Course description

• Gain experience in work placements where you can put theory into practice
• Study a course approved by Social Work England
• Apply for a bursary from the Department of Health and you may be eligible for funding towards your tuition fees and work placement travel expenses. 

Partnerships with people

Social workers form partnerships with people, helping them to assess and interpret the problems they face, and support them in finding solutions. This course will provide you with the skills and theories that will enable you to work as a qualified social worker in a range of settings. A career in social work is very challenging, but equally rewarding, as you get the opportunity to help make a difference in someone's life.

Engaging placements

During this course, you'll spend 170 days in work placements where you can apply the theory you learn into practice. You'll have 80 days in practice during stage one, and 90 days during stage two.

We have great links with our partners in the local and surrounding areas, so we can provide you with the effective and practical experience you'll need.

We’re proud to say that our courses are closely mapped against the health and social care sector. This ensures that our curriculum is up-to-date, providing you with the assurance that your learning is current and relevant. This does mean that we do have to respond to national changes, such as government policy. As a result, some of the information about our courses may change. Please check the website for the latest information.

Placement hours are subject to change

How you will learn

Our teaching team includes several qualified social workers with many years of experience working in the sector. Some of the classroom-based activities include lectures, small group work, case discussions and debates. During this course, you’ll spend 170 days in work placements where the theory you have learnt can be put into practice. All placements are allocated for you and will give you a broad range of experience.

You'll be taught by an experienced team which includes:

• Catherine John-Baptiste (Programme Leader and Admissions Tutor)
• Deborah Bardouille
• Jessica Jackson
• Gavin Jinks
• Jennifer Brown
• Mark Balkow
• Vita Snowden
• Cynthia Tuuli

How you'll be assessed

Our teaching team uses a range of interesting assessment techniques to provide you with appropriate challenges and assess your development. These include written assignments, presentations, role play and oral examinations.

Entry requirements

You'll need:

• A minimum 2:1 honours degree (except in exceptional circumstances) or international equivalent
• GCSE grade C or above in English and maths or certificated equivalences, regardless of previous educational qualifications
• Completion of a written test, regardless of previous qualification or educational background
• Non-UK applicants should achieve a minimum score of 7.0 overall in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessment (or an equivalent assessment) with a minimum of 6.5 in each skills area. Non-UK applicants for September 2023 should submit a final certificate to evidence the required level 2 qualifications are held and not being worked towards. This can be as IELTS with an overall score of 7.0 and a minimum of 6.5 in each skills area and minimum of C4 for English and C6 for Maths in the WAEC qualification. If these qualifications are not held and evidence provided, applications will be refused
• International applicants can demonstrate their English language from any of the accepted qualifications or by taking the Derby English Language Test (any testing with evidence of attainment needs to be completed prior to the submission of an initial application). If applicants are using a WAEC qualification as certified evidence this must be at a minimum of C4 for English and C6 for Maths

• To be considered for interview your Personal Statement must evidence the following:

  • An understanding of the roles and responsibilities of UK based social workers

  • Relevant social care/work experience (paid or unpaid).* You need to state how this relates to social work.  You may want to refer to Social Work England/BASW Professional Capabilities Framework domains to do this.

  • The length of time you have spent gaining this experience and how it makes you suitable for undertaking the social work course at this time.

• Applications that do not provide the above at the time of application may be rejected. Re-submission of applications will not be accepted if an unsuccessful application has already been submitted in the same academic year
• To undergo a health check and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The health check determines your fitness for practice
• Confirm prior to interview/offer decision making that you can use basic IT facilities, including word processing, internet browsing and use of email

Accreditation of prior learning will not be considered for this course

*Experience can take the form of voluntary or paid work in which you are able to demonstrate interaction with children and adults in a range of diverse settings.  For example, this could be acting as a peer mentor, working within a nursery setting, having caring responsibilities for a sibling or parent, and understanding and applying safeguarding measures or working in a care home and supporting residents with welfare needs