Social Work

Odette

Im thinking of retraining to be a Social Worker. My parents have been foster carers all their lives and I am familiar with alot of the idyosyncracies of the care system but not in any depth.
I already have a degree (English Lit) and am looking into doing a Masters rather than another degree.

Does anyone have any anecdotal evidence of getting into social work? Or advice. Im a bit lost really. I want to be sure this is what I want so I am going to start applying for jobs in the care system.

sweetilemon

Why don't you ask your parents foster agency if they have any casual jobs for childrens support workers. You could do this along side your job at weekends and evenings when required. It means working along side social workers and you can make the decision if it's right for you. Obviously thats mainly childrens social workers but many councils employ mentors to work along side social workers in drug help groups etc. There are lot of cut backs in these jobs at thw moment but if you explain your interests even with no jobs you might be able to volenteer a day a week to see if you like it and talk to other social workers.good luck.

Oldernotwiser

You really need to get relevant experience (whether paid or voluntary), both for your own sake and to help you make a successful application. Entry onto the MA is very competitive.

Savvy_Sue

Agree with ONW, you need experience in different settings, with difficult client groups if possible. But it sounds as if you're going about it in the right way, with trying to get work.

But now is the time to start exploring which Masters course to apply to, and whether you could get a funded place via a local authority. The competition is fierce, and you will be tied into working for them afterwards, but it will reduce your debt.

purple12

I'm sure you've already looked at the CWDC site about getting into social work as well as the GSCC site.
Getting some paid experience (a job!) is the best way to stand out as others have said and while it would be useful to have a broad range of experience, you should get that as a part of the course and it would be quite unusual for many MA students to have had a very broad range of work experience although obviously if you do it will set you apart and will be good for the course as well as personal development.

I'm a social worker. I qualified 10 years ago and for the most part, I really love my job and the work I do. I know there is a lot of negatives milling around and I can understand it. It is stressful and we are under a lot of pressure but I wouldn't want to do anything else (for now!).
So good luck with it
I'd also recommend the forum at Community Care. It has a lot of similar questions to yours!

Oldernotwiser

Minor point (hopefully), you do have a GCSE in Maths, don't you?

alwaysonthego_2

As ONW says you needs a GCSE in Maths and English- C or above.

I am starting my MA in SW in september and I am getting my fees paid for and a bursary to do it.

The work experience I have is adviser at CAB for past three years, volunteering at my DD's school as a helper and working with Gypsy Travellers in my UG degree placement.

My degree is very relevant to social work as it specialises in child developement, childhood theories and social policy.

Once I had put my application in, I had to have an interview which involved going in front of a panel of service users and then a panel of lecturers and social workers. I related all the questions to experience and theories that I had researched at university. I must have impressed them as they phoned me back an hour later offering me a place despite the fact that they had not finished interviewing.

Hope this helps

Savvy_Sue

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Minor point (hopefully), you do have a GCSE in Maths, don't you?

Unless the OP did her first degree a VERY long time ago, that would have been required for any degree, wouldn't it?

nimbo

I don't think that maths is a requirement for all degrees - I have a friend who failed GCSE maths 5 times....

She still went to university.

For the UG degree the applications have to be in half way through January – I imagine that the MA will have a similar time frame.

It will very much focus on the experience you have (I have been told), and each university will have different rule about how long you will have needed to have done something for.

One of the universities I am considering says the equivalent of one month full time minimum.

Also one of the other universities expects candidates to have GCSE science as well as maths and English.

I emailed one of the course tutors from my preferred university to ask for tips as to what kind of experience would be looked at favourably, and he stressed the need to have read around the subject, and recommended a book – one that he had written…. But I figure if he’s interviewing me, then the shameless plug will have been worth it….

Ordered it of Amazon and it looks like a good read.

It was also recommended that I go to one of the Open days in October… most Social work departments won’t allow people to do work experience in them, as each SW student will have to do 200 days in the department, and they ‘reserve’ space for this…

Savvy_Sue

nimbo wrote: »

I don't think that maths is a requirement for all degrees - I have a friend who failed GCSE maths 5 times....

She still went to university.

They might have allowed an 'equivalent' qualification through, I suppose.

nimbo

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

They might have allowed an 'equivalent' qualification through, I suppose.

she wouldn't have had one - only 5 D's.......

her dad was fuming, i just remember her being sat in tears when she got her last grade - she'd passed all her A levels, and that was what she was most concerned about.

he wanted her to sit again, and she point blank refused - i mean 5 times really ahould be a hint...