BA (Hons)
social Work
University of Wolverhampton
Your Logo
Becoming a social worker
Social work – what’s it all about?
• If you want to make a difference in people’s lives, social
work can offer you a fulfilling career path.
• Social workers support vulnerable people through
difficult times and protect children and adults from harm.
• They work for a variety of employers, including local
authorities, NHS trusts and voluntary organisations, and
operate within a framework of law and policy that
governs social work practice and procedure.
Your own footer
Your Logo
The Profession
• Social work is a challenging profession, and you will
often need to use your professional judgement to
make difficult decisions.
• You will need to be demonstrate effective
communication skills, build trust with service users
and colleagues, and be able to manage your personal
stress levels well.
• Nevertheless, social work is a highly rewarding and
valued career, which will enable you to support
vulnerable people and bring about positive change in
their lives.
Your own footer
Your Logo
• What qualifications do I need to
become a social worker?
Social work is a graduate profession and you will need
either an honours or postgraduate degree in social
work that is approved by the Health and Care
Professions Council (HCPC) in order to practice in
England.
The HCPC publishes a full list of approved, qualifying
social work programmes.
The College of Social Work endorses qualifying
programmes and continuous professional development
programmes.
College endorsement demonstrates that the education
programme meets the highest professional standards.
Your own footer
Your Logo
For entry to the University
of Wolverhampton
• G.C.S.E grade ‘C; in maths and English or equivelent.
• Study skills level 2
• 3 ‘A’ Levels at grades B, C, C. or equivelent.
• Access to Higher Education Distinction and Merit
level.
• Btech National Diploma DDM
• Degree in other subject area below 2.1
classification
• K101 Open University
• NVQ qualifications are not recognised academic
qualifications and are therefore not recognised.
Your own footer
Your Logo
Related Degree's - 2.1 classification
If you have an undergraduate degree in a different discipline, you
can convert to social work via a postgraduate programme, listed
in the HCPC list and The College list of endorsed programmes.
There are also fast-track programmes for entry to social work with
children and families, such as Frontline or Step Up to Social
Work.
Your own footer
Your Logo
Should I get some experience in the
social care sector first?
Before applying for a qualifying programme, you will be expected to have
some experience of working with service users in a voluntary or paid
capacity, to determine if social work is the right career path for you.
A number of organisations recruit volunteers to work with a range of
social care service user groups. ‘Do it’ and ‘a question of care’ are good
online resources.
In terms of paid work, it may be possible to carry out temporary work as
a social care assistant with a local authority or residential unit to gain
experience of working with service users.
Your own footer
Your Logo
What can I expect once I’m qualified?
• In order to be able to practice as a social worker you will need to
register with the Health and Care Professions Council.
• Social Work is a protected title and only those registered can work
as social workers.
• The College of Social Work considers it to be good practice for all
social work employers to offer the Assessed and Supported Year in
Employment programme to newly qualified social workers.
• The programme is designed to help newly qualified social workers
develop their skills, knowledge and capabilities, and strengthen their
professional confidence.
• The ASYE programme provides newly qualified social workers with
regular and focused support, including weekly supervision sessions
for the first six weeks of their employment.
Your own footer
Your Logo
Your social work qualification is only the start
of your professional learning and development.
As a social work professional you will be expected to
undertake continuing professional development throughout
your career, to make sure that you keep your knowledge and
skills up to date and that you provide the highest standards of
practice for the people with whom you work.
This is also a requirement for continued registration with the
Health and Care Professions Council.
Your own footer
Your Logo
THANK YOU!
Your Logo