Social work is a highly challenging but very rewarding profession. Your career could see you support children, families, older people and vulnerable adults, helping them access services, overcome challenges and improve their wellbeing.
Your role will be to increase the wellbeing and quality of life for vulnerable people across all ages, backgrounds and circumstances.
Through your work, you will help ensure those you support can access the right guidance, services and opportunities to live fulfilling lives.
You will be responsible for assessing individual needs, creating support plans and working alongside other professionals to ensure people receive appropriate, person-centred support.
Social work is different from social care, although the two professions often work closely together. Social workers focus on areas such as assessment, safeguarding, advocacy and coordinating support, while social care workers often provide practical and personal assistance to help people with their daily lives.
In order to become a social worker, you need to be qualified in the field. This can either be a degree or a Master’s in social work.
What does a day in Social Work look like?
A social worker’s responsibilities vary depending on the kind of social work you choose to specialise in and the types of cases you take on.
For example, the average day in child services will look different from working within adult services, mental health teams or community support settings.
Social workers can work across a wide range of areas, supporting people at different stages of life and helping them navigate personal, social and practical challenges.
The different areas of care that social workers can specialise in are:
- Learning disabilities
- Mental health
- Children and families
- Older people
- Alcohol, drug and substance abuse
- Housing and homelessness
- Criminal justice and ex-offender rehabilitation
- Palliative and hospice care
Specialising can sometimes require additional training. Depending on the nature of the training and existing qualification these can last as long up to 2 years.
Regardless of their specialist area, social workers share a number of core responsibilities. These can include:
- Creating care plans for individuals whether they are coming out of hospital or need ongoing support
- Identifying potential safeguarding concerns and taking appropriate action
- Monitoring and evaluating people’s progress and keeping accurate records
- Advocating for people’s rights and keeping up to date with relevant legislation
- Identifying requirements to support independent living – such as home adaptations and additional services
- Referring people to relevant organisations and services to access additional support
Rather than providing direct care, a social worker’s role is to assess needs, advocate on behalf of people they support and help coordinate appropriate services.
Where necessary, social workers may contribute to safeguarding processes and work alongside other professionals where legal action or protective measures are required.
They work with health, social care, mental health, law and judicial professionals to ensure that the appropriate support is in place for each case.
As a result, social workers are rarely office-based and can spend their day travelling to various locations including the client’s home, hospitals, the court and a range of other locations.
The role requires strong communication skills, empathy, organisation and the ability to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
Requirements
To become a social worker, you must complete an approved qualification and meet the registration requirements set by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
In England, this usually means completing an HCPC-approved degree or postgraduate qualification in social work before applying for professional registration.
Entry requirements for social work degrees vary between universities, but many courses consider a range of qualifications and experience, including Level 3 qualifications such as A Levels or Access to Higher Education Diplomas.
Although there is no clear definition what constitutes ‘relevant’ subjects, UCAS recommends sociology, psychology and law. Criminology arguably could be considered relevant too.
Relevant subjects can help you develop useful knowledge for social work, but the specific requirements will depend on the university and course you choose.
However, entry requirements can differ from one university to another so if you know where you want to study, check in advance.
If you already have a degree – again in a relevant area of study – then you can study a Master’s degree in social work.
You will need at least a 2:1 to be considered for a Master’s course in addition to the qualifications above.
Master’s degree entry requirements vary between universities, so always check the requirements of your chosen institution before applying.
Whether you’re studying a degree or Master’s, make sure the course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council before you enrol.
Along with your social work degree, you will need to pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and become a registered member of the HCPC.
If you’re studying in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland courses are approved by the Scottish Social Services Council, Care Council for Wales and the Northern Ireland Social Care Council respectively.
If you don’t have the traditional qualifications needed to apply for a social work degree, there are alternative routes available, including completing an Access to Higher Education Diploma.
But what do you do if you don’t have the A Levels you need to make it on to a degree course?
Getting Qualified
There are several pathways available for adults who want to progress towards a career in social work. The right option will depend on your previous qualifications, experience and the entry requirements of your chosen university.
The first is studying to get your A Levels. This is an entirely valid approach and studying A Levels gives you both the breadth of subject matter and nationally recognised qualifications.
A Levels remain a recognised route into higher education, although they are not the only option available for adult learners.
The big drawback is the time it will take you to get the qualifications. Each A Level course will take a year to complete. It can be done in less time but if you’re balancing work and home life, it could be a struggle.
For learners who need multiple A Levels, this may require a significant time commitment alongside existing responsibilities.
Some universities will only ask for two A Levels with good passing grades in order to enrol, but that’s still 2 years of study.
An alternative route that is particularly popular with adult learners is the Access to Higher Education Diploma.
Access to Higher Education Diplomas
A common alternative to A Levels – especially for those who left school without them – is the Access to Higher Education Diploma. This qualification has been developed with adults wanting to return to education in mind.
Access to Higher Education Diplomas are nationally recognised Level 3 qualifications designed for learners aged 19 and over who want to progress to university.
Because of the specialist knowledge required to be an effective social worker, there is a dedicated Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Work) available.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Work) is designed to help learners develop the academic skills and subject knowledge needed before progressing onto a social work degree.
During your studies you will cover key areas connected to social work practice, including the role and responsibilities of a social worker, social work values and principles, legislation, social care provision and the needs of different groups within society.
You will also explore psychological and social factors that influence people’s lives, including psychological perspectives, developmental psychology, family relationships, crime and society, poverty, social inequality and discrimination.
You will also learn about academic writing skills and how to structure assignments.
The course includes dedicated academic skills development, including academic writing, reading and note-making, helping you build confidence for university-level study.
By the time you have completed the diploma you will have a firm grasp of all the key principles and will be able to advance towards degree level study.
Access to Higher Education Diplomas are designed to support progression to university, although learners should always check that their chosen university accepts their qualification for their intended degree course.
Access to HE Diplomas are developed with progression to higher education in mind, helping learners build the knowledge, confidence and study skills needed for degree-level learning.
If you choose the Access to Higher Education route into university, you usually won’t need to complete additional Level 3 qualifications, providing you meet any other entry requirements set by your chosen university.
The diploma will give you everything you need to know. You can also qualify within a year – although you have up to two years if you need it.
Many learners complete an Access to Higher Education Diploma in around 9 to 12 months, depending on their pace of study and personal circumstances.
The added benefit of studying an Access to HE Diploma (or any course) online is you can start right away. There’s no term start dates.
Online learning also allows you to balance your studies around work, family commitments and other responsibilities, making it a flexible option for adult learners returning to education.
Distance Learning
Once you have decided on your pathway to higher education, online learning can help you take the next step while fitting your studies around your existing lifestyle.
Stonebridge College offers the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Work) through flexible 100% online study, allowing you to learn at a pace that works for you.
With a subscription-based learning model, you can manage your studies alongside your other commitments while receiving support from qualified tutors throughout your course.
You will have access to guidance and feedback from your tutor, helping you develop your knowledge, complete assignments and prepare for future study.
Start Your Learning Today
A career in social work starts with the right qualifications and preparation. If you want to progress towards a social work degree but don’t have A Levels, an Access to Higher Education Diploma could provide the pathway you need.
Stonebridge College offers the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Work) online, helping adult learners gain a recognised qualification while developing the academic and subject knowledge needed for university.
With flexible online study, tutor support and the freedom to learn around your existing commitments, Stonebridge College can help you take the next step towards your future career.
Explore the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Work) today and begin your journey towards higher education.
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