Social Work Degree

[SallyAdams]

Hello.

I’m almost 42. My elder two daughters have flown the next with careers of their own and my youngest is almost 14 and at that age where he is more interested in his own company and his PlayStation than anything else 🤣he is a good lad and doing well at school, and so I feel like I finally have the time and mental capacity to study and obtain a degree.

I am now seriously thinking about a social work degree as this can open so many doors, and there are so many different sectors. I have worked for a childrens charity for over 6 years until very recently, and now I work with vulnerable adults over 55.

I have worked closely with social workers and even had a placement student shadow me at work, so I feel that I understand the sweat and tears that go into this degree.

My question is about money!! I will loose my full time wage. My husband earns 37k a year and student finance calculator predicts that I will have access to tuition fees and a maintence loan of 8k.

Are there any other parents on here that have done this degree full time and been able to get an unrelated part time job in the first year? ( I understand that placements start in the 2nd and 3rd year)

I just don’t think we would manage otherwise as we have mortgage, bills and loans we need to pay.

I know there are degree apprenticeships, but I haven’t yet got my drivers licence. I’m hoping to get this within the next few months.

any advice? Help 😩

Not the answer you want but just get the driving license. Apprenticeship for my local authorities is 4 days work, 1 uni. Paid for course. Wage ranges from 25k to 29k. Why take on so much debt, lose an income etc when it's not necessary

I think in your circumstances you should consider studying social work through the open university which you could do full time and part time and continue to work.

When I was studying for my degree I was eligible for a social work bursary paid every term which meant that there was less pressure to work in Years 2 and 3. It would have been very difficult to manage employment alongside being on placement- also your studying time needs to be factored in as assignments could be due during your placement time. Here is the link for further information:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2023-06/Your%20guide%20to%20Social%20Work%20Bursaries%202023-24%20%28V7%29%2006.2023_1.pdf

as far as I can recall I think that everyone in my cohort received the bursary as it was capped at 30 students and this was the amount enrolled at my university. Happy to answer any further questions :)

Someone in my team just got onto a Mental Health Social Worker funded degree course, she has to take a pay cut for a year to £18k then goes to ASYE wage from 2nd year. She has only been in my team for 3 months but it appears there is some funding for MH social workers out there - it was funded by Think Ahead. Not sure if it is nationwide or just specific to my area.

I didn’t think you could do this due to the placements required in years 2 and 3?

Im currently doing the access to social work course as a distance learning course, but was told you can’t to a under grad degree in social work through the OU?

I retrained and worked at the same time.
I had a couple of zero hour jobs that gave me enough flexibility to cut back or get more shifts as and when I was available.
I also got a bursary in years 2 and 3.

With that, the council tax discount and being sensible I managed fine. I saved before placements when I couldn't work as well.
They were 60 day in year 2 and 100 in year 3 and I assume that hasn't changed.

I would learn to drive asap though and definitely before year 2. You'll limit yourself so much on placements and jobs if you can't drive. Lots of the casual jobs available like support work will need a driver and most social work jobs would be pretty hard without a car. Even central London social workers I've known have found using public transport a nightmare although some cycle but that's no good if you have to take a client somewhere.

I’m sorry I know it’s not what you asked, but it really is a shitty job, the system is so broken.
Hopefully you have your eyes open to it already if you work in the sector but to be really honest if the length of training is the same I would seriously consider occupational therapy instead.
If working for the council then the pay is the same, can be the same client groups (eg older adults) but just a more narrow focus rather than being responsible for everything and all the funding side which is so awful.

also more ward based jobs where you wouldn’t need to be a driver

Also fwiw inner london borough social work /OT home visits totally fine on public transport; outer london/Home Counties not so much. You’d basically be stuck doing Duty

I had three zero-hours jobs and would pick up shifts to fit around my other commitments. They were also relevant to my degree - there’s usually plenty of zero hours work in, say, supported housing, respite or care.

So, 1st year I was in for 3 full days a week (10-5 always the same days) but could work on the other 2 days / evenings.

2nd / 3rd year is placements & uni - we did regular days and also block placements

I would learn to drive especially for year 2 - not really necessary in year 1 especially if your uni is close enough to you on public transport.

My uni intake was only for an October start; so you could apply this year ready for a place next year and get your driving licence between now and then

Agree with social workers who have posted that it's very doable.

You're only in 3 days a week first year, I worked alongside doing the degree, the bursary was there too. Even years 2 and 3 with placements it's manageable and including doing the assignments and dissertation.

Just get on and do it and you'll make it work. I was in my forties too. And don't be worried about the hype about the work load etc, compared with actually doing a social work job when you're qualified, and the workload for that, it is a doddle !!

Enjoy it, it's great, you learn so much.