Masters Degrees in Social Work, London, United Kingdom

Drawing on current research across the social sciences, government guidance, and legislative frameworks, this degree focuses on the issues that are key in facilitating your professional and academic development as a social worker- http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/ma-social-work/

Why study MA Social Work at Goldsmiths?

-This Masters programme is ideal if you are a graduate, with relevant experience, interested in pursuing a professional career in social work

-It prepares you according to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency – Social Workers in England and the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF), the Quality Assurance Agency subject benchmark for social work, and the Department of Health's requirements for social work training

-Social work education at Goldsmiths has a long and distinguished record – we house one of the most respected social work units in the UK, and you will be taught by established social work academics and associate lecturers who have considerable research and/or practice experience in their fields

-Our social work programmes are highly regarded by potential employers within London and further afield, and our graduates have an excellent record of securing employment; they've gone on to work in local authority children's services departments, adult services departments, and independent sector and voluntary sector agencies such as the NSPCC, Family Action and Mind, and a recent graduate was named Newly Qualified Social Worker of the Year

-We'll equip you with the knowledge, values and skills you'll need to practise as a reflective and ethical social worker, equipped for the challenges of contemporary social work practice

-You will cover areas of human growth and development; community; needs and services; law and organisational contexts of social work; and research methods. Specific learning will include mental health and disability, and social work processes of assessment, planning, intervention and review

-The Masters includes practice placements in two settings and with different service user groups, so you'll be able to gain invaluable real world experience

-We'll encourage you to think deeply about human rights and social justice, and to embed these values in your practice

-You will develop your skills for reflective and evidence-based practice and will be able to further your research mindedness

This programme is approved by the Health & Care Professions Council.

Excellence in practice and teaching

Goldsmiths has a long tradition of social work education, and our programmes are internationally regarded as excellent in both practice learning and critical studies. They also have a strong focus on anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice.

We have a lively programme of research taking place in areas as diverse as:

-the links between child abuse and domestic violence
-multi-family group work with teenage parents
-service user perspectives and transnational adoption
-mental health social workers' use of mental health laws and coercion
-equality and diversity in social work education
-the effects of political conflict on social work practice and education
-reflective professional social work practice
-evaluative approaches to service provision

Our research informs and underpins our teaching and students are invited to share our interests as well as develop their own through undertaking a small scale research project and developing their research mindedness in a final year extended essay.

Find out more about service user and carer involvement in social work education at Goldsmiths.

South East London Teaching Partnership

The Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies at Goldsmiths has recently entered into a formal Teaching Partnership with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, the London Borough of Southwark and the London Borough of Lewisham for the delivery of social work education at Goldsmiths.

We are one of only four sites across the country to have received government funding to develop and test new and innovative approaches to social work qualifying education, early career training and continuing professional development programmes. As a result, a significant number of social work practitioners, from all levels within these three local authorities, are involved in the MA Social Work programme, delivering or co-delivering lectures, workshops and seminars. This means that there is a very close relationship with practice to ensure that by the end of the programme students are equipped to deliver authoritative, compassionate, social work practice that makes a positive difference to people’s lives.

You will be encouraged to make links between anti-oppressive practice, social work values, the legal framework, theories, methods and skills of intervention and social work practice throughout the course.

Intake

The programme has an intake of around 35-40 students each year. Goldsmiths is committed in its policy and practice to equal treatment of applicants and students irrespective of their race, culture, religion, gender, disability, health, age or sexual orientation. We particularly welcome applications from members of minority groups.

The teaching includes lectures and workshops with the entire student group and small study groups, reflective practice discussion groups and seminars of between 10 and 14 students. A significant proportion of the course takes the form of small study groups and seminars.

The MA is a full-time course. It is not possible to study the course part-time. It is not possible for students to transfer from a social work course at another university onto the second year of the Goldsmiths MA in Social Work course.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact the Admissions Tutor.

Modules & Structure

Successful applicants on the MA in Social Work commit to studying on a full-time taught course over two years. On successful completion you will receive a MA in Social Work which is the professional entry qualification to be a social worker and it enables you to apply for registration as a social worker with the Health and Care Professions Council.

The curriculum aims to provide you with the value, knowledge and skill base for practice and is organised around study units, workshops, lectures/seminar modules, projects and private study. The teaching and learning opportunities centre on the key areas of the social sciences and their application to Social Work practice, as well developing your intellectual capacity, and the skills necessary to get you ready for practice. There is an expectation that you attend at least 85% of all aspects of the programme.

The structured learning includes specific learning in:

human growth and development, mental health and disability
social work theories and methods; assessment, planning, intervention and review
communication skills with children, adults and those with particular communication needs
law, and partnership working across professional disciplines and agencies
social science research methods, including ethical issues
Practice is central to the programme, and there will be practice placements in two settings and with different service user groups (eg child care and mental health). The learning on the programme builds over the two years and prepares you to apply your knowledge to practice situations. We work closely with a range of practice organisations in the Greater London Area. The placements are allocated by our placement tutor and matched with individual profiles. In some instances you may have to travel long distances to your placement organisation. You will need to cover the cost of travel to your placement. You will be expected to work the core hours.

At Goldsmiths we recognise:

the unique contribution that all students bring as individuals to the programme in terms of their personal qualities and life experiences
that professional training builds on the uniqueness of each individual by facilitating the student’s exploration of the values, knowledge base and skills of Social Work practice
that it is the student’s responsibility not only to develop a technical acquaintance with the framework of Social Work practice but also to demonstrate competence through its application in practice
that Social Workers are at the interface of society’s attempts to promote welfare
Social workers have a dual responsibility to act within the state’s welfare framework and also to recognise the pervasive influence of oppression and discrimination at an individual and a structural level in most of the situations in which they work. We will prepare you for this professional responsibility.

Year 1

In year 1 you are introduced to social work as a professional activity and an academic discipline. You consider key concepts such as the nature of need, community, social work services, and the significance of the service user perspective.

You are also provided with an introduction to: life-span development, assessment in social work and a range of social work intervention approaches. Your assessed practice consists of 70 days spent as a social worker; this gives you the chance to develop your communication and social work practice skills with service users, and to work in partnership across professional disciplines and agencies.

Year 2

Year 2 provides you with an overview of the legal and organisational context of social work, and extends your knowledge and skills in one of the two main specialist areas of social work practice: working with children and families, or working with adults in need. You will work in small groups to explore methods of intervention, research and theories which are relevant to a particular area of social work, while another assessed practice element enables you to meet the professional requirements for social work training via 100 days of practice under the guidance of a practice assessor.

You are expected to demonstrate competence across a range of standards and this is formally assessed. The learning on the MA Social Work programme builds over the two years and prepares you to apply that knowledge to practice situations.

Practice placements

You are required to spend 170 days in practice settings.

In Year 1 there is a practice placement lasting 70 days and in Year 2 the practice placement lasts 100 days. These placements are arranged through the allocation system devised by the College. The practice placements will be supported by 30 days for the development of practice skills.

You have an identified Practice Educator for each of the two practice placements. Most of our placements are located in South East London, so if you live elsewhere you will need to travel.

We have partnership agreements with the following organisations for placements in social work:

London Borough of Brent – Childrens Services
London Borough of Brent – Adults Services
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea – Adults Services
London Borough of Lambeth – Childrens Services
London Borough of Southwark – Childrens Services
London Borough of Southwark – Adults Services
London Borough of Lewisham – Childrens Services
London Borough of Lewisham – Adults Services
London Borough of Croydon – Adults Services
Royal Borough of Greenwich – Childrens Services
Royal Borough of Greenwich – Adults Services
London Borough of Bromley – Childrens Services
London Borough of Bromley – Adults Services
NSPCC (London Region)

We also work with about 20-30 voluntary/private social care agencies each year. Here are some that we've worked with recently:

Equinox Care Mental Health Services
Body and Soul HIV Service
Jamma Umoja Family Assessment Services
Advocacy in Greenwich Learning Disability Service
Lewisham Refugee Network
Turning Point Mental Health Services
Carers Lewisham

Assessment

The programme is assessed by a range of methods including essays, assessed role plays, take home papers, project work, a practice based case study, a final year dissertation, and the production of a practice portfolio for each placement.

Assessment of practice is by reports by your Practice Educator. This includes direct observation of your work with service users as well as your practice portfolio, and a narrative giving an evaluation of your work.

Professional standards

Social work is a regulated profession. From 1 August 2012, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) took on the regulation of social workers and the regulation of the performance of social work courses. This means that social work students will need to adhere to the standards set out in the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Guidance on conduct and ethics for students (HCPC 2009), and work towards meeting the HCPC Standards of Proficiency - Social workers in England (HCPC 2012). These are the standards social work students are expected to demonstrate at the end of their last placement/ qualifying level.

Skills

You'll develop the ability to practise social work in a wide variety of settings with different service user groups.

Careers

The programme will enable you to register and practise as a qualified social worker.

Funding

Please visit http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/fees-funding/ for details.

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Are you a solutions person who can meet a challenge? Do you function in crisis situations; are you resilient, flexible and a team player?

Social workers advise and support people at times of difficulty and deal with a wide range of problems such as the effects of ill health, disability, family breakdown, bereavement, discrimination, poverty and disadvantage. Helping people in these situations is rewarding but complex and challenging and requires a high level of commitment and resilience.

The MA Social Work programme reflects changes in government policy and social work practice and is based on current knowledge and research. We have strong partnerships with local employers ensuring high quality practice placements and potential job opportunities on completion of the programme.

Innovative teaching and learning resources have been developed such as the use of drama and online resource access as student support and the student experience are our key priorities. Our teaching team is supported by practitioners, service users and carers and in addition there are close links between the social work programmes and the university's Centre for Applied Social Research. University of Greenwich has a strong track record of achievement and provides high quality education approved by the HCPC and endorsed by the College of Social Work.

Please note that the part-time route is employment based and only available to graduates sponsored/supported by their employer in partnership and through agreement with the programme.

The Department of Psychology, Social Work & Counselling is a trusted provider of excellent academic degrees and vocational training. Our teaching staff are research active and are experts in their respective field. The department is consistently rated highly in the National Student Survey. We pride ourselves on combining high-quality teaching with world-class research and a vibrant student experience. We have well-equipped facilities and laboratories to support our activities and we employ creative teaching methods and assessment techniques. All our programmes offer a wide choice of courses and we welcome and offer support to students from a range of backgrounds.

The aims of the programme are:

- To facilitate graduates to gain social work knowledge, skills and understanding and the ability to apply these to their practice and work with and support families and individuals who have challenging and complex needs

- To develop and enhance students ability to critically analyse the values which underpin social work, such as social justice, equality and fairness. Additionally, students will develop an understanding of social policy, current social work legislation and enhanced practice skills

- To develop critically reflective practitioners who can demonstrate excellent communication skills, creativity and emotional resilience and deal with the complexities and challenges of the social work task.

Visit the website http://www2.gre.ac.uk/study/courses/pg/hsc/hsc

Health and Social Care

With over 20 years’ experience as a trusted provider of health and social care training and education, we are committed to providing our students with the knowledge and skills to become valued members of the community and to the continuing professional development of qualified professionals.

We are at the forefront of research and innovation in the field of health and social care and our teaching staff have both practical know-how and academic expertise.

What you'll study

Full time
- Year 1:
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.

Law and Policy for Social Work (20 credits)
Human Growth and Development For Social Work Practice (20 credits)
Social Theories for Professional Practice (20 credits)
Skills, Methods and Models of Social Work Practice (20 credits)
Research Minded Evidence Based Practice (10 credits)

- Year 2:
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.

Power, Politics and Change in Social Work Practice (10 credits)
Transition towards Professional Social Work Practice (10 credits)
Managing Complexity in Social Work Practice with Adults, Children and Families (20 credits)
Social Work Dissertation (60 credits)

Part time
- Year 1:
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.

Law and Policy for Social Work (20 credits)
Human Growth and Development For Social Work Practice (20 credits)

- Year 2:
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.

Social Theories for Professional Practice (20 credits)
Skills, Methods and Models of Social Work Practice (20 credits)
Research Minded Evidence Based Practice (10 credits)

- Year 3:
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.

Power, Politics and Change in Social Work Practice (10 credits)
Transition towards Professional Social Work Practice (10 credits)
Managing Complexity in Social Work Practice with Adults, Children and Families (20 credits)
Social Work Dissertation (60 credits)

Fees and finance

Your time at university should be enjoyable and rewarding, and it is important that it is not spoilt by unnecessary financial worries. We recommend that you spend time planning your finances, both before coming to university and while you are here. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.

Find out more about our fees and the support available to you at our:
- Postgraduate finance pages (http://www.gre.ac.uk/finance/pg)
- International students' finance pages (http://www.gre.ac.uk/finance/international)

Assessment

Assessment methods will include essays, case studies, presentations, observation reports, portfolios and practice documentation.

Career options

Graduates will be prepared to work with and support families and individuals who have challenging and complex needs, in a range of settings.

Find out about the teaching and learning outcomes here - http://www2.gre.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/645462/Social-Work-PG-Dip-MA-P12654.pdf

Find out how to apply here - http://www2.gre.ac.uk/study/apply

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The Department of Social Work has a longstanding tradition of providing excellent social work education and training and has produced a wide range of research that has been highly influential in the development of social work practice.

The MSc Social Work is an accelerated programme for applicants who already have a first degree and want to embark on a career in social work; the course will fully prepare you for a professional career in the statutory or voluntary social care field.

This Masters degree runs in close partnership with local social care agencies and local authorities based in inner and outer London boroughs. The course is a combination of a taught and practice curriculum, where you will undertake two fieldwork placements in addition to the College-based teaching over the two years.

We welcome overseas and self-funding students.

See the website https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/socialwork/coursefinder/mscsocialwork.aspx

Why choose this course?

Students have said the following about this course:
- “Lectures are delivered by experienced practitioners and leaders in the Health and Social Care field.”

- “The teaching is of a high standard and lectures are interactive with opportunities for small group activity.”

- “Staff are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and professional.”

- "There is excellent support for mature students, especially those with childcare and family commitments.”

- “I am a final year student and proud to be a postgraduate student at Royal Holloway.”

Department research and industry highlights

Since its inception, the department has developed a reputation for delivering high quality research across a range of areas by engaging with matters of public concern. In the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008 45% of the department’s quality profile was ranked 3-4*.

- A team of researchers in the department recently conducted a major study into leadership in health and social care services.

- Two members of staff are currently completing a small-scale study into decision-making in the field of child and family welfare.

- The department hosted the Centre for Trauma and Abuse studies and continues to maintain strong links with this centre.

- The department runs the most successful Graduate Diploma in Child and Family Studies in partnership with 28 London Boroughs and has been designated a Centre of Excellence.

Course content and structure

The MSc in Social Work is a two-year course that runs over two academic years, and is based at Royal Holloway’s Egham campus. The course is full time and students are expected to attend from 9am - 5pm, both in College and while on placement. The course integrates theory, research, policy and practice in social work, and the academic and practice programmes run concurrently.

- Course structure and organisation
In the first year you'll attend College four days a week during the first term. In the second term you are on placement (70 days) from Monday to Thursday and in College on Fridays. The placement continues in the third term. There are occasional block weeks on placement and Recall Days when you need to attend College.

In year two you'll attend College on Mondays and Tuesdays and are on placement (100 days) the rest of the time. Again there are occasional block weeks on placement and Recall Days when you need to attend College. Please see information about placements for more details regarding the practice element of the course.

- First year courses
Practice Learning 1: preparation for practice. .

Social Policy for Social Workers: gain an understanding of social policy issues related to social work.

Human behaviour in the social environment: gain knowledge about psychology in relation to working with service users.

Child observations: develop observation skills that are relevant to social work with all service user groups.

Theories and knowledge for Social Work practice: gain knowledge of theories and approaches used to understand how to work with service users.

Law for Social Work: learn about law relating to working with services users.

- Second year courses
Critical Social Work: issues relating to working with service users and about different service user groups e.g. adult and child safeguarding, assessments, working with asylum seekers, substance misuse, working with resistant service users.

Choose one of three optional seminars depending on your area of interest: mental health, child and family welfare or vulnerable adults.

Practice Learning 2 - critical reflection: students explore and reflect upon their practice in seminar groups.

Research methods: Students learn about research methods in preparation for their dissertation.

Understanding and working in organisations: learn about the legal obligations, structures and cultures within organisations and how these impact on policy, procedure and practice.

- Support
Students are provided with one to one support from: Academic Tutors, who'll support you throughout the course; Placement tutors and Practice Educators; Dissertation Supervisors in the second year.

Royal Holloway provides range of wider services that support students including the Educational Support Office, Student Financial Advisor, Counselling Services, Students’ Union and Careers Service.

On completion of the course graduates will have advanced knowledge of:
- sociology, psychology, social policy and law and their application to social work practice

- the contribution and application of social research to social work theories and practice

- the range of statutory, voluntary and private welfare organisations within social work agencies and in health, housing and educational environments

- the range of theories and methods needed for effective social work practice

- the social and individual origins of a typical range of problems presented to social care agencies

- values and ethics relevant to social work practice

- the significance of inequalities and difference in working with organisations and social service users

- the significance of cultural diversity and anti discriminatory practice in working with organisations and social service users.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework, examinations, presentations and a dissertation. Students are also required to successfully complete one 70-day and one 100-day practice-learning placement.

Employability & career opportunities

The MSc in Social Work qualifies graduates for careers in statutory and voluntary social work. Qualified social workers can continue their professional/academic development through taught post-qualifying programmes or research opportunities within the department. This course also equips you with the subject knowledge and a solid foundation for continued PhD studies.

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About the course

The Social Work MA programme aims to educate and train individuals to be reflective, research-minded practitioners who are able to work critically and professionally and in accordance with the principle of anti-oppressive practice.
Graduates who successfully complete this programme are eligible to apply for Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration.

The professional and academic elements are closely integrated throughout the programme. There are 170 placement days, with the working week divided between time in placement and time in the University.

Aims

This MA Social Work degree programme aims to provide high quality post graduate social work education and training to equip students with comprehensive pre-entry skills to work in any agency employing social workers in the United Kingdom.

Although the statutory sector is the major employer, increasingly social workers are being recruited into voluntary and private sectors in a variety of service provision roles including community-based, residential or day care services in the UK and abroad.

The programme seeks to encourage the personal responsibility of students to function as independent learners and to develop a critical and reflective appreciation of the role of social work in society.

The curriculum provides teaching in both academic and practice elements, which are fully integrated at Brunel University London. It is designed to ensure that learning occurs in an incremental way, with learning outcomes that develop across levels enabling students to demonstrate progression in professional knowledge, skills and values through two years of study.

Specifically, the programme aims to:

- Prepare students for critical and reflective professional practice according to the HCPC’s approval standards of education
- Equip students to practise ethical, innovative and effective social work practice that actively promotes social justice in a diverse society
- Integrate learning in academic and practice elements of the programme so that students have a holistic understanding of social work in variety of professional contexts
- Enable students to identify, understand and critically appraise evidence and research which can inform social work practice
- Enable graduates to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and apply for membership with the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).

Course Content

Compulsory Modules (year 1)

The Foundations of Social Work Practice
Social Work Theories and Perspectives
Life-span Behaviour and Development
Legal Frameworks for Social Justice
Social Policy and Sociology
Professional Skills Development I
Practice Learning I
Approaches to Research

Compulsory Modules (year 2)

Assessment and the Management of Risk and Complexity
Effective Practice with Domestic Violence, Mental Health and Substance Misuse
What Works in Social Work
Professional Skills Development II
Practice Learning II (100 days)
Dissertation

Year 2 Pathways (choose one)

Social Work with Children and Families
Main topics: working with children in need and child protection; theory, research, law, policy and practice; inter-professional workshops on the impact of parental problems including parental substance misuse and domestic violence; critical review of inter-agency and inter-disciplinary practice through serious case reviews; children looked after and leaving care and service user voices; theory and research specific to social work practice with children and families; risk analysis and risk management; the centrality of relation based practice in direct work and communication with children and young people; the family court system and skills in analysing and presenting case material.

Social Work with Adults
Main topics: the development of community-based care and support and integrated adult health and social care including ideological underpinnings and contemporary issues in policy and adult social work practice; person-centred and care management approaches to community-based adult social work practice; and adult practice specialisms.

Note: As this programme may involve regular access to children and/or vulnerable adults, students will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application, previously known as a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. The application will cost £51.86 (this amount may be subject to change) and the University will send further instructions as part of the admissions process. For further guidance please email [email protected]

Work Placements

Brunel University London has an excellent placement team that takes care to match students to appropriate children and families and adult social work placements within the London area. Placement providers have been consistently positive about their experience supervising post-graduate students and have frequently hired students back into permanent posts after they have completed their degree.

Teaching

A wide range of teaching methods are used in the MA Social Work programme including lectures, seminars, workshops, coupled with individual tutorials and group tutorials to ensure large group learning is translated in a more discursive way. Assessments include essays, exams and presentations and students are expected to complete a total of 180 credits of assessed academic work along with a 60 credit dissertation.

Special Features

The programme is transitionally approved by the Health and Care Professions Council.
Students enjoy first-rate facilities in the new Mary Seacole Building.

We are one of the leading providers of university-based social work and social policy research in London and have attracted funding from, amongst other sources, the ESRC, the AHRC, Nuffield Foundation, the Rowntree Trust, the European Union, the Department for Education and Skills and the NHS.

Students benefit from close links with social care providers in local government and in the voluntary sector.

Service users and carers are crucial to our work, and our BEEC (Brunel Experts by Experience Committee) enables them to be involved at all stages of the MA, from interview to assessment.

Recent groundbreaking research into personalisation, service user involvement, Family Drug and Alcohol Courts, young onset dementia and youth and religion, amongst other areas, feed into our taught programmes, making them highly relevant and up-to-date. Our academics include the authors of best selling books on citizenship, community care and child protection.

Anti-oppressive practice has been at the core of our education and training philosophy for some years and this emphasis is evident in the teaching of this programme.

Brunel University has a long history of securing a range of quality placements across London and surrounding areas. We have substantial experience in working across the statutory and independent sector and have strong partnership links.

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Working in this sector is very rewarding. Social workers help some of the most vulnerable people in society. The role provides support and assistance to a host of individuals, families and groups, from the homeless to people with learning and physical disabilities. Social workers often spend their time with people – be it at hospitals, care homes or at people's homes, assessing their circumstances and building relationships.

This is both an academic and a professional qualification with all successful graduates are eligible for registration as professional social workers with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The aim of the programme is to develop practitioners who can meet the needs of the service users, carers and communities in the context of a complex and changing welfare environment. Founded on holistic, service user-centred model of care, the course produces creative, innovative and reflective social work professionals committed to working in partnership to promote well-being and make a real difference.

On MA Social Work practice-based learning complements university-based lectures, seminars and workshops, drawing on established, contemporary and innovative approaches to work with a diverse range of service users. The course is underpinned by a commitment to inter-professionalism, service-user and carer empowerment and involvement, anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory values and evidence based practice. The course adopts a systematic approach to the development and assessment of your social work skills and includes a specific programme of social work development.

There are five core areas of knowledge and understanding relevant to social work:

• Social work services and the needs of service users
• The service delivery context
• Values and ethics
• Social work theory
• The nature of social work practice.

These areas are systematically explored throughout the course in relation to the key roles of social work, which include:

• Assessment
• Intervention
• Support
• Managing risk
• Managing your own practice
• Demonstrating professional competence.

Employment based route

It is also possible to study the MA Social Care on an employment based route (EBR). Candidates need to be sponsored and supported by their employing agency to undertake this. It is taught alongside the existing MA Social Work and the structure is the same, but students have the option of doing the dissertation in a third year and completing their qualification over a three year period.

Modules

Year 1

Readiness for direct practice
Human growth and development
Practice placement 1
Social work Law
Methods and theories for practice

Year 2

Society and ethics
Professional capabilities in social work practice settings
Communication and collaborative working
Practice learning placement 2
Limited systematic review dissertation

Timetable

On the full-time course you will attend the University generally one day per week and the remainder will be on placement.

You will undertake a 70 day placement in year one and a 100 day placement in year 2.

Professional links

This course has been developed in partnership with local authority and voluntary sector partners, with input from a wide range of service users and carers. We work in partnership with a number of London local authorities, and other organisations on both the public and private sector, who contribute to planning the programme, to learning and teaching, and to the provision of practice learning opportunities. The MA Social Work is both an academic and professional qualification and is approved by The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is the regulator of health, Psychological and Social professionals.

Social work as a career

You will normally specialise in a certain group of society, such as children. Much of the work is around helping decide the level of support or protection required, responding to requests for help and working with other agencies and professionals for the best outcomes. Most opportunities are with local authorities, where salaries can vary substantially between regions - you are likely to earn more working in London. However there are also opportunities available at private care homes, charities and NHS Trusts.

A patient, non-judgemental mind-set is needed, with the ability to communicate effectively with a host of different people and gain their trust. The work demands a level of resilience and a genuine desire to help people, as some cases may be disturbing, and some people won't want your help.

LSBU Employability Services

LSBU is committed to supporting you develop your employability and succeed in getting a job after you have graduated. Your qualification will certainly help, but in a competitive market you also need to work on your employability, and on your career search. Our Employability Service will support you in developing your skills, finding a job, interview techniques, work experience or an internship, and will help you assess what you need to do to get the job you want at the end of your course. LSBU offers a comprehensive Employability Service, with a range of initiatives to complement your studies, including:

• Direct engagement from employers who come in to interview and talk to students
• Job Shop and on-campus recruitment agencies to help your job search
• Mentoring and work shadowing schemes.

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The course is a professionally accredited programme leading to eligibilty to apply to become a registered social worker with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You'll be joining a social work programme that has its history rooted in the principles of equality and social justice.

More about this course

The Social Work MSc course is a professionally accredited programme leading to eligibility to apply to become a registered social worker with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). It has been designed to provide you with the opportunities to achieve the professional standards and capabilities as set out by the HCPC. A key aspect is to develop as a reflective and resilient practitioner.

Our graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills and a critical understanding of different theoretical perspectives as applied to social work. You'll be joining a social work programme that has its history rooted in the principles of equality and social justice.

Students who successfully complete all modules but not the dissertation module, can be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work which also allows for registration with the HCPC.

You are assessed via a variety of methods including essays; presentations; video and project work; examinations and work based practice assessment. A key aspect is acquisition of the necessary practice skills in a diverse range of practice settings relevant to social work.

You will undertake supervised practice within at least two different practice settings over a minimum of 170 days during the course. Your previous learning and experience may exempt you from some modules, but not any part of the 170 days assessed practice.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2016/17 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.

Year 1 modules include:
-Assessment Planning and Professional Ethics (core, 10 credits)
-Communication, Skills and Values in Social Work (core, 10 credits)
-Critical Aspects of Human Growth and Development (core, 10 credits)
-Practice Learning 1 (core, 20 credits)
-Professional Law for Social Work (core, 10 credits)
-Safeguarding Children and Adults (core, 10 credits)
-Social Contexts and Professional Perspectives in Social Work (core, 10 credits)

Year 2 modules include:
-Evaluating Research (core, 10 credits)
-Practice Learning 2 (core, 20 credits)
-Protecting Children and Adults (core, 10 credits)
-Social Work Dissertation (core, 60 credits)

After the course

You will have qualifying status to practice social work (subject to the requirements of registration with the HCPC) and be eligible to become a member of the British Association of Social Workers. Further study opportunities are available through a number of post-qualifying and MA/MSc courses (for example, in practice teaching, childcare and management).

As the course prepares you to be a generic social worker you are not limited to any particular field of social work and our students take up posts in a variety of settings and care groups for example: children and families, adult care to include, mental health, working with older people and learning disabilities.

Moving to one campus

Between 2016 and 2020 we're investing £125 million in the London Metropolitan University campus, moving all of our activity to our current Holloway campus in Islington, north London. This will mean the teaching location of some courses will change over time.

Whether you will be affected will depend on the duration of your course, when you start and your mode of study. The earliest moves affecting new students will be in September 2017. This may mean you begin your course at one location, but over the duration of the course you are relocated to one of our other campuses. Our intention is that no full-time student will change campus more than once during a course of typical duration.

All students will benefit from our move to one campus, which will allow us to develop state-of-the-art facilities, flexible teaching areas and stunning social spaces.

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Please note: you can take free-standing modules as part of your CPPD in social work. The following qualifications are also available:
-Professional Development in Social Work PgCert
-Professional Development in Social Work PgDip

Choose Kingston's Advanced Social Work MA

The Advanced Social Work MA offers a professional development pathway to assist qualified social workers in meeting capabilities and standards of practice consistent with the role of experienced and advanced practitioners. It incorporates recent changes in social work education and professional regulation, such as the introduction of the Professional Capability Framework (PCF) (The College of Social Work, 2010) and standards for continuing professional development set by Health and Care Professions Council.

This course aims to provide busy practitioners with structured opportunities for critical reflection within a well-resourced and research-informed learning community. Designed and managed in close consultation with local and regional employers and representatives of partner agencies and people who access social work services, the programme complements the range of development opportunities available to social workers (including in-house training and personal career planning). It also acts as a springboard for those wishing to progress to doctoral studies.

What will you study?

The course is attuned to the vision of the Professional Capabilities Framework for social workers, which anticipates that experienced social workers may pursue multiple routes to progression. Consequently, you can combine specialist components related, for example, to effective safeguarding practice, with generic elements, such as supervision, professional education and leadership, management and decision-making. This flexible format allows you to construct a programme of study to suit your professional profile and areas of developing expertise while benefiting from exchange with practitioners in other specialist roles.

Research skills are central to the programme and a 'capstone' research project will enable you to produce an account of original research that is suitable for publication in a refereed journal.

Assessment

Presentations, critical reviews, posters, portfolio of practice, assessed practice, projects and a 'capstone' project.

Course structure

-Postgraduate Certificate: two modules (each of 30 Level 7 credits)
-Postgraduate Diploma: four modules (each of 30 Level 7 credits)
-MA: four modules (each of 30 Level 7 credits) plus a 'capstone' project of 60 credits

At Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma level, you may select modules from the list below. Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

To achieve the MA you will undertake a 'capstone' research project and produce an article for suitable for publication.

Available modules
-Safeguarding Adults at Risk
-Managing Professional Responses to Safeguarding Adults at Risk
-Practice Education Stage 1
-Practice Education Stage 2
-Supervision of Professional Practice
-Mentoring, Coaching and Advanced Assessment of Professional Practice
-Leading and Managing People in Social Work Practice
-Leading and Managing in Social Work and Social Care Organisations
-Final Capstone Project

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If you are a graduate looking to gain a professional qualification in social work and eligibility to apply for entry onto the HCPC register of qualified social workers, this two-year course is ideal. Studying at masters level will give you the opportunity to analyse social work in depth and develop your skills by critically examining the research evidence that forms best practice.

The course is underpinned by College of Social Work's Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) and will enable you to meet the Health and Care Professions Council's (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency for Social Workers in England.

What will you study?

You will become equipped with the core knowledge, skills and values required for social work practice. On this generic programme you will learn about effective approaches to work with children and their families and adults at risk (including older adults, and mental health social work practice). You will study legal, policy and ethical frameworks for social work practice; human development; social work methods of assessment and intervention.

Emphasis is placed from the start of the programme on learning skills for social work practice. You will first undertake a Readiness for Direct Practice module in our state-of-the-art Practice Learning Skills Suite. This is followed by two contrasting placements of 70 days and 100 days. A specialist practice interest module provides you with the opportunity to undertake an in depth study in a chosen area of special interest and can be taken in a national or international setting.

Assessment

Individual and group presentations, essays, exams, case studies, practice assessment, final project.

Course structure

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

Modules
-Readiness for Direct Practice
-First Placement 1 (70 days)
-Final Placement 2 (100 days)
-Assessment and Intervention
-Human Development and the Social Environment
-Applied Social Work Practice
-Legal, Ethical and Policy Frameworks for Social Work Practice
-Specialist Practice Interest
-Independent Study: A Capstone Project

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Social workers can take postgraduate modules on a standalone basis as short courses for continuing professional development (CPD).

Our programmes and modules have been developed in partnership with employer partners in south-west London and Surrey to meet the continuing professional development needs of social workers. They are underpinned and informed by:
-The LGA Employer Standards for Social Work and the Supervision Standards
-The Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Work (PCF)
-The Chief Social Worker Knowledge and Skills Statements
-The HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Social Work in England and Standards for Continuing Professional Development

They offer a flexible and development approach by which social workers can develop and gain academic credit towards an Advanced Social Work MA or a Professional Education and Training MA; or a Professional Development in Social Work PgDip or PgCert.

All modules include application of learning to professional practice. There are specialist modules for social workers working with children and young people, their families and carers; social workers working with adults; practice educators and professional educators and trainers and for managers. All modules can be taken as 'free standing' modules.

-Postgraduate Certificate: students must pass 60 Level 7 credits
-Postgraduate Diploma: students must pass 120 Level 7 credits
-MA: students must pass 180 Level 7 credits (including the Capstone Research Project)

Course structure

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

Working with adults
-Enhancing Knowledge and Skills for Social Workers in Adult Services
-Best Interests Assessor
-Frameworks for Effective Safeguarding Practice with Adults
-Managing Professional Responses to Safeguarding Adults at Risk
-Safeguarding Adults at Risk

Working with children and young people
-Enhancing Knowledge and Skills for Child and Family Social Workers
-Frameworks for Effective Safeguarding Practice with Children and Families

Professional education and training, leadership and management
-Leading and Managing People in Social Work Practice
-Leading and Managing in Social Work and Social Care Organisations
-Planning and Delivery of Training
-Practice Education Stage 1
-Practice Education Stage 2
-Psychology of Teaching and Learning
-Supervision of Professional Practice

Social work research
-Capstone Research Project

Progression in practice at ASYE/social worker level (PCF)
-Effective Written Professional Communication in Social Work

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This MA will enable you to extend and develop your initial competence in supporting the professional learning of others- http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/ma-advanced-social-work/

Practice education is the teaching, mentoring, supporting and assessing of Social Work students, social care staff, qualified Social Workers and other allied professionals for the purposes of developing competence and raising the quality of service for users and carers.

Modules include enabling the learning of others, teaching and assessing the adult professional learner, developing and undertaking the evaluation of practice learning, and developing the learning organisation through work with individuals, groups, whole organisations and interagency practice.

Please note: You may take individual modules separately or exit with a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma – please contact the Programme Convenor for details.

Students who are working as associate lecturers for Goldsmiths may be able to undertake the University-run Certificate in the Management of Learning and Teaching as part of the programme.

Find out more about service user and carer involvement in social work education at Goldsmiths.

This programme is endorsed by the Health & Care Professions Council.

What you study

The first two modules support you in meeting the requirements of the Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS). This allows you to become a practice educator for social work students on their first (PEPS stage 1) and last placement (PEPS stage 2).

The next two modules focus on planning, implementing and evaluating a learning intervention and help you to develop your skills as a Practice Development Educator.

If you are going to work with NQSW as an ASYE mentor and assessor, module five is designed for you.

In all these modules you will develop your capabilities in relation to teaching, mentoring, supporting and assessing of Social Work students, social care staff, qualified Social Workers and other allied professionals.

Professional leadership also involves developing the learning organisation through working not only with individuals but also with groups, whole organisations and in interagency practice. The last two modules specifically address these leadership skills and enhance your capabilities in working with teams and groups and in supporting workforce development through reflective practice and learning within and across organisations.

To further develop your leadership in social work education and your research capabilities and evidence informed practice skills you will conduct your own research. We also offer CPD modules on interpersonal skills for direct work with adult service users and on the Care Act, including adult safeguarding, which can be taken instead of tow of the modules three to six or seven.

The modules have an academic and professional component. They support you in learning from your work, your reading and your interaction with others and by developing practice, skills and values, always aiming to enhance the experience of students, service users and carers you are working with.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Adi Staempfli.

Skills & Careers

Our students have been successful in a range of areas, from postgraduate research to employment in local authority children’s services departments, adult services departments, independent sector and voluntary sector agencies such as NSPCC, Family Action, MIND.

Other entry requirements

You should have obtained initial competence in teaching and assessing the practice of professional students and mentoring and supporting students or colleagues, be able to demonstrate that you can meet the academic requirements of a postgraduate programme, and be working or intending to take up employment (usually in a paid, but exceptionally in a voluntary capacity) in a setting that will enable you to demonstrate competence in practice education at the required level.

Funding

Please visit http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/fees-funding/ for details.

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The MA Social Work (professional qualification in social work) is located in the Cass School of Education which is one of the most successful providers of postgraduate social work training programmes in London. The programme is run jointly by UEL and the prestigious Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, this is a professional qualifying programme for graduates wanting to become social workers. The Trust is the UK’s leading provider of multi-disciplinary postgraduate training in mental health and is a major provider of clinical services.

The Trust has a national and international reputation as a centre of excellence in the therapeutic treatment of complex and serious mental health disorders, clinical training, consultancy, research and scholarship.

This is a full-time two-year programme which incorporates 200 days practice learning as required by the Department of Health for all qualifying social work programmes. The 200 days practice learning will take place in students' workplace where they are sponsored by employers (this is the employment based route). For all students practice runs alongside the taught element, with most weeks consisting of one day at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, and three days either on placement undertaking assessed practice learning. There will also be some block periods of practice learning.

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The Leadership and Management in Social Care PgCert is specifically designed for managers in social work and social care organistions. On this course you will work with a range of experts from within the sector and will benefit from the expertise of senior colleagues in relevant disciplines from outside the sector.

Action learning sets are strongly encouraged throughout the course to motivate you to engage in peer learning.

What will you study?

The course consists of two modules – Leading and Managing in Social Work Practice and Leading and Managing in Social Work and Social Care Organisations. These modules are aimed at enabling you to gain and demonstrate a fuller understanding of leadership and management behaviours in social work practice.

On the course you will:
-Reflect on and critically analyse your own practice in managing people in social work
-Develop skills in managing people in social work contexts
-Draw on a range of relevant research, evidence, frameworks and literature to inform your understanding and self-assessment
-Analyse effectively the political and policy context for social care social work in order to produce informed leadership responses
-Enhance your comprehension of organisational structures, dynamics and cultures, including the different legal types of social work organisations, using data and performance informationand financial planning and management
-Develop and enhance your leadership and management competencies and capabilities, including managing change, working across organisational boundaries and project planning and project management

Assessment

For the Leading and Managing People in Social Work Practice module, the summative assessment is a 4,000-word report. You will write a critical review of your management practice with reference to appropriate research and theory in order to reflect on, analyse and improve your practice, and include proposals for your own continuing professional development.

The summative assessment for the Managing in Social Work and Social Care Organisations module will be through:
-A presentation and defence of a proposed project and project plan (50%)
-A 2,500-word justification of proposal and plan for a change and improvement project which might be led by you in your employment with an appended proposal for your own continuing professional development (50%).

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The MA Social Work degree at Middlesex University in London is one of the accredited qualifying degrees for social workers in England. The course involves professional placements and study on campus. You will develop powers of enquiry and critical appraisal vital for careers on the frontline of social services.

The MA Social Work is available to practising and aspiring social workers, with an employment and college-based route available. It is offered only as a full-time programme. We do not offer a part-time option.

You will benefit from our excellent student facilities at Hendon, and be taught by a team of experts. You will benefit enormously from the wealth of knowledge and practical experience our staff bring to the courses, through their ongoing research and strong links to practice settings.

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The MSc Advanced Practice provides high quality training that enables you to critically evaluate theory and utilise research findings in relation to advanced practice and leadership.

The course is delivered via a part-time, modular approach which offers flexibility to suit the needs of social workers wishing to continue their professional development. It provides professionally and academically rigorous postgraduate training for experienced workers in social care and health services, and will lead to academic and professional qualifications at Masters and Advanced levels. There are two pathways leading to the qualification: Children & Families and Leadership & Management.

This course will build upon the long-standing partnerships that the Department of Social Work has with employer agencies and service user groups.

Students are able to exit at different stages through the course. Those who successfully complete stage one can achieve a Postgraduate Certificate, and those also completing stage two can achieve a Postgraduate Diploma (with Higher Specialist Award in Social Work). Completion of three stages will lead to the award of MSc.

See the website https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/socialwork/coursefinder/mscadvancedpractice.aspx

Why choose this course?

The Department of Social Work at Royal Holloway has run successful post graduate and post qualifying courses for many years. Below is some recent feedback from students and external examiners on our courses:

- “There is real evidence through the assignments that students are given excellent teaching input and guidance on reading which is relevant to the contemporary professional workplace.”

- “Each aspect of the programme has enabled me to explore my practice, gain knowledge and develop my skills. Having lectures relating to a range of different client groups and areas of work has given me the opportunity to place my work in a broader, more informed context.”

- “The programme has opened up new challenges for me in terms of application of research into practice, using theories and the need to be a reflective practitioner, and I owe it to the service users to maintain personal and professional development and improvement in social work services.”

- “The teaching is of a high standard and lectures are interactive with opportunities for small group activity.”

- “Staff are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and professional.”

Department research and industry highlights

Since its inception, the Department has developed a reputation for delivering high quality research across a range of areas by engaging with matters of public concern. In the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008 45% of the department’s quality profile was ranked 3-4*. Some current research projects and interests of staff in the department are:
- Child protection responses to forced marriage
- Black men and mental health
- Practitioners use of discretion and knowledge in social work
- Cultural competence in social work education
- Decision-making in child care social work

Course content and structure

You will study 6 course units, combining both compulsory and optional units. Subject specific experts will deliver lectures, seminars, and individual tutorials. In addition, Academic Tutors will guide you throughout the course.

Stage 1 course units:
- Value and Ethics for Advanced Practitioners, Leaders and Managers
- Work-based learning: Advanced Practive and Leadership or Risk and Decision-Making
- 1 Optional course unit

Stage 2 course units:
- Risk and Decision-Making or Work-based learning: Advanced Practice and Leadership
- Inter-professional working: Power, Identity and Organisational Culture
- 1 Optional course units

Stage 3 course units:
- Research Methods and Dissertation
- Optional course units:
- Advanced practice in public law family court proceedings
- Advanced practice in child protection and family support
- Work with children with sexually harmful behaviours (run in partnership with NSPCC)
- Development and assessment of professional practice (including stage 2 of the practice educator framework)
- Supervision of professional practice

On completion of the course graduates will have:
- Developed their ability to critically evaluate theory and utilise research findings in relation to advanced practice and leadership.

- Enhanced their skills and ability to provide ethically-sound and effective practice and leadership within an anti-oppressive practice framework.

- Undertake independent, critical analysis and thinking, and enhanced professional development through reflective learning and practitioner-led research.

Assessment

A range of assessment methods are used and they include essays, case study analysis, oral presentations, direct observation and use of video material, reflective commentaries , practice evidence, and for the Masters award a 15,000 word dissertation.

Employability & career opportunities

A postgraduate learning experience of this kind will assist students in thinking more deeply and critically about their work and setting and about the roles they take within it. This programme will provide knowledge and skills that are transferable to a wide variety of employment opportunities in advanced practice, leadership and management in social care and health services.

This course also provides a firm foundation for further postgraduate study and research,

The Department of Social Work runs in collaboration with St Georges and Kingston University, a Doctorate in Professional Studies (Health and Social Care Practice) which students who wish to pursue further study could participate in. In addition The Department offers the standard PhD option.

How to apply

Candidates will normally be nominated to the programme by their agency Training Manager and complete the required application form. Self-funding candidates must have employer permission for the practice elements of the programme.

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These new postgraduate degrees are aimed at qualified social workers practicing or wanting to specialise in social work. They are underpinned by the new Professional Capabilities Framework and by the following:

- Evidence informed research and practice and critical and reflective practice, linked to contemporary policy and legislative frameworks
- Empowerment and anti-oppressive, practice, enhancing outcomes for users of services
- Professional identity and leadership with an interdisciplinary focus and in a multi-professional, multi-agency context.

Whatever your sector or career stage, we believe the programmes' emphasis on evidence informed practice combined with a relationship based focus will be of great interest to social work practitioners.

Additionally, they offer significant career benefits as an increasing number of employers are requiring their social workers to complete a post-qualifying specialist award before progression from experienced social worker to advanced social worker level, or to management.

As a student of this course you'll receive a free electronic textbook for every module.

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