Social Work Undergraduate Degree

SIRCC offers an exciting undergraduate degree programme of professional social work education and training, focused on residential child care, through two universities:

• The Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen offers a distance learning programme for current residential staff
• The Glasgow School of Social Work (GSSW – a joint initiative between University of Strathclyde and Glasgow University) offers a full-time programme aimed at current residential staff and new entrants to the profession

Both provide a professionally recognised social work qualification and a thorough grounding in the knowledge and skills required to work in residential child care, a challenging and rewarding area of social work.

The degree provides education and training in the values, skills and knowledge required to meet the combined elements of the Social Work degree with a residential child care focus. The programme is recognised by The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and those who successfully complete the degree will be eligible for full registration as a social worker.

GSSW Full Time Route

• Lasts for four academic years
• Each running from October to June
• There are two placements during the course, in years two and three
• For students of residential child care both placements be in areas of work with children and young people
• At least one of the placements will be in a residential setting
• Students committed to residential child care will be jointly taught with students on the general pathway but throughout the Course there will be specific focus on residential child care and the opportunity for specialized study in the area of residential child care (for example in the Honours dissertation)

This degree is delivered using a problem-based learning model where students learn through actively researching real world problems, and in doing so develop their knowledge and skills. Throughout the Course, students will learn about the principles and practice of social work. They will learn to apply these to a residential context whilst gaining an understanding of the whole range of services for children and families and adults in need.

Admission

Applicants for the full-time course should possess the standard qualification requirements for entry to professional social work training which include 3 Higher (B,B,B or equivalent) and relevant experience (for under 21 years of age, four Highers at B,B,B,B is required). Relevant experience could include volunteer social work, child care or youth and community involvement. Candidates with less than six months experience may still apply and will be assess on their suitability via interview. Otherwise entry can be via HNC route, and an assessed programme is available for advanced entry to year two for HNC Social Care graduates.

RGU Distance Learning Route

• Lasts for four years
• Students attend monthly tutorials in their own area
• Students also attend ten one-week-long teaching blocks in Aberdeen over the period of the course
• Students undertake two fixed periods of full-time assessed practice experience in an approved child care setting
• At least one of which is a residential child care setting
• It is a condition of an offer of a place that the employer has been fully alerted of the time and costs involved and is supportive of the application
• It is estimated that students will be required to undertake on average 12 hours each week in private study

Core features of the distance learning course are:

• Modular based, private study using a variety of provided materials, workbooks and core readers
• Subject specific specialist input on teaching blocks
• Monthly group tutorials in students home area
• Over 60% of course content dedicated to child care and residential child care

Admission

The distance learning course commences at Scottish Degree Level 2. Applicants must therefore demonstrate prior academic attainment at, at least Scottish Degree Level 1, e.g. by appropriate SVQ/NVQ/Btech Award or HNC/HND or HE award at certificate, diploma or degree level, and have a minimum of 1 year's full-time equivalent experience at course commencement of work within a relevant child care setting.

Advanced Entry

Those with appropriate academic qualifications and relevant practice experience may apply for advanced entry to the programme under the terms of each university's APEL arrangements.

Fees

Both degrees are funded by the Scottish Government through SIRCC and are offered free. Neither individuals nor employing agencies are liable for these regardless of students' prior learning.

Career prospects

Employment prospects for social workers are buoyant, no more so than in residential child care where qualified workers are at a premium. Whilst the focus of the pathway is to train workers for residential child care, students on completion will have the professional qualification in social work thus allowing for future transferability of employment.

Applications

Applications for the full time course should be made in the normal way through UCAS. Applications for the distance learning course should be made directly to RGU, via the contact details below.

Further information

Those seeking further information about the RGU courses should contact Janine Bolger or Angela Aberdein:

Email: j.l.bolger@rgu.ac.uk

Tel: 01224 263 352

Fax: 01224 263 222

Email: a.aberdein@rgu.ac.uk
Tel: 01224 263 225

Those seeking further information about the course at the GSSW should contact Karen Tracey:

Email: karen.tracey@strath.ac.uk

Tel: 0141 950 3380
Fax: 0141 950 3474