Higher Education Training Programmes in Social Work & Social Care

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. What’s 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 people’s lives