 21 September 2015. The pre-course training period will give you the opportunity to meet academic and administrative staff and should provide you with most of information that you need to get started. MA Social Work 2015 8
If you have questions, do not be afraid to ask. The Programme Administration Team is very knowledgeable but if they do not know the answer to your question, they will point you in the direction of a person who does. It only remains for us to wish you good luck with your studies during your time at the Plymouth University. MA Social Work 2015 9