Health and Social Care Degree, Worth it ?

danz0l

I was thinking of training to be a social worker and having had some excellent help and response on here, it has given me food for thought on whether Social care is still possibly my best option instead of the Social Work degree.

I am a care officer for people with a learning disability and have just returned to the field after over 15 years doing something else. When i was in the field before i worked my way from a volunteer to a manager of a care home with the same client group with no qualifications, vocational or educational. Returning to the field shows how things have developed and now qualifications are paramount for job progression. I've started again at the bottom and am now considering my options to move upwards.

I've returned to this field of work a little under a year ago and have just completed my NVQ Level 2. Level 3 is a further option and something i certainly will consider when the signups come about but i was wondering whether i would benefit from a BA(hons) Health and Social care degree ? What would being an undergraduate enable me to achieve in relation to jobs or would i be better investing my time in the vocational path ?

I hope to once more become a manager and understand that its likely employers would want me to have achieved or willing to achieve the Registered Managers Award/NVQ level 4. Its chicken and egg though as i can't sit that NVQ until i am in the role of a manager and can't manager without having the qualification. So would maybe the degree help ?

The degree would likely be taken part time through the OU.

Any help and guidance would really be appreciated.

danz0l

anybody have any advice ?

MrsManda

I'd suggest speaking to managers at the type of places you'd hope to be employed by to find out what they are looking for. Also if you can find job adverts for the type of job you are looking to get and look at the person spec you'll find out what the essential and desired criterias are.

My husband has recently advertised a job as a Public Health analyst (anyone fancy a job?) and has had a number of people calling him to say they're just about to graduate with a Masters in Public Health so would they get the job. His advice is to look at the person spec and see if they match the essential criteria. A Public Health masters in his case is a desired attribute but if the applicant has no analytical experience (science degree, work experience...) then it's pointless.

You sound like you've got tons of experience so finding out what the essential criteria for these jobs are and what the desired criteria are should help you with your decision.

clairet1961

Hi
I'm currently studying for health and social care degree with the ou. I work as support worker, and am waiting for company to decide whether to fund nvq3, and then hopefully nvq4, but like you, i'd have to be in managerial position for this. I though i'd start the h&sc degree myself as it shows willingness to train for managerial position whilst waiting for vocational path to become available.
With the ou you can study nvq3 also, but this is expensive, and if work are willing to fund this at some point it is worth waiting and considering ou in the mean time. I have almost finished first 60 points towards my degree, and am studying 30 points alongside this one to get a bit of the way up the ladder.
Not sure if that helps you at all??

lilacclaire

Hi, my partner completed his hnc to become a care worker and then got a job as an assistant manager, so you may need to go down this route, or go straight in as an asst manager?
He's recently done his rma, but believe this has now been replaced with something else. Currently doing the svq4.

danz0l

Thanks guys and i appreciate the responses.

I guess what i kinda think at the moment is its better to study for a degree that is relevant to my job than not. I know i have to work my way through the NVQ system if i want to be a manager but also consider that its likely going to set me above other interviewees if i also had an undergraduate degree in Health and Social Care as well as experiance and NVQ qualifications. But i also don't want to waste my time if its better invested elsewhere.

danz0l

clairet1961 wrote: »

Hi
I'm currently studying for health and social care degree with the ou. I work as support worker, and am waiting for company to decide whether to fund nvq3, and then hopefully nvq4, but like you, i'd have to be in managerial position for this. I though i'd start the h&sc degree myself as it shows willingness to train for managerial position whilst waiting for vocational path to become available.
With the ou you can study nvq3 also, but this is expensive, and if work are willing to fund this at some point it is worth waiting and considering ou in the mean time. I have almost finished first 60 points towards my degree, and am studying 30 points alongside this one to get a bit of the way up the ladder.
Not sure if that helps you at all??

How are you finding the course so far ?

clairet1961

danz0l wrote: »

How are you finding the course so far ?

Hi
Am finding the first course(K101) fine, getting good marks and fiiting it in ok, just one more essay and then exam in june,
Second course (K225) harder, although 30 points is taking up about same amount of time as K101, and first essay back marked not so good (62%) but didn't spend long enough on it so i can understand why the lower mark.
You sitill considering this route?