Course overview

Would you like to make a real difference to the lives of individuals, families and communities? Would you like to prevent harm, neglect and abuse?

The course has a long standing history of delivering the social work degree going back to the late 1980’s. We have a small and friendly team with a great wealth of experience covering a range of areas of expertise. We have approximately 25 students in each year group and this enables us to have small teaching groups and offer a high level of tutorial and academic support to students.

Students also benefit from regular sessions presented by service users and carers groups. Service user and carer input on the programme is integral to its design and delivery for which it has been commended.

Current social work practitioners assist in the delivery of modules by virtue of the well-established relationship between the college and social work agencies.

Students complete placements within social work settings of 70 days in year 2 and 100 days
in year 3. The majority of placements are in Worcestershire and will often require students to
be able to travel to and whilst on placement.

The course is validated by Birmingham City University (BCU). On completing the programme, students
receive their degree from BCU and are eligible to apply for entry to the register as a social worker
with the Health and Care Professions Council.

You will be taught by experienced and enthusiastic staff, most of them qualified and registered social workers. All our staff maintain active links with partner agencies and practitioners.

The course also has a high level of practitioner and service user input and involvement into teaching.

ADDITIONAL COSTS
Students are required to pay for DBS checks during the course of the programme. More
information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barringservice-check/overview

UCAS CODE
H19 L500

Entry requirements

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
· GCSE at Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics (formerly Grade C). Equivalent qualifications such as Key Skills Level 2, Adult Numeracy Level 2, Adult Literacy Level 2, Functional Skills English and Maths Level 2 or CSE Grade 1 will be accepted.
· 96 UCAS tariff points
· At least 6 months relevant social care experience, whether paid or voluntary. We can also take into account personal experience of social care.
· 2 references are required before an offer of a place can be made; an academic reference and a reference commenting on suitability for social work as evidenced during experience in social care.

MATURE APPLICANTS:
Applications from mature applicants are particularly welcomed, where they will be assessed on their ability to benefit from and be successful on the course via a range of range of alternative qualifications and experience. This is often demonstrated through the achievement of a level 3 qualification in a relevant area.

OTHER CONDITIONS:
·Satisfactory health check
·Satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check

Course Modules

YEAR ONE
––
The Professional Learner and Safe Practitioner:
This module gives an overview of social work, exploring what social work entails, different settings for practice, and lays a foundation for the place of law, theory and skills, as well as covering study skills to help students meet the academic requirements of this course.
––
Skills Development:
This module prepares students for their first placement by providing a structured opportunity to practice key generic skills and to increase their understanding of the social work role.
––
Applied Psychology and Human Development:
The psychology module underpins knowledge of psychological theory and explanations of human development with a strong emphasis of how they relate to social work practice; such as assessment, intervention, supervision and disengagement.
––
Sociology: Themes and Perspectives in Social Work:
This module aims to equip students with knowledge from the field of sociology which underpins social work practice.
––
Ethics and Values of Social Work:
This module provides a framework for understanding the operation of discrimination and oppression and looks at the historical oppression of different groups within society.
––
Development and Delivery of Social Welfare Provision:
This module will focus on the development and delivery of social welfare, and provide an introduction to key concepts such as ideology, poverty and welfare.

YEAR TWO
––
Law for Social Work Practice:
This module provides a broad introduction to the law involved in social work with children and young people, adult service users and informal carers.
––
Advanced Social Work Skills:
The module develops the themes from the first year skills module and represents a second level in communication skills for and provides anopportunity to develop a range of other relevant social work skills.
––
Assessment and Intervention, Theories and Methods:
This double module will introduce students to a range of methods for assessment and intervention. In designing the curriculum service users, carers and practitioners are an integral part of the planning. The module will developstudents’ understanding of the role and processes of social work practice
––
Understanding Research in Practice:
This module provides underpinning knowledge in evidence-based practice; research methods and application of research to practice. Students will practice and develop skills in critiquing research and developing academic argument within both lecturer-led sessions and within small seminar groups.
––
Practice – Developing Capability:
This module consists of a 70 day placement in a social work setting.

YEAR THREE
––
Practice – Achieving Capability:
This module builds on the practice experience in year two, requiring the student to work in situations of greater complexity and to manage risk. The module is made up of a 100 day placement in a social work setting.
––
The Competent Practitioner:
This module is linked to the final practice learning opportunity; by the end of which students will need to have demonstrated capability in practice. Students will elect to follow either the Children and Families or the Adult Services pathway.
––
The Research and Policy Context of Social Work Practice:
This module builds on students understanding of social policy as introduced in year one module, Development and Delivery of Social Welfare Provision, and examines the relationship between policy, research and evidence based practice.
––
The Professional Learner: Independent Study Module:
This module offers students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability as independent and resourceful learners in a professional context.The independent study should clearly illustrate the individual’s ability to identify, explain, analyse, and evaluate academic evidence and relate this to social work practice in an area of their choosing.

At the end of the module students submit an 8000 work dissertation on their chosen area

How will I be assessed?

The course is taught using lectures, workshops, seminars, group work, student presentations and skills workshops. We also ensure that there is practitioner and service user involvement in teaching.

In addition to this you will also undertake two practice placements. You will be assigned a personal tutor who will review and discuss your progress with you, and will be available for advice.

Students are assessed using a variety of methods including assignments, individual and group presentations and direct observations.

There is also an exam for the Law Module in year 2.

What can I do next

On completing the programme, students are eligible to apply for entry to the register as a social worker with the Health and Care Professions Council.

The programme has an excellent record in terms of students going onto work for local employers.