Higher Education Training Programmes in Social Work

1
Higher Education Training Programmes in Social
Work Social Care

• Jane McLenachan
• Subject Leader for Social Work
• Faculty of Health Wellbeing

2
Modernisation Agenda

• Improve qualification levels of social care
  workforce
• Centrality of partnership working
• Demographic time bomb of social care workforce
• Recruitment retention
• User carer participation choice
• Registration of the social care workforce
• Development of Benchmark Statement for Social
  Care
• Social Care Degree proposal by Minister

3
The Faculty of Health Wellbeing Portfolio

• Inter-professional learning underpins all health
  social care courses
• Professional qualifying courses
• - BA (Hons) Social Work Studies
• - BSc(Hons) Occupational Therapy
• Health Social Care Degree
• Framework Of Continuing Professional Development
  Programmes
• Development of Foundation Degree in Health
  Social Care

4
Review of Social Work Education

• Graduate profession 3 year degree
• Parity with other professions
• Development of National Occupational Standards
  for Social Work
• Enhanced emphasis on practice learning
• Academic learning to prepare for practice
• Emphasis on development of skills

5
Review of Social Work Education

• Emphasis on inter-professional working
• Implications of Climbié Inquiry Report
• Stakeholder involvement including service users
  carers
• Post-qualifying education training
• Introduction of GSCC student bursary

6
Key Features of Social Work Degree

• Core curriculum areas identified by Dept. of
  Health
• Generic award
• 200 days of practice learning assessed against
  NOS for Social Work
• Minimum of 2 settings service user groups
• Assessment of safety to begin practice learning
• Service user carer participation
• Inter-professional working

7
Entry Requirements

• GCSE at C grade in English Maths or Key Skills
  Level 2 equivalent
• 2 A Levels at C grade or equivalent tariff points
• Ability to communicate in written spoken
  English
• Social care experience paid employment or
  voluntary experience
• CRB Health checks

8
Selection Process

• Shortlisting based on UCAS form
• Individual interview
• Written exercise based upon article sent out in
  advance
• Ability to reflect on experiences of social care
  identify learning about nature role of social
  work
• Awareness of service user carer perspectives
• Potential to study at HE level
• Capacity to engage with value base of social work

9
Who applies for social work?

• Significant increase in applications
• Decline in applications from males 19 in
  1999/2000 down to 10
• Increase in applications from younger people age
  limit removed in 2003
• Decline in numbers of mature applicants, although
  not in proportion of accepted places

10
Career Prospects

• Excellent graduate recruitment
• Social Service Departments across the region
  nationally
• Work across all service user groups
• Employment in the voluntary independent sector
• Agency work also common during training

11
Whats in it for your students?

• Honours degree professional qualification
• International practice learning opportunities
• Development of transferable employability
  skills
• Understanding of inter-professional working in
  health social care
• Excellent recruitment prospects
• Competitive starting salaries
• Working to make a difference in peoples lives