Earn while you learn and train to be a registered social worker in less than 3 years, gaining valuable experience in the workplace throughout

About the apprenticeship

Course length: typically 3 years, part-time

Start date: September

Course level: Level 6

University award: BA (Honours) Social Work Practice

How much it costs: funded through the employer

Approved by: Social Work England

Course summary

• Develop skills, knowledge and experience in the dynamic social work profession.
• Prepare for practice with work-based learning and placements in real life settings.
• Graduate with eligibility to apply to Social Work England to practise as a social worker in the UK.

This course is suitable whether you'd like to start a new career or upskill as an existing support worker or care assistant. We have an excellent record of social work graduate employment, and as a professionally approved course, employability skills are integrated into the apprenticeship to help you develop your career afterwards.

This course meets the social worker (integrated degree) apprenticeship standard. This standard aligns with the professional recognition of Social Work England for Registered Social Worker. Successful completion of this award makes you eligible to apply for registration with Social Work England as a qualified social worker.

How you learn

You'll explore topics to prepare you for practice, including multi-agency team meetings, specific intervention methods such as signs of safety, family group's conferencing, basic mental health first aid, motivational interviewing, report writing and courtroom skills. Through your placements and work-based learning, you'll gain real life experience of a variety of practice settings.

You will learn through: 

• on-campus and distance learning
• work-based learning and placements
• one-to-one personal and professional development
• skills development sessions
• reflective and critical written assignments
• examinations and viva presentations
• reflective case studies
• production of a practice-based portfolio

You will progress through the course following successful achievement of assessments, which address the learning outcomes for each module and allow you to complete the course.

You will also complete an end-point assessment towards the end of the apprenticeship.

Campus facilities

You'll learn in modern facilities at our Collegiate Campus.

Entry requirements

Throughout the course, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours at university. They can be existing employees looking to develop their careers, or new applicants to the business.

Applicants must:

• be over 18
• not be in full time education
• have the right to abode in the UK
• meet the course entry requirements

GCSE (or equivalent)

English, maths and science GCSEs at grade 4 (previously C) or above.

If you don't have this yet, you'll need to achieve this level before you take your end-point assessment.

UCAS points and college grades

One of the following:

• 120 UCAS points from A Levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications, which could include general studies (we do not accept AS Levels)
• Access to Higher Education Diploma from a QAA recognised course: a minimum of 15 passes at level 3 credits graded at distinction level
• FdSc Professional Practice in Health and Social Care, completed at one of our partner colleges

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 7.0 overall and a minimum of 6.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent.

Modules

The programme adopts a blended learning approach with modules delivered through a combination of lectures, class-based seminars, practical work and site visits.

Year one 

• Personal and professional development for social work practice applied social work law
• Preparing for social work practice
• Social work theory ethics and values across the life course professional social work practice for community wellbeing

Year two

• Social work assessments and interventions
• Evidence and decision making in social work practice
• Working with adults
• Working with children and families
• Social work practice placement 1

Year three

• Advancing social work practice
• Applied professional leadership
• Working with complexity in professional practice
• Social work practice placement 2

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change.