Social Work Graduate Jobs

Social work is all about working with people. A qualified social worker helps people to live more successfully within their local communities by helping them in finding solutions to their problems. Social work also involves working not only with people themselves but their families and friends as well as working closely with other organisations including the police, NHS, schools and probation service.

Social work is different to social care as social workers need a professional qualification in order to practise. Social workers are involved at a senior level with people who need social care and are specifically trained to deal with complex problems. They are responsible for assessing an individual's needs, offering support, and where necessary planning individual packages of care in order to best help them. In contrast, social care workers tend to offer more personal care and do not necessarily possess any professional qualifications.

Becoming a Social Worker

Almost all social workers start their careers with experience in social care. However, to become a social worker you will need a university degree in social work. This is usually a three year undergraduate (Bachelors) degree course although two year postgraduate (Masters) routes are available. Many universities also offer part time courses. Once qualified, potential social workers must also register with the General Social Care Council before they can practice. Social workers tend to specialise in either adult or children's services.

Social Work Degree

Entry onto a social work degree course is open to people of all ages, from school-leavers onwards. However, universities will typically look for previous experience of work or volunteering in social care. There are more than 80 universities and colleges in England offering a variety of programme options including employment based routes as well as full time college based courses. Typically, these courses are heavily weighted in favour of practical work although course work will also be required. This means, you can expect to spend at least 200 days in placements within the field of social work. For more information on the available social work degree courses, go to www.ucas.ac.uk