Oh, my dears... I know I have abandoned you of late, but I need some advice

[colditz]

I am sat here on my bf's laptop, which keeps getting Disturbingly Warm. In the September 2010 intake, I want to be starting a Social Work degree.

I have no qualifications beyond a good handful of good GCSEs. But I have spoken to a lvely lady at Demontfort Uni who trlls me they put more emphasis on life experience.

Now, as the few left here who know/remember/care what my experience may remember, I I have in the past few years gone from being a scared, angry, confused abused girlfriend to being a happy, confident albeit very poor single mother.

I have cared for the elderly
I am raising two children, one with 'behavioral problems', alone
I volunteer for the youth offending service
I have experienced domestic abuse, as a child, as an adult, as a friend.

...I really really want to be a social worker.

Is this enough? And if not, what do I need to do to MAKE my experience good enough to get onto the course?

I was thinking of taking an Early Years course, as I lack work experience in that age range ..... any other ideas?

Homestart Volunteer?
Womens Aid helpline ( I did both of these before applying for my Uni course)

I think you would be fantastic in any role Colditz, honestly I do.
You always give out shit hot advice and have great empathy for others.

Good Luck.

no advice just a great big hello to you colditz

great to see you

You already have more experience than most newly graduated social workers, and certainly more than your average 18 year old with a clutch of A levels. In social work, of all careers, this counts for a lot. Have faith in yourself.

If you can manage it, a bit of work shadowing a practising social worker may help as well.

access course and yes voluntary experience to demonstrate understanding and ability to work in challenging situations

contact admissions tutor, go see them ask specifically what they require

eg

any evidence of recent study or essay writing
can you attend a study skills course,brush up writing and referencing and it skils
have you looked into funding
who will watch your children whilst you are on placement and at uni

from your voluntary work, would someone write a reference and support your application

by all means discuss your past experiences but be aware you need to have a professiional detachment and boundaries dealing with some one else issues

That sounds like a great range of experience already -you shouldn't have any problem getting on the course.

Do you know what area you would like to specialise in? If so perhaps you could look at some voluntary work in that area to check thats the one for you? Or, like slug said, shadow a SW to get an idea of the day to day role.

Having said that you don't need to do anything else with your background and experiences.

Your life experience sounds spot on and you need to make sure you get that all into your Personal Statement.

I'm confused though - would they take you without A Levels?

SW is firecely competitive,do speak to admissions tutor

good luck

confidentiality and disclsure of info means it isnt easy to shadow SW practising with clients but they will speak to you about the demands of the job etc

also what about try for a support worker job?
or go speak to other agencies who work with vulnerable adults/children

eg turning point
st mungos
NSPCC

access course or A levels too for under grad SW

Look at to SW degree at DM uni

awwwww you GUYS.... I have missed youall so much.

So, access course ... yes. Might be a plan. Also planning on some volunteer work withmy kids'school, to gain some school age child experience.

I'm planning to apply in October, so keep your fingers crossed for me guys!

Look at DM social work access course advisable to brush up writing and study skills

good luck

Hassled, you often do not need A levels if you apply to do a degree as a mature student.

Colditz, if you lived closer I would employ you to be dd's PA a few hours a week But an access course sounds like a fabulous idea. Hope you are all well x

Agree that Access is a good idea. I would not have been able to completed my nursing degree without having the access course as a 'foundation'.

A friend of mine took a longer route and worked for a couple of years as an assistant social worker, and now she's being sponsored by her department to take the social work degree. She only had GCSEs too, she had to retake her Maths GCSE to get a C, but she didn't take any other qualifications before starting the degree.

Definitely email the admissions tutor on the course. Give him/her as much info as possible about your academic background and ask for specific advice about what additional study you need to do to meet their requirements. It is likely that and access course will be the best route but it is best to check now. Also UCAS applications from access students to unis usually go in fairly late near the January deadline to give the access tutors a chance to get to know the students before writing their references. Access courses are usually well set up in terms of helping with the applications side of things.

Good luck.

While the Access course is a good idea, check with the admissions tutor first. I work in a fairly prestigious university and we take students in on degree courses who may not have A levels. It depends on the student's circumstances. Work on getting that personal statement down perfect.

It might also be worth contacting their Widening Participation department for information about non traditional routes into a degree course.

Good to see you colditz. Good luck, it sounds like a good plan.

There are people on my Social work course that gained places in similar circumstances to you.

Good luck