social work degree

[purple15]

Hi all, Ive been thinking about it for ages now, and I think I really really want to be a social worker. I am 41 years old and I already have a foundation degree in Early Years. I have been looking at previous postings and realise that full time is the only option when I qualify. On posting I have read, you seem to get the same workload whether full or part time. I am currently not working as I have been ill, but when I recover fully I want to study social work.
I have typed in my options into student finance and a maintenance loan of £5500 and Tution Fee loan of £9000 ( I have financed my foundation degree myself, so have never applied for student finance before). Is the NHS finance on top of this, or instead of this. How much is it ?

I believe the places on the BA Social work course are really competative. In order to gain points where could I do some voluntary?

Many thanks.

any advice ?

Hi I am currently doing the social work degree. You get a 4.5k bursary which is non means tested and paid 1.5k every 3 months. It is paid on top of your loan. We have a volunteer action site for local volunteer positions, could you find something like that? I started working as a carer in order to get social care experience, they take life experience into consideration too. I now volunteer at a Mencap nursery and applied to teach life skills to asylum seekers but this wouldn't start until September so can't do it (I have taken 2 years out of my degree, go back in September for my final year).

thanks for the reply fluffy, what kind of placements do you do ? Many moons ago I did the NNEB at college, and it was one week in college, and one week in placement. Is social work similar, or is is block placements. Gosh, I feel really excited, I think its what I want to do.

What is the work load like ? In one term how many assignments do you have to do? The foundation degree was with the Open University, very very part time. It was one assignment each month.

It is different for each university, but in year one I had a ten day observational placement, a year two 100 day placement within the private or volunteer sector (mine was in a school and was rubbish) and a year 3 100 day placement in the local authority. My year two placement was 3 days a week placement,one day at uni, but my friend Who is doing her 2nd year now has 4 days placement a week. It would be impossible to do one week on and one week off, you wouldn't be able to have a case load to work with. The assignments are sporadic, there is about 9 over the year but could be due in a week after the last one. The work load is horrendous, you will literally have no time for a social life or to spend with your children but guess it prepares you for being a social worker! I am dreading going back.

Which magazine to they advice you to get at uni ? Thought I may subscribe now to get a head start ?

Community care was the magazine we were recommended. You can read articles online on their website though so I just did that.

ah thanks so much, which area do you think you would like to work in ?

At the moment I have no idea! Not even sure I want to be a social worker anymore. Will see how my final year goes. I have no experience in mental health or learning disabilities yet so hopefully will work with one of those on my final placement. I'm also considering fostering when I finish my degree but will see.