Social Work, BA (Hons), with industry placement

Course summary

Want to make a rewarding and positive contribution to society? Social workers support children and families through child protection procedures, fostering and adoption and youth justice to name but a few. They also support adults with issues including disability, drug and alcohol dependency, mental health, homelessness and safeguarding. You'll spend over 170 days on real-life placements with adults and children so you graduate ready to start your professional career.You will get a head start – be eligible to apply to become a registered social worker as soon as you successfully complete the course. You will stand out from the crowd with a degree recognised by Social Work England. You'll gather insights and develop a real understanding of social work through our highly commended approach to integrated learning. You will equip yourself with the skills to be a reflective and ethical practitioner, committed to lifelong learning.

• Get a head start – on successful completion of the course you can apply to become a registered social worker.

• Stand out from the crowd with a degree recognised by Social Work England.

• Benefit from the expertise of our network of partner agencies across the social work spectrum, learning from professionals to develop your skills.

• Enhance your career options – six months after finishing the course, 95% of our graduates are in work or further study (source: 2019 DLHE survey).

• Gather insights and develop a real understanding of social work through our highly commended approach to integrated learning.

• Build your hands-on knowledge and experience on an excellent variety of placements, working in real-life adult and childcare settings in all three years.

• Engage with real service users and carers at every stage of your learning, so you graduate primed to put effective strategies to use in the workplace.

• Learn about the increasing influence of global issues on social work and be inspired by staff who are leading the way in international social work.

• Develop as a professional – equip yourself with the skills to be a reflective and ethical practitioner, committed to lifelong learning.

• From 2023, students in Plymouth can train and practice their professional healthcare skills in an inspiring purpose-built environment, InterCity Place.

• To complement your formal learning we offer regular PALS sessions that provide the opportunity for you to learn with and from your peers. Share knowledge, discuss ideas, and ask questions in a relaxed and friendly environment.

In your first year, your work will cover the foundations of social work. You’ll start developing your professional identity in the complex environment of social work, learning about everything from the values that underpin theory and practice to the importance of self and identity, and the perspectives of users and carers to the connections between local and global issues. You’ll learn through doing, spending a minimum of 30 days in preparation for practice. In your second year you’ll further your professional development, learning how to apply ethical and theoretical perspectives to human development, understanding social sciences in a social work setting and getting to grips with applying legal and social policy in the context of welfare. You’ll explore issues of diversity and difference, reflect on real-life issues that impact users and carers, and develop your skills in collaborative working. You’ll spend a minimum of 70 days on placement. In your third year you can take part in an optional placement year. In your final year, you’ll consolidate your learning, working towards becoming a safe, competent, ethical practitioner who demonstrates sound professional judgement. Learn how to analyse complex issues, and apply your knowledge and skills to resolve them. Gain a critical perspective on complex, uncertain and changing contexts in social work, further your skills working in multi-agency settings and develop your understanding of the international arena. You’ll spend a minimum of 100 days in complex social work settings. The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.