Social services jobs /adult vs child

[ivise]

Hello, I recently took an interest to social work, (Adult preferably, although I'm not too sure yet, not sure if I could handle taking a child of the mother or witnessing horror cases or going through one .

Anyway, I was wondering how competitive is the Social Work courses and what is the best way to start without uni degree or not finished grades , Is it hard to get a job after graduating? and what is the salary like?

I really want to get into field of helping people , but don’t know what else I could consider apart from this field ? Any opinions about this path or you have smth else on mind would be greatly appreciated to hear

I’d check out your local authority as ours now offers an apprenticeship for SW and OT’s.

a newly qualified SW earns around 35k in our area (SE].

@Tulipvase I am from south east , I saw on indeed application for trainee child social services , I was just not sure if I could handle that and if I will have a chance on getting that without finished grades

Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean by finished grades?

Does the advert not state what qualifications you need to get on the course?

My DD is a social worker, she had a rough time at college and didn't get the grades she wanted. She could have done social work with a foundation year (a few universities offer this) but instead chose to do a slightly different degree course that gave her a foundation degree in children and families and then at the end of year 2 transfer into year 2 of social work. The transfer route was quite competitive and only a handful of students were able to transfer but the ones who didn't were able to complete the children and families honours degree and then look at social work as a masters if they wanted.

A foundation year is probably the most straightforward alternative entry route if you have some qualifications (A-level equivalent but perhaps not great grades) or appropriate work experience. Although I think many foundation years are joint with other courses (so might be a foundation year that covers social work / nursing / midwifery etc.). Or apprenticeships if you can find one. Alternatively if you have a degree (probably 2:2 or above) you would be able to look at a masters directly.

I don't think many social workers struggle to find work, even as an AYSE.

I am an adults advanced practitioner and believe me that adults is not an easy option and you will observe really heart breaking stuff. You will gain transferable skills no matter which area you work in, but dont choose with adults as you think it is an easy option.

Social work jobs are fairly easy to find, but if you want to work in a well performing local authority they are still competitive. It's not a profession that anyone can just work in.

Your social work training will cover both children and adults.

you'll need A levels or equivalent to get a place on a bachelors degree course. Or a bachelors degree to get a place on a masters. Apprenticeships do exist but in my LA they are very competitive and you need to be working within a related role in the LA already to get on it.

in terms of the courses being competitive - you'll need relevant work or volunteering experience to get offered a place and I'm not sure how funding works these days.

I’ve just been accepted on to a BA Social Work course after retaking my maths GCSE and completing an access course last year.

What grades do you have? Would an access course be an option?

I second the LA route and do an apprenticeship. 4 days working and 1 day at university usually. On placement, you wouldn't be working such high level cases and if so, youd be closely overseen and supervised, youd more likely work child in need when working in children's. Apprenticeships tend to alternate years. For example year 1 could be in children's services, year 2 adults, year 3 social care. I recommend trying to get a job for a local authority or applying direct if they recruit to external candidates but you will need to demonstrate relevant experience. I know our local authority had 130 candidates, 15 were accepted onto the course.

I agree that the seconded route is great because you remain a salaried worker but it is full on - I supervise staff on this route, and without exception, all assignments are completed over weekends and evenings.

You will need A levels for the degree, or a foundation course of some sort. Or any degree and an MA. Competitiveness for places depends on areas. I think, even if you are English, you have additional financial assistance for training in SW or nursing in Wales, if you are in a position to move.

Whichever route you take, it will be challenging and particularly so if you have children etc - but doable and there will be plenty others doing this.

No shortage of jobs! Pay 30 to 35k initially depending on area. Childrens used to be much more challenging but this is no longer the case, having worked in both, either way it is a pretty relentless job, but very rewarding, and often with fabulous colleagues too.

Not social work, but a good friend of mine, who has a degree in physiotherapy has just joined the police force. They are (here, anyway) crying out for female officers to work in domestic abuse/sexual crimes/family liaison. Worth a look, as no need to retrain.

What about family support worker? Usually lots of jobs going for those