1. Social Work – More than a job?
Fiona Stansfield
Manager of Practice Learning
Recruitment and Selection Coordinator

2. Today Entry requirements – 2020 entry What is Social Work?
Guidance for applicants
Guidance on reference
Course content
Selection process
Open days

3. What do social workers do?
Social Workers have a responsibility to promote the rights of powerless people and protect the vulnerable and disadvantaged
Social workers help, support, and protect people who experience difficulty in their daily living
Social work is about care, and can also be about protecting people from harm
Social work is about helping people using a professional knowledge and training
Social work is about making good relationships with people

4. Where do social workers actually work?
Criminal Justice
Drug and Alcohol Addictions
Mental Health Services
Residential Services
Community Care
Early Years
Disability
HIV/AIDS
Adoption and Fostering
People Seeking Asylum
Local Authorities
Schools
Prisons
Hospitals
Faith Based Organisations
Voluntary Organisations
Charities
Private Companies

5. What qualifications do I need?
Undergraduate course - 4 years
3 elements - educational qualifications, suitable motivation preferably enhanced by relevant experience, and professional suitability. Applications made via UCAS - BA Honours (UCAS L501)
School leavers
AABB at Higher 1st sitting –English or a social subject at ‘B’
AAAB at High 2nd sitting
usually recruit from Year 6
English and Maths/applied mathematics at National 5 at ‘C’ minimum or equivalent
Independently sourced work or volunteer experience enhances application
Mature students
HNC in Social Services (or other relevant HNC) – need A in graded unit
SWAP (Scottish Wider Access Programme) – need 60% grade point average
All applicants from college must hold an English and maths/numeracy qualification at the minimum of SCQF Level 5.
Work / volunteer experience – minimum of 6 months

6. Qualifications continued
Qualities and skills
Warmth & Empathy
See potential even in the most difficult circumstances and people.
Interest in difference and diversity
Willingness to challenge discrimination
Capacity to help people to live with difficult, sometimes worsening circumstances
Be able to engage with a wide range of people
Understand and present information accurately.
Registration with SSSC required once accepted onto the course
Criminal convictions not necessarily a barrier but MUST be declared

7. Guidance for applicants
Personal statement is crucial - the best applications don’t just list or describe what the applicant is doing or has done but how they make sense of this and how it would support them to study social work.
Educational – how do the subjects they are studying support them to understand people in relation to social work?
Personal – how has life experiences shaped their desire to study social work?
Professional – how has volunteering or paid work contributed to their skills or knowledge that would support them to study social work?

8. Guidance for reference
Teacher/academic reference is important. What we are looking for;
Academic ability – current and potential, how will the applicant transition into higher education, what will the applicant bring to the education/learning environment?
Resilience – social work is a demanding course both academically and emotionally, so what has been your experience of this applicants resilience and how they might transfer this to studying social work.
Commitment & motivation – what is your experience of the applicants commitment to supporting vulnerable people out with the educational environment (work or volunteering)?

9. Course Content Year 1 2 3 4 Semester 1 modules Semester 2 modules
Preparing for Lifelong Learning
Understanding Social Science & Social Research
Psychology for Social Work
Values Ethics & Justice
Poverty, Disadvantage &
Discrimination
Elective 2
Social Work Processes and Practice
People, Communities & Society
Social Work Organisation and Collaborative Practice
Understanding Risk & Protection
Social Work in Diverse Context
Law for Social Work Practice 3
Assessed Practice 1
Social Work in a Global Contexts
Social Work Approaches and Methods
Social Research and Social Work 4
Assessed Practice 2
Lifelong Learning for Social Work
Honours Dissertation

10. How we process applications
Initial screening
Further Information Pack & character reference (ethical dilemma essay)
Selection Panels & Interviews
Involves practitioners from the social work field
Those with less than 6 months relevant experience – written test and group interview
Those with experience may be selected on their application and completion of Further Information Pack.
Criminal Convictions/SSSC registration

11. Open Days Monday 2nd September Saturday 5th October
Visit and search “Open Days”

12. Is it the right choice?
Students need to be resilient, realistic, ready
It’s a challenging course academically
It’s demanding emotionally
Placement makes up 50% of years 3 & 4
Full time course
As well as providing an insight into the sector, the course enabled me to develop a wide range of knowledge, theory and practical skills required for a career in social work. Learning from the course has already been invaluable to my new job and I look forward to using the skills I gained further in the development of my career.” (Emma, graduate)

13. Who applies for social work?
More women than men
Most from West of Scotland
Wide range of age groups from schools leavers through to grandparents

14. Where can I get experience?
Check local council website for relevant vacancies
Visit the Scottish Social Services Council webpages
Read about social work, Community Care is available online and a good place to start.

15. Further learning
An Introduction to Social Work, a free OpenLearn Course.

16. Thank you!!