Advice about Social Work degree interview

mwddrwg

Hi all,

I have my third crack at getting on the Social Work degree course through work this week and I was hoping that anyone can offer some advice on which topics are 'hot' in the field at the moment that I can brush up on.

Probably not, but just maybe looking for some encouragement really... thanks in advance for any input on this or any experiences in general about the interview for this kind of degree

marybelle01

The 3 "S"s - safeguarding, safeguarding and safeguarding! There have been too many bad errors of judgement, so knowing what safeguarding is, what it entails, what part various people and agencies play in it...

Then there's policies around "troubled families" which is the "newspeak" for families with multiple issues - plenty of stuff around the new policies (which actually aren't that new) available on the web.

Impacts of isolation (particularly relevant to older people and mental health clients) - JRF are currently undertaking a national survey on this.

Those are the ones that people in the field are all talking about - which of course is no indicator that they are what they'll ask about!

But good luck with the interview.

mwddrwg

Thanks marybelle01,

As I said it's my third crack at this so hoping it will go well this time. I'v jumped through several hoops to get to this stage each time so they must think that I have a chance at least of being suitable for the degree! The last interview was a disaster, so nervous, so hoping to prepare better this time. I've already done half the first year of the course (funded by my employer as a second-prize thing first time I applied) so dying to finish it off.

Thanks for the great advice

LL30

I'm just about to start my MA in Social Work! My interview was a little different to what I expected, less about current affairs, more about me as a person - so a lot of self reflection. I was asked about prejudices I held and situations that had made me feel powerless for example. Really interesting approach to the interview, as it was making me think about how I would operate in the field and tested my intrapersonal skills.

Yours might not be in a similar vein, but it might be worth thinking about those sorts of things just in case. Good luck to you xx

marybelle01

LL30 wrote: »

I'm just about to start my MA in Social Work! My interview was a little different to what I expected, less about current affairs, more about me as a person - so a lot of self reflection. I was asked about prejudices I held and situations that had made me feel powerless for example. Really interesting approach to the interview, as it was making me think about how I would operate in the field and tested my intrapersonal skills.

Yours might not be in a similar vein, but it might be worth thinking about those sorts of things just in case. Good luck to you xx

Definitely good advice - my interview was many many years ago! I seem to recall it being both "personal" and about issues, but things may have changed. Probably have!