At the point of application, applicants need to demonstrate they have a minimum of 100 hours of relevant social care work experience. This should have been undertaken within the last two years.
Experience in a social care setting (either paid or voluntary) is essential. We also welcome experience in social work overseas, either because you lived there or because you have undertaken paid or voluntary work in another country. Relevant social care experience includes direct work with people and could include:
- Direct work with people who need practical or emotional help or support either through face-to-face work or on an individual or group basis or telephone work
- Mentoring or counselling
- Care work (such as working as a health care assistant)
- Youth work
- Working with children or young people who are socially excluded or have additional emotional and/or practical support needs.
- Placements through school or college which has been undertaken within the last 2 years at the point of application
- Personal experience of caring for a relative or friend where you have had first-hand experience of social services or social work intervention; having a parent(s) who is a foster carer
- Personal experience as a service-user of social work intervention
We attach importance not only to the amount of experience that you have gained but crucially to the learning that you have gained from it and are able to bring to the course and your professional development. It is helpful if you include the following information in your personal statement:
- Your roles and responsibilities
- Reflections on the ways in which your experience has helped to prepare you for social work
As part of the selection process, we interview short-listed candidates prior to making decisions.
All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
The occupational health screening
All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening. This will involve completing an online occupational health questionnaire and attendance if required at a medical appointment.
Students on social work programmes must be able to meet Social Work England standard regarding health and wellbeing. Occupational health screening and assessment will consider the students’ health and wellbeing and their fitness to study and practice. Progress on the course is dependent on your continued fitness.
This screening process complies with Public Health England requirements for the protection of the public and students and staff working in health and social care.
All offers of places are made subject to satisfactory health clearance.
The University is obliged to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities to enable them to fulfill the required competencies of the programme. Candidates who are concerned about health issues are strongly advised to contact us prior to applying.
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
All places are also offered subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (previously known as CRB check) disclosure. This is due to the fact that you may be required to work with children or vulnerable adults on your clinical placement, and will need to demonstrate that you can safely work with these groups upon registration with Social Work England.