To study social work while looking after a one year old?

[Wowserz129]

I have been to university to study nursing before. Fell pregnant and had to leave 1 year from the end :(. I would have to go back to the start if I went back and I don't think I want to do that.

So I am thinking about trying to get in to uni to do social work. My other half thinks this is not a good idea because I have to look after my son who is 1 while he works. He is only working part time and study's through OU the rest of the time.

So had anyone done a social work degree and if so am I bonkers to think I would have time?

You have to do 6 months full time work placements. That would be hard with a child you would need child care.

Are you sure your previous study doesn't count towards future study.

I did a variety of courses and OU stuff and ended up with an ordinary degree ( in what I'm not sure), but each course carried credits which you could put towards a degree.

You'll need childcare for any type of study IMO/E.
I'm working towards a PhD which I started when DS was a year old. I know it's a bit different from vocational social work but you do need to focus on your work without a tot running around!
Is PT an option while your partner is not working?

I would say YANBU but I am biased as I am ttc (though unlikely to fall pregnant) and plan to study social work next year if my ba doesn't count against grants etc.

I studied for something similar and it was the placements that were really hard. I delayed them until ds was a bit older.

I completed a Social Work degree. I stared when DD1 was 1 and had DD2 in my second year, then I became a single mother and finished the degree.

I studied part-time and it took me 4 1/2 years overall. If you find a university which is felxible enough to accomodate part-time it can be done. My uni was fantastic, although you will have to expect to be able to do at least 3 days a week placements (3 in total normally).

If you want to do it, go for it, just make sure you talk to the programme leader before hand and talk through the options.

Do you have someone to look after your DS 2-3 hrs per day? In my experience as soon as you get a book out or worse, a laptop the DCs are all over it.

Hello
I am currently studying social work at masters level.

I have 3 children at home (7, 7 and 5) but DH is at home to look after them which has left me able to concentrate on my studies.

However, I found out a week before I started the course that I was pregnant (due in April) and so have been plodding along with the course whilst negotiating pregnancy and will be taking a couple of weeks off in April to give birth and then returning straight to it as I have to complete 80 days placement in the first year or I won't be able to continue on.

It is possible. You can do it but it is hard and you have to really, really want to do it.

There have been times when I have very nearly given up. However, I battled through and today had my final hurdle in my preparedness for practice panel interview and am please to say I passed my first term and will be let loose on placement in January

If you are passionate to do this then go for it as that passion and desire will push you through, if however, you are just doing it because you think it might be a good career (which is as good a reason as any to qualify) then I would wait a little while until your dd is a little older and then begin your studies again.

I'm doing SW right now with an 18 month old. You will need childcare but I'm managing fine!

SW is as full on as nursing from what I have seen, with placements as well as uni. However, if Poster can do it, I'm sure you can too.

I am applying now for Adult Nursing and I have two school age children.

Of course YANBU

I was 19 and had just started my 2nd year of university 2 hours from home when I found out I was pregnant. I didn't leave, had my daughter and finished my degree plus staying for a PGCE. Childcare was never an issue, my daughter got used to being looked after by anybody anywhere anytime very quickly. Although I would never say it was an ideal student experience a lot of it was really lovely and my daughter certainly had a very indulged existence for her first couple of years. You would probably get a discount at the university nursery too if you wanted to use it.

Make sure you have good childcare in place and check with your university where your placements are likely to be. Both mine and dh's universities stated that placements could be up to 40 miles away. This can obviously make placement much harder.

My dc's were 4 and 10 when I started my degree, dh then started his sw degree a year later, so we had a hectic few years!

I've got a masters degree in social work, full time 2 years. The lecture and study time would be ok as we rarely did full days in the university. The placement might be harder though, 6 months full time, and often a distance to travel. I didn't have dc at the time so it was a lot easier for me. Over half of the group did have children though, I was in the minority. They did seem to have a lot of practical support from family though. I think you would certainly need good/ flexible childcare in place for when you are doing the placements.