Social worker Apprenticeship (Integrated Degree) – Level 6

Flexibility

The knowledge and skills developed are tailored to the needs of role you will support

Kickstart your career

Get future ready with a BA (Hons) in Social Work Practice

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State of the art skills labs and specialist facilities to ensure high training standards

Designed for current health and social care professionals who aspire to become qualified social workers, this apprenticeship will give you practical experience whilst you boost your academic proficiency with a BA (Hons) in Social Work Practice.

The National Student Survey in 2023 voted our course 95.69% for ‘Teaching on my course’ and 93.10% for ‘Academic support’

Who is it for?

This apprenticeship is for health and social care employees who are working in a team where they are providing front facing intervention wanting to gain a professional qualification in social work.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BA (Hons) in Social Work Practice

Location
Stoke-on-Trent campus
Duration
Typical duration of this course is 3 years.
Start date(s)

Typical start date for this course is January.

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Course content

The programme will cover a broad range of topics including the following

Modules

Year 1 Modules:

  • Preparation for Social Work Practice - This module will equip you with the foundations for professional knowledge and skills necessary for the practice and academic elements of the course.

  • Understanding the Purpose of Social Work - This module will introduce you to the historical, policy and legal context of social work practice. You will learn how welfare policies and the legislative framework form the basis for social work interventions and about the connections between politics and social work practice.

  • Understanding the Impact of Social Work - This module will investigate the importance of social work theory and of understanding your own values and how, as a social work student, you will be expected to uphold a service user's autonomy and have respect for their values.

Year 2 Modules:

  • Understanding the Purpose of Evidence Based Decision Making - This module will investigate the importance of understanding your own values and how, as a social work student, you will be expected to uphold a service user's autonomy and have respect for their values.

  • Practice Based Learning 1 - You will have a 70-day practice learning opportunity in a social work or social care setting.

  • The Impact of Theoretical Perspectives on Social Work Intervention - In this module you will begin to explore the relationship between human development throughout the lifespan and the social problems and difficulties faced by service users throughout their life.

Year 3 Modules:

  • Research into Contemporary Themes - This is an exciting and topical module based on current and emerging social work practice issues. A generic approach is taken to the subject matter to include impact and relevance in children's services, mental health and adult services with many of the themes cutting across each discipline.

  • Practice Learning 2 You will have a 100-day practice learning opportunity in a social work or social care setting.

  • Working with Complexity in Professional Practice - This module has been designed to prepare you to undertake the final module of the Social Work Degree Apprenticeship. The End Point Assessment is now the Award Board of the BA (Hons) in Social Work Practice. The focus of this module is generic which means that all social work disciplines will be included in the approach to teaching and learning. This module is around gaining the fundamental skills, knowledge, and experience of social work practice which you will then shape around your area of specialism for the future.

Professional accreditation

Upon completion of this apprenticeship you can register with Social Work England as a Social Worker.  

Entry requirements

  • Level 2 maths and English (GCSE, functional skills or equivalent)
  • Ideally a level 3 or above qualification in a relevant subject

Applicants usually require 112 UCAS points to apply for the undergraduate course but if the applicant does not hold this level of qualification consideration will be given to a level of experience within the health and social care arena.  

Fees

For levy-paying organisations the cost is paid from their digital account at a rate of £24,000. For non-levy paying organisations the cost is £1,200.

Delivery and assessment

Delivery

You will complete one day per week “off the job learning” for the duration of the course. The majority of this learning will take place at the university campus in Stoke on Trent, although some of the days will take place in alternative learning environments including the use of shadowing opportunities, internal training courses by your employer and on-line and blended learning through the university virtual learning environment.

Face-to-face sessions will focus on individual and group learning exercise through lectures, seminars and tutorials. There will be a strong emphasis on activity-focused learning and the apprentice will be expected to engage actively in all sessions.

Assessment

All modules will have a variety of assessments; these are tasks set to produce a variety of work appropriate to the module topic, which are graded and contribute to progression through the degree. The assessments include exams, report writing, group activities and presentations and a portfolio will also be compiled over the length of the course. The employer is expected to assign a work place mentor who will monitor the development of the portfolio and meet with the apprentice and assessor to discuss progress.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills); written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy); academic writing (including how to reference); research skills; critical thinking and understanding arguments; and revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management).

Additional support

Our AccessAbility Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties. You will also have full access to our support services such as Student Guidance.

Feedback

Examination feedback may take a variety of formats. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Responsibilities

  • The employer must not ask the apprentice to contribute financially to the direct cost of learning
  • Ensure apprentices are given a minimum of 6 hours per week in off-the-job training
  • Enter into a contract with University of Staffordshire
  • Participate in reviews with the apprentice and university, providing evidence and feedback on progress at work and success in meeting apprenticeship milestones
  • Provide a safe, healthy and supportive environment, which meets the needs of the apprentice
  • Provide apprentices with a contract of employment for the duration of the apprenticeship on the first day of their apprenticeship and be paid at least a wage consistent with the law for both the time they are in work and in off-the-job learning
  • Provide the apprentice with paid time to attend off-the-job training, including additional support for English and Maths, or support accessed for learning difficulties and/or disabilities
  • Recognise that the apprentice must complete the apprenticeship within their working hours
  • Support the apprentice to gain new skills
  • A citizen of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) or have the right of abode in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for at least the previous three years on the first day of learning
  • Able to complete the apprenticeship in contracted working hours
  • Be an employee (have a contract of employment for the duration of the apprenticeship) on the first day of their apprenticeship and be paid at least a wage consistent with the law for both the time they are in work and in off-the-job learning
  • Be in a new job role (nine months or less), or in an existing job role, where significant new knowledge and skills are needed - employer statement of justification needed (relevant to the apprenticeship)
  • Be in full-time employment for at least 30 hours a week (37.5 for nursing apprenticeships)
  • Has the right to work in England
  • Maintain a safe, healthy and supportive environment, which meets your needs
  • Not be enrolled on another apprenticeship at the same time
  • Participate in reviews with the employer and university, providing evidence and feedback on progress at work and success in meeting apprenticeship milestones
  • Administer the funding and running of the apprenticeship standard to an acceptable standard of quality and in compliance with the ESFAs requirements
  • Agree jointly between the university, the employer and apprentice, an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) ensuring that satisfactory progress is achieved and to ensure that the contents of the ILP fulfil the requirements of the apprenticeship standard
  • Provide a safe, healthy and supportive learning environment, which meets the needs of the apprentice
  • Provide off-the-job learning and assessment and oversee the on-the-job skills development as detailed in the ILP
  • Provide support and assessment opportunities for the end-point assessment

Careers

As a Social Worker you will work in partnership with adults, children, carers and families in a range of different settings to support and promote positive change in people's lives in order to improve their wellbeing and independence.

Enquire

To join a higher degree apprenticeship programme or recruit an apprentice for your business, enquire with us today.

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