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Q1.
How do I become a social worker ?
A1. To become a professional social worker you will need
to gain the DipSW (Diploma in Social Work).
Q2. Where can I study for the DipSW ?
A2. There are over 120 universities and colleges of higher
education throughout the UK who offer Council approved DipSW
programmes.
Details of these programmes are available from your local
care/services council.
Q3. What qualifications do I need ?
A3. If you are a school-leaver (18+) you need two ‘A’
levels or their equivalent, or in Scotland, 5 standard grades
of which 3 should be at the Higher level and at least one
year’s pre-training experience in a social work setting.
Qualifications equivalent to 2 ‘A’ levels are
set out in a leaflet entitled A Career in Social Work, also
available from your local care/services council.
If you are over 21 may not need formal academic qualifications
but you will need to demonstrate that you are capable of
studying at a higher level. One of the ways to do this is
to enroll on an Access to Higher Learning course at a local
Further Education College. Suitable Access courses are Access
to the Diploma in Social Work or Access to Social Work;
also Access to the Social Sciences and Access to Humanities.
You will also need at least one year’s pre-training
experience in a social work setting.
Q4. Where can I get pre-training experience ?
A4. Pre-training experience can be gained with local social
services departments as paid unqualified assistants or unpaid
volunteers; with voluntary organisations such as The Volunteer
Centre UK Ltd and Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and
with private agencies such as private nursing homes and
residential homes. More information is given in our Career
Fact File : Pre Training Experience for Social Work.
Vacancies are regularly advertised in:
the national press:
The Voice on Tuesdays and The Guardian on Wednesdays;
the local press:
In Scotland: The Scotsman, The Herald and The Courier on
Fridays.
Northern Ireland: The Belfast Telegraph (Tuesday & Friday),
News Letter & the Irish News (both on Thursday)
Wales: Wales on Sunday, Western Mail (Thursday), Y Cymro
(Wednesday).
Q5. Can I study for the DipSW on its own ?
A5. The DipSW is a professional qualification which is usually
linked to an academic qualification. The 3 academic levels
and the qualifications it is linked to are :
At Non-Graduate level - the Diploma in Higher Education
(DipHE) eg DipHE Applied Social Studies (2 years full-time;
3-4 years part-time)
At Under-Graduate level BA or BSc eg BSc in Social Work
Studies (3 to 4 years full-time)
At Post-Graduate level MA / MSc / Post Graduate Diploma
eg PG Diploma in Social Work / MA in Social Work Studies
(2 years full-time; up to 5 years part-time)
In addition, after completing the DipHE there is the option
of a third year top-up to BA or BSc either one year full-time
or two years part-time. Programmes which offer these top-up
degrees are listed in the DipSW handbook available from
SWAS at www.ucas.ac.uk.
Q6. How do I get on a part-time course ?
A6.A candidate would need to be in employment and supported
by their employer.
Either the employer or the candidate can make application
direct to the college or university on behalf of the candidate.
Similarly for the National Open Learning Diploma in Social
Work.
Individual candidates should apply via their employing agencies
to:
The
Information Officer
School of Health & Social Welfare
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes MK7 6AA
Tel : 01908 274066 ext 3743
Q7. Are there any open learning or distance learning
courses in addition to the Open University ?
A7. There are a number of open learning routes available.
You should contact your local care/services Council information
officer for details of routes in your area
Q8.
Can I study for the DipSW by correspondence course or through
evening classes ?
A8. The only ways you can study for the DipSW in this manner
is by the National Open Learning Diploma in Social Work.
(see A6 above) and by the open learning and distance learning
routes (see A7 above)
Q9. How long is the DipSW course ?
A9. The various DipSW routes - Non-Graduate, Under-Graduate
and Post- Graduate/ Part-Time/Full-Time/Open Learning/Distance
Learning vary in regard to the length of time they can take.
For the differing lengths of time of these routes see A5
above.
Q10. Who will fund me while I am on the PG DipSW course
as I have already had a grant from my local authority ?
A10. For entry to Post-Graduate programmes, the GSCC is
able to offer bursaries at the present time for England,
Scotland and Wales. The DHSSPS (NI) will continue to adminster
Northern Ireland bursaries. If you are successful in gaining
a place on a PG/DipSW programme and the programme offers
you a bursary then you will receive a bursary whether or
not you have received a grant in the past from your local
authority.
Q11. Can I gain credits towards the DipSW ?
A11. Yes it is possible to have previous study and experience
recognised on a DipSW course.
There are two methods available:
CATS
(Credit Accumulation Transfer System)
and
APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning)
DipSW
programmes which offer CATS and APEL are listed in the list
of DipSW Programmes produced by SWAS or from your local
care/services Council.
You would need to apply to these programmes for DipSW entry
and discuss with them the credits that might be awarded
to you.
Q12. Do I send my SWAS application form to the Council?
A12. No, don’t send the application form to the Council.
Send the completed form to :
SWAS
(Social Work Admissions Systems)
Rosehill
New Barn Lane
Cheltenham
GL52 3LZ
Telephone
: 01242 223707
Pre-addressed envelopes to SWAS are provided with the application
form for this purpose with an acknowledgement card.
You can also obtain an application pack from : http://search1.ucas.co.uk/packreq/index.html
Q13. What is the closing date for applications ?
A13. In any academic year there are usually two closing
dates. There is an early closing date for applications of
December 15th and a later closing date of August 15th. Any
application forms received after December 15th and up to
and including August 15th will be stamped 'late' and forwarded
to those programmes applied to that still have vacancies.
Q14. I am a mature student and I have been out of
full-time education for many years. Is there anyone I can
ask for an academic reference ?
A14. For mature students who have been out of full-time
education for many years, DipSW programmes need to be certain
that they will be able to cope with studying at a higher
level.
The best way for a mature person to demonstrate this is
to do an Access Course (see A3 above) and ask the course
tutor for a reference.
Alternatively, it may be possible to ask an academically
well-qualified person, for example a manager in your place
of work, other than the person providing you with your social
work experience reference, who can comment on your academic
ability, to give you a reference. In this latter circumstance,
it would be well to consult the programmes of your choice
to see if this kind of reference would be acceptable.
Q15. What arrangements are there for disabled people
?
A15. Most DipSW programmes offer facilities for disabled
people. It is advisable for disabled people to contact the
programmes of their choice and discuss their particular
requirements before an application is made.
Q16. How do I train to be a Probation Officer?
A16. If you wish to train as a probation officer in England
and Wales you should contact:
Suzanne Jones
Human Resources, National Probation Directorate
1st Floor, Horseferry House
Dean Ryle Street, London SW1 2AW
Tel: 0207 217 0733
www.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
In Scotland,
probation is one of the services provided by social workers
working within Criminal Justice social work.
If you wish to work in Criminal Justice social work, you'll
need to study for The Diploma in Social Work. Further information
is available in the career factfile "Social Work &
Social Care in Adult Services".
In Northern
Ireland qualified social workers work as probation officers.
Further information is available in the career factfile
"Social Work & Social Care in Adult Services".
Q17. I qualified as a social worker abroad, can I
work in the UK?
A17. The General Social Care Council (GSCC) in England offers
a UK verification service to provide information to help
employers make decisions about applications for employment
by advising them whether or not the qualification that the
applicant holds is a recognised social work qualification
in the country in which it was obtained. Once verified,
the applicant will be eligible to be considered for employment,
although the final decision rests with employers and the
letter of verification will NOT guarantee employment. To
apply for verification, you must submit a completed application
form, a copy of the award/certificate/transcript and a fee.
Further information is available from info-overseasverification@gscc.org.uk.
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