Social Work (Postgraduate Entry)

Overview
This two-year Master’s degree in Social Work will equip you with the skills and experience you need to become a professional social worker and make a real difference in the lives of children and families, mental health patients, people with disabilities or vulnerable adults.

The course combines theory and practice, and you’ll be supported by passionate industry experts with many years of social work experience. You’ll learn about the latest legislation, planning and policy, and put it all into practice in professional settings, with real people.

You’ll undertake two separate work placements – one in your first year and one in your second year.

The NHS bursary for postgraduate social work students can help with the cost of your fees, your living costs, and includes a contribution towards your placement travel expenses.

When you successfully complete the course, you'll have the skills and knowledge you need to apply to register as a social worker with the professional regulatory body, Social Work England.

What you'll experience

• Our staff are current and recent social work professionals

• Take part in skills days – full-day workshops with professional social workers to help prepare you for your placements

• Practise your skills in our Simulation Centre which features a realistic flat, bedroom and hospital ward where you'll prepare for home visits and care-giving in hospital and care home settings

• Work closely with our Social Work Inclusion Group – local social services users from a variety of backgrounds that help our students understand the needs of different individuals and communities

• Develop your critical and analytical skills with a dissertation project on a subject in your own area of interest

• Undertake two placements in professional practice settings which could be schools, supported living facilites, hospitals or health centres

Careers and opportunities
When you graduate from the MSc Social Work degree course, you'll have the knowledge and practical skills to work in any branch of social work.

What jobs can you do with a Social Work degree?
Career opportunities include:

• social worker

• practice teacher

• care manager

• persistent offender coordinator

• family support worker

• housing adviser

• homelessness/substance abuse charities

• PhD study

We'll provide you with as much support as possible in finding employment through close industrial contacts, careers events, recruitment fairs and individual advice.

Approved by:
This Master's course is a professional qualification for social work approved by Social Work England. Once you've graduated, you'll be eligible to apply for registration with Social Work England, which means you can work as a professional Social Worker in statutory, voluntary and independent sector agencies.

Year 1: - Empowerment and Discrimination Skills for Practice - 15 credits Legal and Policy Frameworks for Social Work - 30 credits MSc Social Work Practice Placement 1 - 30 credits Social Work Theory and Evidence - 15 credits Year 2: - Dissertation - 30 credits MSc Social Work Practice Placement 2 - 30 credits Safeguarding Analysis and Professional Decision Making - 15 credits Transition to Employment - 15 credits All modules on this MSc Social Work course are core.

We're part of a network of Local Authority and NHS social work service providers, local and national third sector and charitable organisations. As such, we’re able to support students in a variety of placement settings. We provide skills days which are Government directed and funded by the NHS. They’re delivered by social workers, managers, senior managers and principal social workers from our network. Skills days are themed around specific topics such as mental health or safeguarding, and are designed to help prepare you for your placement experience. As a MSc Social Work student, you'll undertake two separate professional placements – one in your first year and one in your second year. Most travel costs are covered by placement providers or employment agencies. The NHS bursary for postgraduate social work students includes a contribution towards your placement travel costs. Each placements is: 16 weeks (Year 1), 25 weeks (Year 2) 28 hours per week Placements are assessed by: Oral assessment and presentation Coursework portfolio.