Course may be subject to change.
Welcome to the BA Hons Degree in Social Work, where you'll gain the skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in social work. This program is designed to prepare you for the challenges and rewards of working in this vital field.
You'll have the chance to complete a variety of social work placements, providing you with real-world experience and an opportunity to apply your learning in practical settings. These placements are key to developing your social work skills and getting you ready for employment.
Our course focuses on developing independent practitioners who base their practice on research evidence. After completing the course, you'll be ready to step into the workforce with confidence and will be eligible to apply for registration with Social Work England*.
You may be eligible for the NHS Undergraduate Social Work Bursary. The basic bursary rate is £4,862.50 and provides additional funding whilst you train and gain professional registration. The supplementary financial assistance supports with living costs and tuition fees from your second year of study. In the first year of the course, funding may be available through Student Finance.
We only accept applications for Social Work through UCAS – please follow the link for further information: APPLY NOW
*This course is approved by the social work regulator, Social Work England. For further details about the standards against which the programme is assessed and approved see SWE Education and Training Standards (2021)
As part of these standards the BA Hons degree programme is designed to help you gain insight and apply the professions Professional standards - Social Work England
Using these benchmarks our programme will enhance understanding and enable you to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world practice learning experiences. As you progress, you will learn to uphold these vital standards confidently, meeting public expectations all while being supported by our expert lecturers who have worked in the field and have first-hand knowledge of the social work sector.
Entry Criteria
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they meet the minimum entry criteria stated below to be eligible for the next stage of the application process. All applicants must hold:
- GCSE in English language and Mathematics Grade C/ 4 or above (or equivalent level 2 i.e., functional skills).
- Relevant UCAS credits, 120 tariff points, accumulated from any of the following: A-Levels, Access to Higher Education Programmes, Diplomas, T-levels, any other regulated awarding qualifications at level 3 or higher.
- Applicants with a minimum of 96 UCAS credits can supplement their application should they have extensive lived experience in the social care sector.
- For overseas students where English in not their first language, an IELTS score of over 7 is required in all components: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing.
- Entrants can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning upon enrolment onto the programme.
Applicants must be prepared to provide:
- a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Check (DBS)*.
- a satisfactory occupational health check
- a personal statement which identifies the individual’s rationale for wishing to undertake the course. This might include personal lived experience or work experience.
- to evidence having appropriate personal/intellectual skills and qualities to be a Social Worker, including the capability to use information technology (ICT) to achieve course outcomes.
If a person does not meet the above criteria and wishes to learn more about how they can prepare for future study on the BA Hons Degree Social Work, the Programme Admission Tutor can be contacted on 0191 375 4309.
*You will be required to complete a declaration form about any previous criminal convictions and any disciplinary hearings or investigations related to vulnerable adults or safeguarding young people. Social work is listed in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 [amended 2013] so this means that we must ask you for an enhanced DBS check. Some spent convictions and cautions are now ‘protected’, which means that we can't take them into account when deciding on your suitability for this course. You must read the Disclosure and Barring Service Filtering Guide carefully to decide whether or not you need to tell us about your spent convictions or cautions.
Additional Costs
Work placements, an integral component of the program, are situated offsite, and it's crucial for applicants to note that transportation is not provided by the college. Therefore, applicants should thoughtfully consider their travel arrangements and the associated expenses prior to applying.
Placements span diverse settings across the region, necessitating a requirement to complete 15 days of shadowing, along with a 70 and 100-day placement. This geographic spread and the duration of placements highlight the importance of planning for travel and potential costs.
Students entering Level 5 and 6 might be eligible for a bursary, which is designed to provide financial support for living and travel expenses. The availability and amount of this support are dependent upon individual circumstances.
Vaccinations may be advised and required, these could potentially incur additional costs.
What are the next steps?
If an application is successful, the applicant will be required to attend an interview.
During the interview process they will receive an overview of the programme and be asked to undertake a written activity and contribute towards a group discussion, leading to an individual one on one interview. This process is to assess suitability for the course and the profession.
Applicants are required to bring certificates for any educational qualifications and a form of identification (such as passport, driving licence or birth certificate). A second personal reference will also need to be produced.
In preparation for the interview day, applicants should familiarise themselves with information about the profession and be familiar with professional standards guidance - Social Work England (SWE), Code of Ethics (BASW)s and awareness of the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF).
Study Aims
This programme aims to:
- Develop the skills and knowledge needed to face the demands of this rewarding industry.
- Give the opportunity to complete a range of social work placements to demonstrate and develop social work skills, fully preparing student graduates for employment.
- Enable graduate Social Workers to demonstrate fitness to practice in line with the recognised professional standards.
- Produce autonomous practitioners with a focus on evidence-based practice.
- Develop critically reflective practitioners.
- Ensure study is influenced by the experiences of people with lived experience of social work, inclusive of service users and carers.
- Ensure graduates are eligible to apply for registration as a Social Worker with Social Work England.
- Prepare graduates for the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment as a newly qualified Social Worker.
Video: Social Work Student Voice
Modules Studied
It is a three-year full-time programme.
There are 6 modules undertaken at level 4, Year 1:
- Communication & Intervention Skills for Social Work
- Law for Social Work ~ Academic Informed Skills & Critical Reflection
- Perspectives on Human Growth & Development
- Introduction to Sociology for Social Workers ~ Introduction to Social Policy for Social Work
- Plus, 15 days shadowing placement.
There are 4 modules at level 5, Year 2:
- Relating Theory to Practice
- Working with Children, Young People and their Families, Skills & Values
- Critical Research Inquiries
- Organisation and Delivery of Adult Services
- Plus 70 day practice placement.
There are 4 modules at level 6, Year 3:
- Knowledge and Skills for Safeguarding Practice
- Contemporary Issues in Social Work
- Research for Social Work
- Dissertation
- Preparation for Practice
- Plus a 100-day practice placement.
Times of Delivery
This full-time course requires students to be available:
Monday - 9am - 5pm Tuesday - 9am - 5pm Wednesday - 9am - 5pm Thursday - 9am - 5pm Friday - 9am – 4.30pm
Any times indicated are based on current courses and may be subject to change in future years. Full timetables will be confirmed at the start of each course.
Teaching and Assessment
Each module may include the following methods of teaching:
- Planned workshops
- Seminars
- Presentations
- Guest speakers
- Role play.
Students are assessed on each module using any of the following:
- Examination
- Written assignment
- Case study exploration
- Engagement in workshops
- Presentations
- Attendance
- Participation in sessions.
Students are assessed whilst on placement and will receive a report to identify whether the necessary requirements and standards have been satisfied.
Students are assigned a personal tutor and will have regular tutorials.
Industry Links
You will benefit from strong links with people with lived experience of social work, local authorities, guest speakers from practice, placement providers and voluntary independent sectors. Our social work degree programme is part of the North East Social Work Alliance (NESWA) and also part of Social Work Education North East (SWENE ) partnership.
Placement
Placement is an integral component of the programme across Level 4, Level 5, and Level 6. Students will adopt the core working day of the placement organisation.
Level 4: Students will participate in a 15-day shadowing placement, providing an opportunity to gain familiarity with the field.
Level 5: Students will be provided a comprehensive 70-day placement with a reputable provider. During this period, students undergo assessment and will be expected to demonstrate capability in a applying learned knowledge, skills and insights as a developing student Social Worker. Placement interactions will span various stakeholders: individuals with firsthand experience in social work, caregivers, families, and other professionals.
Level 6: Students will engage in a 100-day work placement. Here, students will demonstrate a deeper understanding of social work principles and apply theoretical knowledge to support decision-making and practices in real-world scenarios. Collaboration, leadership, and critical reflection will be essential at this level.
Throughout both Level 5 and Level 6 placements, a Qualified Practice Educator will support the student and provide guidance and support. Student performance will culminate in either a 'pass' or 'fail' evaluation.
