Tell me how an unemployed single mother of two little children can become a social worker?

[SmugColditz]

because that's what i want to do.

I have 9 GCSE's and I am 28. In Leicestershire. I have looked at OU, but they require you to have an employer!

could you apply for an access to social sciences at a local college?

call out for Mamazon she will be able to advise

there is a nursery attached to our one

in fact, I think my friend did hers in the evening but I am sure there was a day course as well.

Would this be any help, Colditz?

you can do access type courses with the OU,and work towards an open degree, without having an employer, you'll get them free as well - look under health and social care, then all you need is to find out how many points you need to get on the degree course at your chosen uni(admissions will tell you if you give em a ring)

I am a social worker. When I trained, you needed some related experience eg care home work, support work etc. Not sure if this has changed since the introduction of the BA degree.

I think the best route in is to find a job as an assistant/trainee SW with a local authority. You'll work for them part-time, on fairly reasonable money and they'll put you through your degree. Lots of London boroughs are running this scheme - where abouts in the country are you?

You'll need to demonstrate that you can study at degree level, but with 9 GCSEs I'm sure you'll be fine.

let me know if I can help!

With regard to jamila's point, it's hard to do this via the OU without an employer, as you will need to arrange 3 practice placements. The OU doesn't normally arrange these, as they can't be expected to have contacts all over the country.

This kind of scheme is good.

Oooh! I knew someone who did do this. But I dont see her anymore (was a friend of a friend that I dont see from one year to the next now). So, I know it's possible but not sure how she managed it.

is peterborough too far?

(midlands geography not a strong point)

I didn't mean the social work degree perkin, only if OP felt that she wanted to do some pre study, it's a good, and free way of picking up cats points in a broad range of subjects