How do you become a social worker?

[snail1973]

Call me mad if you like, but I am very interested in changing career to become a social worker. I have done a bit of internet research and can see you need a degree in social work. I have a life sciences degree and 15 yrs business work experience. Anyone know if there is a way to combine the two things with some part time (child friendly) study to get the necessary qualifications. Or do I really have to go back and do 3 yr full time degree course?

Or maybe there is another way to do this altogether - like start off in a different but similar job and study on the job towards becoming full social worker???

You can do your NVQ3 whilst on the job if I remember correctly.

Are you wanting to be a bog standard social worker or a residential social worker?

I am aiming to be a residential social worker but I am having to start right from the bottom and do my 'introductory diploma to health and social care' first.

There is some information here.

A friend of mine is training to become a social worker. She had lots of transferable skills, having worked in the public sector for many years, and having dealt with some very vulnerable and challenging children in one of her jobs. She applied for a position as a social worker assistant (I believe different LAs call these positions by different names) and has held this position for 4 years now, and is studying part time for her social work degree (funded by her work), as although she had good CSEs and A-levels, she did not have a degree.

That sort of route could be something worth looking into as you can earn while you study. However, it may mean a drop in salary as they tend to be in the region of £15 - £20k for the assistant/support roles.

It is a competitive career to get into, and is hard work, but can be rewarding. Your degree and life skills so far will stand you in good stead, so good luck!

I am a family worker (assistant SW) . My LA does a secondment scheme for staff but this is genrally 2-4 people a year and it is very competitive. This then involves working in your team alongside studying.

It is compulsory for us to do NVQ level 4 and this expands our pay scale. I am top of band A whilst I complete mine and the full time equivilant is £21500 + car allowances and mileage. Scale B goes up to £23000 ish.

Hi,

I have just retrained as a social worker by doing an MA in social work. As you already have a degree which could be relevant you should be able to get on a Masters course in Social Work next September. They will be looking for transferrable skills and life experience and how you can reflect and relate theses experiences to your future learning. The MA is only 2 years instead of 3 so obviously quicker. It is an intense course and as well as written work - essays, presentations , portfolio you have to complete a 100 days placement at a suitable agency (unpaid) which is full time. It can be done and I thoroughly enjoyed it, the downside is no money as obviously you have to be avaialble for full time study and placement, but friends on the course who didn't have children supplemented the bursary with weekend work usually in a social care field which is also great experience when applying for jobs. I fell pregnant halfway through my course and had the baby at the start of year 2. The only downside was having to pay for full time daycare out of the meagre bursary as despite working 9 - 5 five days a week for six months it was not classed as employment and I didn't qualify for help financially. This may be differeet if you are a single mum though. I did consider giving it up but so glad I didn't. I have managed to get a job as a social worker and am looking forward to starting soon. I would say go for it - you will be glad you did.

I'm in my final year of the social work degree. I needed two A'Levels (friends got on with access courses) and I had 2 yrs experience with homestart. People skills are essential so if you've worked with people and are aware of the necessary values etc to do with social work then you are off to a good start. My degree (plymouth) is one day a week in uni and 3 or 4 days in work placement (a total of 80 days needs to completed over the year). They've changed the course completely for this years intake and seem to do that on a regualr basis so I guess it's a case of contacting the uni you're interested in and finding out their programme schedule. Good luck!

Hi
I had a business degree and had business experience. People tried to put me off but I did a year or so of relevant voluntary work in my spare time and was accepted on to a 2 year Masters course.

It was a really good course and I'm glad I gave up my previous work to concentrate on it fully. I funded it with part time shop work and renting a room which suited my lifestyle at the time.

You can do it the other route suggested by work based secondment and this is another good route to access social work normally via the OU. You will be up against others with relevant experience and so it may take longer but may be easier financially. But there are many schemes run now and you need to look at opportunities in your area.

Go for it if you are interested and think you have the right people, organisation, assessment skills and temperament.