
Mark Allenby
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
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UCAS Code:
L500
Level:
Undergraduate
Duration:
3 years full-time
Starting:
September
Fees UK:
£9,250
Fees International:
£13,000
Location:
Waterside
For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:
study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772
Social Work BA (Hons) is open for new applications for September 2021. You can apply now via UCAS.
Our Social Work BA (Hons) aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills and values appropriate for work in a variety of social work settings. The teaching and learning on this course is delivered by qualified/registered social work academic staff that are actively engaged in research and regularly contribute to publications, consultancy and direct practice.
Updated 25/11/2020
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Social workers deal with some of the most vulnerable people in society at times of heightened stress. By the end of the course you will have been assessed against the the Professional Capabilities Framework and Social Work England (SWE) Professional Standards will be able to apply to Social Work England for registration.
Competent practice is essential for the award and you will undertake 200 days of practice learning (placement and skills for practice) during the programme. Practice learning through placement experience is undertaken in blocks throughout the course, you will complete: 30 days experiential skills for practice at level four (in the University), 70 days (in placement) at level five and 100 days (in placement) at level six.
In your course the value base of social work is emphasised, and you will engage in teaching designed to support your learning and understanding of anti-oppressive, anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practice in a model that promotes social justice. You will have an opportunity to undertake a five-day shadow placement in your first year with an employer provider. The first year is designed to prepare and assess you on your ‘readiness for direct practice’ prior to your first practice placement in your second year.
You will be introduced to the knowledge and skills required for best social work practice which will continue to be developed throughout the duration of the course. The Skills for Practice module is designed to develop your skills and understanding about social work through teaching and learning that takes place in the University and is delivered by a range of qualified social work academics, service users and social work practitioners.
You will develop your understanding of different service user groups and service provision in social work settings. You will be provided with opportunities to work in small learning sets developing your reflective critical thinking skills, and develop your understanding of oppression, discrimination and inequality of gender. A 70-day assessed placement learning opportunity will be completed in a social work setting or other appropriate area of practice.
You will undertake a 100-day assessed placement learning opportunity in a social work setting or other appropriate area of practice. The teaching and learning at this stage of the course will focus on helping you to understand the importance of managing the professional task of social work. There will be opportunities to explore how services are provided with an emphasis on understanding risk and uncertainty in the assessment process.
All applicants must have:
In addition to standard entry requirements, you must demonstrate that you possess the entry level requirements under the Professional Capabilities Framework. This framework includes:
You will need to have had some experience of working in a social work/social care setting.
All offers of a place on the programme are subject to:
All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:
For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 21/22 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
Travel costs to and from placements, and extra costs associated with placements, may be incurred throughout your studies depending on where you are based.
Placements are located within a 60-mile radius of the University- please make this clear throughout.
There is also a five day ‘shadow’ placement in the first year which may lead to you incurring additional transport costs.
You are not required to purchase any textbooks as we endeavour to ensure that all necessary material is available for free in the University library.
The Social Work course attracts a very limited number of Social Work bursaries, which you may be eligible to apply for at the start of your course. However, the number of these bursaries allocated are minimal and you should therefore make appropriate financial arrangements to support your study.
For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.
You will undertake 170 days of practice learning (placement). You will complete a student profile during your first year and, through strong partnerships between the university and employer providers, will be matched to a specific service.
Placement learning opportunities can be outside of Northamptonshire. All placement providers are quality assured by the University. It is desirable that you hold a current UK driving licence.
Please note that as a student Social Worker you will be expected to travel efficiently and independently for all your placements. Your placements will be within a 65-mile distance of the University of Northampton.
Whilst on placement you will also be expected to travel effectively and independently. Being a holder of a current UK driving licence is desirable.
Successful completion of this course could lead on to one of our postgraduate programmes.
Our postgraduate courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learnt. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount on postgraduate fees.
At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.
If you join this full time degree at Northampton you will receive a laptop when your course begins. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.
Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.
To check out the full list of perks visit our Student Perks page.
The programme is approved by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and supported by Social Work England (SWE).
The programme enables graduates to register with Social Work England as Social Workers.
By the end of the course you will have been assessed against the the Professional Capabilities Framework and Social Work England (SWE) Professional Standards will be able to apply to Social Work England for registration.
Students experienced a task-based day of fun, while learning to work as a team. They worked together to design, build and race a hand-made raft.
The students answered questions about how building a raft will help them respond to anxiety provoking situations, how it will prepare them for forthcoming placements and what the event as a whole told them about their own personality.
BA Social Work prepares you for professional social work practice by developing your practice skills and your skills and knowledge in working with other professions. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to develop a range of communication skills through experiential teaching and learning facilitated by Service Users and Social Work Practitioners in readiness for direct practice. The course raises your political awareness and encourages you to be creative, critical and reflective thinkers.
The Social Work subject team are committed to the International Federation of Social Work definition of social work and the curriculum is informed by it.
This course promotes an approach to learning that actively engages you with key issues and themes in Social Work practice. Teaching methods that are used on this course include group work, role play, individual skills development, enquiry-based learning, seminars and lectures.
You will be able to incorporate your academic learning to two supervised and assessed placement learning opportunities. Over the three years you will experience a range of social work services and work with service users.
Assessment of learning during the course takes many forms and covers both theory and practice. Each module is assessed against the learning outcomes for the module. The format of the assessments includes essays, posters, reports, presentation, and workbooks of evidence.
There is only one exam in the course, a law exam in the first year. Second- and Third-Year placements are assessed through portfolios. In your third year you will complete a dissertation.
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Faculty of Health, Education and Society
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
Employment prospects for Social Work graduates are excellent and you will be able to pursue various social work careers across the country.
Successful graduates will need to apply to Social Work England for registration. As Social Worker is a protected title, you need to have this registration before you can practice as a social worker. Only those graduating from a social work course can apply for this.
If you leave the course before completion, you may be able to be awarded an intermediate award, but you will not be able to register as a social worker.
This two-year accelerated programme will appeal to those who wish to develop their professional and reflective leadership expertise within a rapidly changing environment.
The degree is designed using real-world material that equips you for employment either within Social Care or working with specific communities.
This programme is designed to prepare students to work in the health sector. Develop an understanding of the determinants of health and strategies for health enhancement.
This course aims to support you in developing your own higher level thinking skills such as essay writing, analytical and research skills in the Health and Social Care field.