Social Work

CJ2405

hello

Bit worried i have an interview on Friday for a Social Work degree, there is a group discussion and today they gave me the topic, the role of a social worker in modern society

Anyone got any words of encouragement?!!

i hate these situations, i know i can do it, but i always get pipped to the post by someone with a bigger voice than me! and i blush

[Deleted User]

I can offer nothing really of use except to wish you luck.. You can do it...
I'm hoping to do Social work next year after finishing my access course so I wish you the best!!!!!!!

daisyboo

Hi again not much help but you could go along the lines of socially today there is a lot more support for people who need social workers in thier lives whether it be with young people getting in more trouble or even the strech on the nhs so there is a wider role for social workers and a lot more to deal with. (not sure if that makes sense)

I was wondering if you could let me know when the course starts for this and what your previous qualifications were? I really want to do this as I am currently a care worker for disabled children and would like to take it a step further, Is it just like a normal degree that starts in sept meaning I will have missed out this year?

Good Luck, some advice would be that its not always what your saying thats important in a group interview they normally look at how you work in a group for example listening and inputting off others ideas and not being too overpowering.

dmg24

You may still be able to get a place in clearing daisyboo,

Have a look at the uni website you are interested in and see if they have any places?

Best of luck ... both of you! x

sockospice

Another thing to remember that is that what you say is only the half of it. They'll also be assessing how you interact within the group, whether you listen and react to other people's points, whether you allow people chance to speak etc. While confidence in expressing thoughts is important in social work, it isn't necessarily the loudest who gets the best results.

Good luck.

Theboys!

Good luck with your interview, i start my degree in social work in october.
Don't worry about blushing i tend to look like a beetroot when i am nervous!, we were also given our tea in a cup and saucer and i was so nervous you could just hear it banging together from my shaky hands!

CJ2405

Thanks guys, i appreciate the advice.

Daisyboo, i did A levels, and a degree which was miserable, finished that 5 years ago, I called off spec last week and they said they had places too, so you may be lucky for this year, most uni courses kick off properly in October....

Vomityspice

As an ex-social worker (i'm back at Uni!) you really shouldn't be too worried. The topic 'the role of a social worker in modern society' is so vast you could almost talk about anything.

However, to be helpful, I'll give you some pointers.....

1) Are 'Social Workers' just social police? Dealing with the bits of society that the police don't? (It may not be criminal but morally/ethically dubious i.e Is smacking a child really the best way to discipline a child? If it's OK to be violent to a child then why can't a police offer punch a shoplifter under the same principle?) Are they agents of social change under the direction of the Government? (Simple answer is YES, but as ever, it's more complex than that!). Is that a good or bad thing? How does society value social workers? The PR for them is universally poor. When was the last time you read a story in the papers about a Social workers saving a child from and abusing parent (probably never!). Why is that?

2) Good social workers EMPOWER service users to make changes to their lives. This can be done in a number of ways but the key issue is the relationship (professional) that you develop with the client. If your client hates/dislikes you, then your ability to help someone make changes is severely limited.

3) Social Workers provide a safety net for society. Difficult areas that others don't want to talk about impact on society and particularly the most vulnerable people within society. Child abuse isn't something that most people discuss over breakfast!

4) Social Workers have a negative press, if they leave children in risky situations the public want to lynch them and when they remove children from risky situations again the public want to lynch them! However, the legislation (Children act 1989) gives clear guidance that Courts should use the 'No order principle' which simply means that if it can, the courts should try to find a way to resolve difficulties without making court orders!

Hope that gives you some ideas to think about. Good Luck.

mummytofour

Sallylizzie wrote: »

I can offer nothing really of use except to wish you luck.. You can do it...
I'm hoping to do Social work next year after finishing my access course so I wish you the best!!!!!!!

Me too!!!!!

[Deleted User]

mummytofour wrote: »

Me too!!!!!

When are you starting a social work degree and are you studying at the mo????

mummytofour

Sallylizzie wrote: »

When are you starting a social work degree and are you studying at the mo????

Im WAY back at the start at the mo.
I have just done the keys skills level 2 in English and maths and will be starting Access in social science in Sep :eek:

So Next yr I will be strating at uni all being well. I know this year is just going to fly by tho.
I will be applying to Brighton and Chichester and maybe Portsmouth.