Social Work

Our BA (Hons) Social Work aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills and values appropriate for work in a variety of social work settings. Employment prospects for Social Work graduates are excellent and you will be able to pursue social work careers across the country.

This course promotes an approach to learning that actively engages you with key issues and themes in Social Work practice. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to develop a range of communication skills through experiential teaching and learning facilitated by Service Users and Social Work Practitioners in readiness for direct practice. You will undertake 170 days of practice learning (placement). Through strong partnerships between the university and employer providers, you will be matched to a specific service. All placement providers are quality assured by the University.

After successful completion of this programme, you'll be able to register with Social Work England as Social Worker.

By studying at the University of Northampton, you can be sure that:

• You will experience student life at the University’s £330 million Waterside Campus. Come along to an Open Day and find out more.

• At UON we guarantee a room in our Halls of Residence for all new full-time, first year students who apply and accept their room offer by June 2025 - and we won't ask for a deposit for September 2025*.

• Students enrolling on this course at Northampton will be provided with their own brand new laptop** to keep at no additional cost. All sports clubs and societies are free to join at Northampton and every essential course text book is available via the library, meaning you won’t have to purchase copies. For more information on this visit our website (northampton.ac.uk/benefits).

• Our expert academics teach in small groups supported with one to one assistance. Our academics and students form a tight bond, providing individualised support and guidance whilst challenging students academically.

• Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd.

The Northampton Employment Promise

• In fact, we’re so confident in our careers and employability support that if you achieve at least a 2:2 degree and complete either our Employability Plus Gold programme or achieve a Changemaker Gold Certificate during your time studying with us, but still haven’t secured full-time employment 12 months after graduating, we will secure a three – six month paid internship for you or support you into postgraduate study.

✱ eligibility criteria apply. See northampton.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation/ for more information
✱✱ eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply. See northampton.ac.uk/benefits for more information

STAGE 1:

• Introduction to Social Work (compulsory)
• Understanding Law and Policy in Social Work (compulsory)
• Sociology and Psychology in Social Work Contexts (compulsory)
• Readiness for Social Work Practice (compulsory)
• Decision Making and Professional Judgement in Social Work (compulsory)
• Understanding Contemporary Social Concepts (compulsory)

STAGE 2:
• 70 Day Practice Placement (compulsory)
• Theories and Models for Social Work Practice (compulsory)
• Social Justice and Effective Practice (compulsory)
• Safeguarding Adults and Children (compulsory)
• The Practitioner Researcher (compulsory)

STAGE 3:
• Dissertation (compulsory)
• Transition into Professional Practice (compulsory)
• 100 Day Practice Placement (compulsory)

• Students must take all modules. To be able to register with the Social Work England and gain the protected title of Social Worker students must pass all modules including the “P” Modules SWK2011P and SWK3005P.
  Students who do not complete the Honours Degree will be eligible for an Ordinary Degree upon successful completion of a minimum of 60 Level 6 credits. These can be from any Level 6 modules, whether identified as compulsory or designated. The name of the Ordinary Degree will differ from that of the Honours Degree due to professional body requirements. Details can be found in the relevant Supplementary Regulations.

**Module information is quoted for 2024/25 entry. Please note that modules run subject to student numbers and staff availability, any changes will be communicated to applicants accordingly.

Assessment of learning during the course takes many forms and covers both theory and practice. Each module is assessed against the learning outcomes for the module. The format of the assessments includes essays, posters, reports, presentation, and workbooks of evidence.

There is only one exam in the course, a law exam in the first year. Second and third-year placements are assessed through portfolios. In your third year you will complete a dissertation.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Social Work England