Mumsnet Talk

Its so unfair I have a real passion to do social work and to work with families and children, have wanted to do this for years but I cant afford to give up work to study. Has anyone gone down the open univerisity routte and how did you find it?

No, but I'm in exactly the same position as you. I'd need to give up a well paid job (that I hate) AND I'd need to pay fees because I already have a degree.

Ive been looking on the open university web site my most recent qualification a level 5 diploma would go towards a degree by 60 points. How many points in a degree?

Your previous study is eligible for credit towards the Open University BA/BSc degree as follows:

60 points at level 2 with an "Equal BA/BSc" designation

Hiya- I'm a social worker. Have not been down OU route but have a respected colleague who did and did very well. He seemed to enjoy it. Definitely worth investigating. Also worth trying to get an unqualified support worker post with a local authority or largeish voluntary sector agency with them paying for your training as part of the deal. Many social work courses can be studied part time too, allowindg for fitting around hated jobs! Is your line of work related in any way?

Mrs Muddle- I trained about 5 years ago as a postgraduate, paid no fees and got a (small but useful) bursary. Have things changed?

Thank you Scummymummy, I have been searching for an unqualified post to get my foot in the door and maybe get support in qualifying but cant find any in the west midlands.

That's a shame, couture1. Have you tried ringing the local authority direct and asking to speak to a training and development officer for social services? They might know whether there are positions likely to come up or if there is a sponsorship scheme.

I haven't but I will - thank you.

Scummymummy, I looked into it a couple of years ago. My first degree is not at all relevant (marketing & media!) and I didn't do honours, do can't do post grad. I am in Scotland, and there aren't (or weren't) burseries here to retrain.

I have discussed working as a support worker with LA to get SVQIII, and going from there, but it would be a drop of about 12k per year to do it and I just can't afford it. Maybe this is a route I'll be able to go down in a couple of years. I've been told that the reason there are rarely SW assistant jobs now is that most LA's will put existing staff through the training.

Have you looked here? Depending on where you live and so on you may be able to train as a social worker and (if you're an undergraduate) you could be eligible to receive a bursary from the NHS and grants and loans whilst doing so. Not completely sure what the position is if you have a degree but I THINK (in England) you may still recieve the NHS bit. I think it's also possible to do an MA which obviously takes less time and may be more appropriate for a graduate.
Sometimes, as bursaries and grants aren't usually taxed, they can be worth more than you think compared with your current income. Hope this helps someone.

Hi. I gave up work to study the full time degree. With the bursary and grant and student loan I am actually better off financially.

I don't know how universities differ, but at Lincoln the part time route is largely distance learning plus two 100 day practice placements. If I remember correctly, part time students are not elegible for student finance. Plus they have to pay for learning materials.

Also,I don't know how your credits will translate for the social work degree as the Social Care Council require that trainee social workers complete all units and placements in order to qualify.

Hope this helps.

Both Dh and I are Sw students. We both gave up jobs to start university and like Oneandnomore are financially better off. Have you looked into absolutely everything you would be eligible for? You may not be quite as poor as you first though

thought

Really. That is very interesting, I will have to look into this more. What about childcare though - would that get paid for. This costs me a fortune at the minute.

Couture1- I get 85% of my childcare funded. Not sure if you have a Dh/P sorry if I have missed that, but if he works they would have to take his income into account. I didn't get childcare help the first year as Dh was still working, but have had it since as he is a student as well.

Don't forget you get things like a reduction in council tax ( we don't pay ours) which all adds up as well, tax credits in our case rose hugely as the student loan/bursary is not counted in calculations.

Ive just spoken with a very helpful guy at the bursary dept. If I were doing a Post Graduate course I could potentially be entitled to a number of grants, one being an adult dependency grant, he did not know though what the criteria would be to qualify for that grant and the parent learning allowance. Does anyone on here get these grants and know what the criteria is.

If I were doing an under graduate course then the grants are much less.

Also can you apply for a student grant when studying for post graduate and under graduate courses.

We get parent learning allowance, as far as I am aware the only requirement is that you are a student with children.

Adult dependency grant is for when you have a non working partner that is financially dependant on you ( if that makes sense?).

I am doing the Bsc and I get a Bursary, student loan, grant, childcare grant and adult learning allowance.

Universities often offer their own bursary scheme as well, for example as I am in receipt of the max student loan I get an additional £1500 per year. If you have a choice of universities that is definitely looking into as Dh's only offers £300 per year.

You can't get a student grant for PG study and I THINK not for UG study if you've done a degree before. Go on www.direct.gov.uk and follow the links to HE finance.

Ive been making more enquiries and it the course I would like to do is the BSC at one of the midland universities possibly city of Birmingham. Apparantly they get over 1000 applications each year for 120 places.

Couture1- If it is what you want to do then don't let that put you off!
Our university had high numbers of applicants per places available as well.

Just make sure you write a strong personal statement

The community care website is good for general issues within social care and the Scie website is also full of resources.

Good luck

Hi ya

You are not alone. I have recently gave up a unrewarding financially ok stable job to retrain as a social worker. I am currently doing a Access course and in the process of writing my personal statement.

Have you look into whether your local council offer any sponsorship schemes?

Thats what Im going to do next, do an access course, Just need to descide whether to do over two years or one.

Hi

Hope you don't mind me butting in here!

I'm currently doing an Access in order to do SW at uni.

I've gone down the 1 year route; am studying psychology, sociology, study skills and maths. Also a single parent. I'm finding it reasonably easy to all fit in, but I'm not working, which helps, but the financial struggle is the worst thing.

I would say go into it and try to complete in a year, because you can always drop down to 2 years if need be, but you can't jump up to 1 year if you do it over 2, iyswim.

I love it, it's so interesting, esp sociology and I can't wait to get to uni and study what I really have an interest in.

Just need to tackle my Personal Statement.... eeek!

Hi Crevicetool

I think I will do it over one year, thanks for the tip re transfering from one year to two if necessary. I've also heard that there may be a course starting in Feb so will have to look into that. Cant wait to get started on it.

Do you get any financial support whilst dong the access?

Various forms of funding available depending on your circs. Will you be still working. How old are DCS?

Fees remission depend on your level of education already. Contact your college for more advice.

Childcare can normally be covered under a special college fund by only for the time required to be in college. I have two days funded but wish my course was over 3 days with a couple of free periods as its difficult to study at home.

Would recommend doing it over 1 year if poss. Its hard and intense. I am struggling but just need to motivate more.