Postgraduate Social Work: Q&A

CONTENTS:

• What is social work?
• Why choose this discipline?
• How do I become a social worker?
• Pathways into social work
• What postgraduate courses are available?
• What are the entry requirements for a postgraduate degree in social work?
• Tell me about teaching, learning and assessment
• Graduate Training Schemes: fast track routes into social work
• Career progression
• Professional accreditation
• Funding 

What is social work? 

Social work encompasses a broad spectrum of needs across society, working with people of all ages and backgrounds. The role of a social worker is to find solutions for individuals, families and even communities; helping people to deal with some of the most challenging or difficult times in their lives. It is a cornerstone of public health and a hugely responsible role which often requires a multi-agency approach. As such, you may be working alongside other healthcare professionals ensuring services and support are coordinated.

As a social worker, you will be supporting people with wide ranging and complex needs. This could be children in abusive or neglectful environments to the elderly, struggling to live independently; people with mental health issues or disabilities, ensuring the right support and access they need to fully participate in society. It could also involve working with people with alcohol, drugs or substance misuse; refugees and asylum seekers; children in care, foster families or adoptive families. A social worker’s role is crucial in ensuring service users get the right support, information, advice and guidance, they need, to navigate challenging situations; delivered in a way which respects rights to self-determination, dignity, inclusivity and participation within wider society.

“Social work is serious, life-changing business. It calls for good hearts and strong minds. From child protection to vulnerable adults, to the cost of living and the UK’s mental health crisis, it’s our job to find answers — for individuals, families, and whole communities. Social workers battle against discrimination, poverty, injustice, and inequality, and we earn victories every day. What’s more, we leave a lasting mark on the lives of those who need us. At NTU our MA Social Work course is designed to equip you with knowledge, skills, and behaviours to make a difference, whether you decide to specialise in child or adult social work.” Simon Cauvain, Head of Social Work, Care and Community, Nottingham Trent University 

Why choose this discipline? 

Social workers make a tangible impact on the people they work with. A career as social worker is more than just a job; it’s a vocation. Undoubtedly, this role is highly demanding, highly challenging but enormously rewarding for the right person; with the potential to truly change lives for the better, but it requires a level of dedication, passion and commitment.

Bridget Jones, MA Social Work student at Nottingham Trent University, shares her motivations behind choosing a career in social work:

"I have always had a passion for supporting people to the best of my ability. I choose to study the MA in social work because I believe I can make a genuine difference in people's lives. Social work practice denotes empowerment, human rights, and respect for diversity.

Before applying to study MA Social Work, I had completed a Health and Well-being in Society BSc degree. I consolidated my understanding of the law, legislation, and government policies, including The Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005 and have seen how this can be used to empower individuals to take control of their lives. The MA in social work has given me more insight and understanding into developing my passion to support individuals that uses social services."

How do I become a a social worker? 

There are several academic routes to becoming a qualified social worker. However, regardless of the route you decide to follow, you will need to be registered with Social Work England (SWE) or equivalent regional body, depending on where you are training and practising. You will also need to register with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) who establish professional standards and guidelines both during your training and throughout your practice. Finally, you will also be required to obtain a Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate (DBS) which is a criminal background check and a prerequisite for any professionals working with young or vulnerable people. Don’t worry, whatever course you choose, your institution will help guide you through the registration processes and what you need to do.

Pathways into Social Work: 

• An approved undergraduate degree in social work 
• A postgraduate degree in social work 
• Fast track routes & graduate training schemes

What postgraduate courses are avaialble?  

Currently, there are 184 degrees at 83 institutions across the UK, offering both short or longer postgraduate courses ranging from: PGDip, PGCert, MA , MSc, MBA, PhD and MPhil. Course duration can be anything from two to six years, depending on the level of the programme and if you choose to study part time. Programmes inolve a significant amount of professional practice within the community. On a two-year MA for example, you will spend 170 days (over a two-year programme) out in the community on a professional placement, working directly with individuals, families and communities in a supervised capacity. Find the right course for you. 

What are the entry requirements for a postgraduate degree in social work? 

To study social work at postgraduate level you should ideally have a good undergraduate degree: upper-second class honours (2:1) in social work or a related field. However, each institution sets their own criteria, so worth checking specific entrant requirements if you have an institution in mind. In addition, the majority of postgraduate programmes, will require applicants to have some work experience—either paid or voluntary—in order to show commitment to the field; again, this varies according to institution, so always worthwhile checking entry requirements of individual institutions.  

Tell me about teaching, learning and assessment 

Teaching is delivered through a combination of classroom academic input and on-the-job practical experience. A Master of Social Work involves two professional placements in both years 1 and 2, where you’ll gain experience of professional practice and have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills to ‘real-world’ situations in a supervised capacity. You’ll study a range of topics to develop an in-depth understanding into human behaviour, law, health and how to advocate on behalf of service users as well as critically assessing and analysing situations, evidencing your notes and be able to present coherent arguments to support your findings.

What modules will I study?

• Social work theory
• Social work practice
• Social work research: dissertation
• Social work across life
• Applied social work
• Law: legal, ethical and policy frameworks

How will I be assessed?

• Placement observation and assessment of communication skills
• Essays
• Presentations
• reports
• Reflective practice portfolio
• Dissertation

Graduate Training Schemes: fast track routes into Social Work 

If you have an undergraduate degree in another subject area and English language and mathematics GCSE grade C or above, you can take one of the graduate training schemes and earn while you learn, while also gaining a postgraduate qualification:

Step up to Social Work 

To be eligible for this course you will need to completed your undergraduate degree with a minimum 2:2. You will also need a minimum of 6 months’ direct experience in either a paid or voluntary capacity. The programme involves both academic study and practical social work experience with a local authority, where you will receive a bursary of £19,833 to support you during your training.  Once you have successfully completed the course, you will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work and be able to register with Social Work England.

Frontline 

Frontline is a charity that has partnered with Lancaster University as its awarding body. If you choose to follow this route, you will train and earn at the same time. Their three-year programme, available regionally, will qualify you as a social worker, while also gaining a master’s qualification.

Think Ahead 

The Think Ahead organisation recruits and trains mental health workers. On this two-year programme you will qualify as a trained mental health social worker, earning while you are training. At the end of year one, will be awarded a postgraduate diploma in social work and can register with Social Work England. On successful completion of year 2, which is your (ASYE) assessed year of employment, you will qualify with a master’s degree in social work. Think Ahead partner with Middlesex University as their awarding body.  

Career progression 

Once equipped with a postgraduate qualification in social work, there are numerous opportunities for specialism, such as: general social work, child protection, outreach worker, crisis practitioner, social care assessor and mental health practitioner. Demand for social workers is high and one of the shortage areas within the NHS.

Studying social work at postgraduate level equips you with numerous transferable skills:

• Communication skills
• Able to work under pressure
• Deal with challenging behaviour
• Good organisation and work load management
• Emotional intelligence; ability to empathise and build relationships
• Resilience
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Critical thinking

Graduates who study social work at master’s level can progress onto counselling, mediation, management roles or work as practice educators, sharing their expertise. There are also research opportunities within government and policy development or independent think tanks.

Simon Cauvain, Head of Social Work, Care and Community, Nottingham Trent University explains that at NTU, “our graduates often go on to work as Social Work England-registered Social Workers for local government and private providers in health, education, and social care sectors. Further post-qualification study may also be a consideration, and we offer post graduate modules and an MA in Advanced Social Work Practice. These are designed to bolster the professional development of those in early career, experienced or advanced social worker roles and includes Levels 1 and 2 Practice Education.”

Doctoral degrees in Social Work

Studying for a PhD in Social Work and Social Care will give you the opportunity to pursue research in a number of social and health contexts related to your academic or professional career goals. Bridget Jones, MA Social Work student at NTU, says she hopes to return to do a PhD on completion of her MA as her experience at the University has shown her she can "achieve greater heights".

Professional Accreditation 

Once qualified as a social worker, you will have continued professional development throughout your career, keeping your skills up-to-date and relevant. You will also be required to reregister every two years with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) or one of the other regional governing bodies. There are two regulatory bodies which oversee social work; both vary depending on region but you will need to be registered with both to train and practice.

Governing bodies for Health and Care professionals:

• Health and Care Professionals Council 
• Care Council for Wales 
• Northern Ireland Social Care Council 
• Scottish Social Services Council 

Governing bodies for Social Work:

• England: Social Work England (SWE)
• Wales: Social Care Wales 
• Scotland: Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) 
• Northern Ireland: Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)

What about funding? 

Postgraduate Social Work students can apply for an NHS Social Work bursary; eligible students are entitled to a basic grant of £3,362.50 or if you are studying in London, you are entitled to slightly more, £3,762.50. There is also an additional £4,052 towards fees, depending on eligibility. Explore more about funding and government master’s loans. 

Explore institutions and courses:

• Nottingham Trent University 
• Liverpool Hope University 
• London Southbank 
• University of Portsmouth
• Swansea University
• Bangor University
• Sheffield Hallam
• University of Strathclyde

*See all Postgraduate Social Work courses

Discover related courses:

• Psychology
• Sociology 
• Economics 
• History 
• Politics 
• Social anthropology 
• Public Health Information Promotion 

*See all subject guides

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