Social Work

Social work is a profession suited to people who:

• are creative

• are practical

• are resourceful

• enjoy working with other people

You will combine ingenuity and optimism with honesty and realism, in the face of the demanding situations which some service users experience.

You should have a stable, well-integrated personality, and you must be able to see beyond the immediate issues presented by service users, the general public, and policy-makers. You will also require well-developed social and communication skills and a high degree of empathy.

What social work looks like

Good social work combines an interest in people with a rigorous intellectual attitude and the constant search for better methods of helping, supported by research and development.

Social workers support people in difficult circumstances to improve their wellbeing. They provide protection to people who may be vulnerable, and promote social justice.

Working within legal systems and codes of practice, social workers work with individuals, families and communities to enable change. They work in partnership with other agencies to achieve this, including, for example:

• health

• education

• housing

• the police

Studying social work will enable you to think critically about the work that social workers do and to develop:

• skills in assessment and communication

• a strong sense of professional ethics

• an understanding of the importance of social justice

We seek to meet the demands of this changing profession and contribute to an understanding of, and improvements in, public policy and professional practice.

How we are shaping social work

We have previously played a major role in advising on the future shape of social work services in Scotland. We contributed to reports that led to the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, which remains a core legislative basis for Scottish social work today.

Programme benefits

• Our programme will provide you with an internationally-recognised professional qualification, which will enable you to register as a professional social worker, opening up your employment opportunities in the UK and abroad.

• Our programme is fully accredited by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

• You will complete full-time practice placements with local agencies and organisations during Years 3 and 4.

• We are a diverse and international community of staff and students. We work with local and international partners on all of our teaching programmes to ensure that our teaching reflects our commitment to social work values, ethics and social justice.

• The University started providing training for social workers in 1918 and today we are well-recognised as a leading institution in social work training.