Any social work applicants out there?

[chan321]

I've just applied for the social work degree and thought I'd create a thread for other social work applicants to share hints and tips etc :)

Well done on qualifying, which area of social work are you now working in? My interviews are in January and i am already so nervous, one of the ladies on my access course has had two social work interviews this week and she told me they are very intense....argh x

I went into child protection long term. It's ok but yes hard work!
My tip for the interview is talk a lot about the voice of the child etc and don't get caught up trying to show how much law and policy you know!

Thanks for the tip x

Good Luck guys I'm currently half way through my SW degree. If you need any tips for interviews I had my interviews at Trent, Derby & Hallam uni's.

Thanks slimy snail!! I'm waiting to hear from Nottingham trent, any info on their interview would be much appreciated! How are you finding the course? X

Waiting to see if they want to interview me I meant :)

Good luck.
The interview was the first one I went to and walked out thinking I had messed up.
We had a written test with a word count, a group interview with a scenario and a induvidiual interview with a panel which had a lecturer, service user and someone from a related agency (housing, social care, etc)
Not sure what it's like now as it was 2 years ago I had mine x

I've got an interview a week on Friday. Will be there 6 hours. .. involves a group interview, individual interview and a written test. Really nervous xx

Congrads on getting your interview well done you! Ive just saw this thread I have just applied for my degree also. Im 36 and a LP to a 2 yr old.

I am nervous now reading all the posts I don't even know what the book you are all talking about is! eeek!

Ive applied to stirling uni, waiting game now x

What Ehric said re: interviews is spot on. I qualified 6 years ago but met so many applicants after and it's always the same sort of questions. The ethical dilemma is really important and how you apply knowledge to practice.

I am a retired social worker and was interviewed in 1979!! However a friend of mine is a Practice Teacher and she has been involved in interviews for the degree course. Certainly read a SCR and have some knowledge of the political agenda as it relates to public services (e.g. the govt's intention on privatisation) she said one Q unsurprisingly flawed some people because of the way it was posed "What part does social justice play in social work today?" This is about equality, or lack of - and the way in which service users are often amongst the most disadvantaged section of society - that sort of thing. But I see what she means about the way the Q was posed. She tried to re-phrase it for some applicants who looked blank and was told after that she shouldn't do this - as it was an interview for a degree course.

Take your time, think about the Q - in my day it was all about not being judgemental and having respect for persons and I think those values still hold well today. You might be asked about how you deal with stress (as social work especially child protection is highly stressful) - you might be asked for an example of how you've dealt with a stressful situation without becoming overwhelmed. If there is a Q about child protection remember that the law requires you always to work in the best interests of the child. I was going to say mug up on the CA 89 but I think there has been another CA 2004? I'm a bit rusty.

Make sure you've read something relevant - books, articles, Wednesday's Guardian can be useful (Society) or Community Care. Stress the importance if you have the chance of the need to have a working knowledge of the legislation that underpins all social work activity. You won't be expected to have that working knowledge now, but an awareness that this is necessary is a good thing.

SO listen to the Q - think about it - take a deep breath and do your best. If you are floundering, don't ramble on - just bring your answer to an end reasonably quickly.

Good luck to you all!
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Oooh yes how could I have forgotten relating theory to practice - they banged on about this all through my course all those years ago. Seems like it's still an issue......and values yes, and personal qualities needed for social work.

Values: Honesty, respect for persons, non judgemental, integrity, authenticity etc etc
Personal Qualities: Sensitivity, perception, insight, listening skills, commitment etc etc.

They could ask how you might apply the values you claim to hold in a given situation, or as Eric said a Q about an ethical dilemma in which you have been involved, or how you might handle a particular ethical dilemma.

Oh heck! I am going to have to do some reading (cue starting sticky note on desktop with all your advice!)

I completed my HNC a couple of years ago so I have not had to do an access course as this gives direct entry onto the degree (if I even get asked for an interview).

The ethical dilemma im not to worried about as I can answer that question with confidence (she says looking less confident) the politics etc concern me that area I admit I know very little.

For those of you who are qualified and actually out there doing the work is it all you thought it would be?

I have been hearing some very negative things about the role of a social worker today and it's making me question my long standing ambition of becoming one.

Don't worry too much about the politics mzun - I don't think I put that very well in my post. I don't mean politics as such, but I just wondered if they might include something about the privatisation of public services. You probably know that this govt (and to some extent the last Labour govt) are busy privatising public services. Some 70% of probation work is now privatised.........we have prisons run by private companies, academies, large sections of the NHS, fostering services run by Independent Fostering Agencies, charging LAs extortionate amounts of money for placements.

Hmm I didn't want to say anything negative about social work, but I think it's a very tough call these days. I loved every day of my working like (25 years in the same LA - all Children's Services - social worker and for the last 15 years team manager of a Fostering & Adoption team. Retired in 2004 and worked independently till 2009. However I know things have changed a lot. I think the main problem is severe lack of resources, govt slashing budgets that were already insufficient, inability to recruit and retain staff, very high caseloads, staff vacancies, significant numbers of agency workers because vacancies can't be filled. Pressure from Snr Mgrs down the line to cut corners wherever possible, all about saving money.

I worked for a Shire county and I think on the whole we delivered a good service, but I am still in touch with ex colleagues and they tell a sorry tale. Buildings have had to be sold off - workloads are too high. Morale is very low. It IS all about lack of resources and this damn govt want to slash budgets and have improved services. Can't be done.

I'm not sure which area you're thinking - but child protection is by far the most stressful area and for a newly qualified worker just not a good idea. In my day, there was time for experienced workers to help newly qualified workers (I was a mature student and was 39 by the time I qualified) but still had to "learn on the job" like everyone does, but these days I don't think there is the time or emotional energy to assist new workers.

Look I'm sorry - I don't want to put you all off but you do need to know the reality. There doesn't seem to be any shortage of applicants for the degree course, and who knows in 3 years, things might have changed so long as this govt doesn't get re-elected in May. Don't be put off because there is a huge need for good social workers, but maybe keep your "rose coloured spectacles" in their case!!

Thank you Nana for your honest reply. I shall tell you a little about my background (really i am meant to be doing housework!) I have worked in the social care sector as a senior support worker, I've worked with adults with mild/severe learning disabilities other enduring on going mental health illness. I've also been a voluntary support worker and a formal carer for my elderly grandfather.

I have always wanted to help people and make a positive difference to their lives. I enjoyed my job though at times it was challenging and very stressful. My salary was good but not that important job satisfaction was more my priority.

Having not had the best of childhoods (wont bore you all with that sorry tale) I wonder if this is where my desire to help others stems from or if its just who i am. Since i was at school i have wanted to be a social worker that was over 20 years ago.

I am in the middle of making some huge life changing decisions one of which is considering my degree. I have applied for it and a counselling course which is part time self funded through a private company.

We (myself and little DS) are having to leave the house we are currently staying in and due to many personal reasons i wish a fresh start. I am considering re-locating whether i get a place at uni or not as the counselling course is in that area also. I have few friends and no family support here anyway.

I gained my HNC in social care with the intention of starting uni 4 years ago, a lot has happened in that time. I became very unwell (mentally) for some time, then after leaving my partner found out i was expecting a baby. I started out on my own and had the baby who is the light of my life.

Got back together with the Ex (hindsight i wish i had it then) gave up everything and it didn't work out so here i sit 36 yrs old questioning my future and scared of making another wrong decision. I haven't worked since gaining my HNC and tbh I've lost my confidence in myself.

I want to do my degree for me and for my DS future, financially I am going to have to raise him alone. I am in no doubt of the hard work a degree would be going it alone with a toddler. I thought my degree in social work would open a lot of doors for me in the future and give me many job opportunities. I have no idea what area i would like to work in there are so many that interest me. I was hoping i would find my feet a long the way.

The social workers i have spoken to say their job isn't what they thought it would be and echo your statement above. They don't feel they are providing direct help to individuals and spend more time doing paperwork. I have read stories of newly qualified social workers resigning and being unable to cope. Granted these were all negative stories with very little positive in them. It makes me wonder if it is the right career path for me after all.

Sorry look at the size of this post! That's one way to get out of doing housework.

Good luck in the interview, I'm just starting to see the reality of Social Work after having my placement in a statutory setting.

I know when I had my interview a lot of emphasis was on personal and professional values. I would recommend reading the HCPC and BASW code of ethics for students prior to the interview.
And importantly remember they are not looking for a qualified social worker, they are looking for someone who shows potential and all the right qualities to make into a good social worker.

Hi sarah took note of useful reading if lucky enough to be interviewed.

How is your placement are you enjoying it and your course overall? Is your placement very different to what you had imagined?

I am really enjoying my placement.
The course is going well, but I do think you learn a lot of things in year one that you don't actually relate to until you are on placement.
It is very different to what I imagined when I first started the degree, and I believe it has totally changed me as a person. At times I have found I have questioned myself over and over again if I am making the right career choice, but I know I am now :-)

I had my first interview on Tuesday and I have my second on Friday. I have never been as nervous in my life, the day started with a written assessment, which you had to pass to progress to the group task and individual interview. The written assessment was a article on troubled families with a series of questions relating to it, the candidates that progressed were split into small groups and given a scenario which we had to discuss, I found this quite difficult because I was put with a very quiet bunch and didn't want to appear to be taking the lead but if I didn't question something no one spoke, lots of awkward silences, I did my best though and that's all I can do.....I think I completely messed up on the individual interview ?? they asked my lots of questions on social work practice and what i think the role of a social worker is, I had to give lots of examples of anti discriminative practice, challenging situations etc they wanted them from both my personal life and my working life, they also asked me about how I would handle my workload, my academic abilities and what I wanted in the future from my social work career....hope that information helps someone....i'm just waiting for them to get back to me now, checking track a bit too often ha ha x

Dear god - what an ordeal..........and a 2nd interview too! I hate those group scenario things, as it's always difficult to know how much or little to say. Sounds like you are "through to the next round" - what more can they want??

When I think back, I had one interview lasting about 30 minutes as far as I can recall in 1979!!!

Am wondering if they'd have problems with this degree course as they are expecting so much from applicants. I agree that there has to be a selection process but it sounds a bit OTT to me.

I just graduated this year. Good luck to all you going through the application process- the course is challenging, but definitely worth it!

Although they ask a lot of you during the process, they honestly aren't expecting you to have memorised all the relevant laws, or read every textbook. They want enthusiastic, caring people with some knowledge of the issues, who are keen to learn more.

My second interview as in at another university for a different social work course anyway, I received an email saying I was successful and have got a place this morning, so I'm a very happy person today x

Hi everyone

I am new to Mumsnet and this is my first post. I would really appreciate your advice though as I need to make a decision in terms of childcare vs the quality of teaching. I am looking to study BSc social work this September at the Uni of West London which is 1 and a half hours away but I was so blown away by the whole process, the interview, the structure, the lectures' presentation that I simply loved it. University of East London is the nearest Uni to me and though it's not bad and I enjoyed my open day for offers only my heart is drawn to west London uni. The distance is crippling but the level of teaching looks solid. The issue is I have four kids, youngest is 2 can go to childminders others in school. I would attend Uni of east London 2 full days 1 half day, uni of west London 2 half days 1 full day which uni should I go for

Please help.

I had the same predicament and I've made the decision to go to the university nearest to me....at the end of the day wherever I study I am going to end up with the same qualification, I just figured that it would be two hours more away from my children each day and over three years with four children (I also have four) that's a long time out of their little lives, for me that means less rush in the morning, more time with them in the evening to relax with them, eat dinner with them, do homework with them, take them to their activities etc or two hours extra to study at home or have a social life myself , then I thought about the fact that there would be a fair few emergencies with four children over three years and the further away I was from them the harder it would be to get back to them, plus traffic jams, possibility of road works, delays in public transport etc....I just thought the closest option was the easiest for me.....it's such a hard decision so think carefully, you still have a few weeks to finalise your choice on ucas, good luck wherever you choose to study

Hi guys, I'm also applying to do SW. I've already had a knock back without interview from one uni for their masters course. They gave feed back saying I didn't have enough recent relevant experience, but I think I completely fluffed my personal statement, and included irrelevant bollocks, whilst missing out stuff which was much more important. I'm in the process of applying to do the 'step up to social work' cohort four, which is one year on the job training, for people who want to work with children and families. Which I do. The closing date is in three weeks, and I'm cramming as much reading in as possible before I finish writing it. I'll totally have a look at the suggested readings.

I have 250 words to write my personal statement for this app, and would pay in blood for any pointers, or criticism

I'm 37 and have three ds.