Social Work

Name: Social Work, MA
Price: £9,000 per year GBP

Attendance

Campus

Start

Duration

2 years

Start

September 2024

UCAS Code

L508

Delivery

In-person

Social workers work with a wide cross-section of society, including some of the most disadvantaged and excluded people. Our MA in Social Work provides a variety of opportunities for you to develop the knowledge, skills and appropriate values to work positively with people who have lived experience of social work practice.

This course is being reapproved under the University’s normal cycle of review. As such, the course structure and content may be changed to enable the University to deliver a better quality of educational experience to students.

You’ll develop and integrate knowledge, skills and values for, and in, practice to meet the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Professional Capabilities Framework at the Qualifying Level for Social Workers in England and the Standards for the professional regulator (Social Work England).

As part of the Masters in Social Work course, students are required to complete 180 days in practice. This consists of a 35 hour per week, 80 day first placement starting in the February of the first year of study. And a 35 hour per week, 100 day final placement starting in the February or March of the second year of study.

A specialist team arranges all student placements: students do not find their own placements. All placements are based in the North-West of England, primarily across Lancashire. With a small number of placements in Greater Manchester, Wigan and South Cumbria. First placements normally take place in private, voluntary, independent or charitable (PVI) organisations. Final placements take place either in PVI organisations, NHS teams, or local authority teams.

Our NHS partner is Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust. Our local authority partners are Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackpool Council. All placements are audited according to Social Work England’s professional standards and the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF).

Why study with us

Values for ethical and effective social work practice are at the heart of the MA in Social Work course, underpinned by connection to people with lived experience of social work, research and the professional evidence base.
You’ll spend at least 200 days (including 30 skills days) gaining different experiences and learning in practice settings. This enables you to build on your academic learning, developing a critical professional skills. You will demonstrate values-based practice to professional standards.
Teaching takes a blended approach of lectures, seminars and in-person learning opportunities.

Interested?

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What you'll do

In Year 1, the focus is understanding of the contexts for social work practice; self-awareness and self-development for resilience and effective practice; developing skills for working with others; developing and applying this knowledge, and learning from people with lived experience of social work practice.
In Year 2 you’ll have the opportunity to build on your skills and knowledge from the first year to consider and work with key complexities and challenges in social work practice, be supported to reflect on your developing professional capabilities, and plan for your intended social work career.
The experiences, messages and views of social work practitioners, service users and carers underpin the course and are drawn upon to support your development as an effective social work practitioner in response.

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The tutors are really supportive – they tell you what your development areas are, helping you progress to your full calibre.

Usman Ahmed

Social Work graduate

Modules

Compulsory modules

These modules are set and you have to study these as part of your course.

Preparing for Social Work Practice

Understanding and Applying Social Work Law and Policy

During this module you'll be introduced to the legal context for social work practice in England. The module will familiarise you with relevant legislation and policy relating to the promotion of wellbeing, rights and safeguarding of vulnerable people across a range of service user and carer groups. It will provide opportunities to think through the ways in which this key legislation and official guidance impacts upon situations encountered in practice.

Module code: SW4902

Theories for Understanding Self and Others Across the Life Course

Complexities in Social Work Practice

This module allows you to prepare for managing complexities within social work practice. It supports you to build upon and develop your knowledge and skills from stage one of your study. You'll develop a critical, informed and applied understanding of key complexities within social work practice. The module also contributes to you achieving the professional standards for performance, conduct and ethics required for your final year of social work study.

Module code: SW4908

Social Work Practice: Experience 2 (Advanced).

Consolidate practice learning at the level required for professional registration building on your knowledge, skills and values from your first placement and learning from other modules. You'll continue your professional development in more complex and unpredictable situations, demonstrating a critical awareness of ethical standards, relevant legislation, research and the value base of social work.

Module code: SW4910

Research Informed Social Work

Find and critically draw upon a valid evidence base to support them with professional social work practice. You'll undertake desk-based research activity; critical exploration and analysis of the literature in an area of substantive interest to professional social work practice. Learn about how to find research, understand the different types, develop skills in critical analysis of research, apply and present findings for social work practice.

Module code: SW4911

Social Work Practice: Experience 1 (Intermediate)

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

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image overlay — The Library (Preston Campus)

Group of students sat on bench near library talking — The Library (Preston Campus)

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Katie is course lead for the MA in Social Work, module lead for core modules within this course and teaches across a range of subjects related to social work and social care. Katie is a Teaching Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and also a member of the following UCLan Resea…

Che is a lecturer in mental health social work and teaches across our social work and social care programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Che continues to practise as an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) alongside her lecturing post.

As part of the course you will have the opportunity to hear about the experiences of service users, carers, patients and public members via our community engagement and service user support groups (Comensus).

Future careers

Recent graduates of the MA in Social Work have gained jobs in social work teams in safeguarding/support roles, in children’s, young people and adult’s services, and with local authority, third sector and private organisations.

Fees and funding

2024/25

Full-time£9,000 per year

International

Full-time£16,900 per year

Additional costs

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country/region

Social Work Bursary (NHS)
The Social Work Bursary is available through the NHS Business Services Authority, it can help with study and living costs and is a grant not a loan.
Find out more about Social Work Bursary (NHS)
Dependants Bursary
Students with financially dependent children may be eligible for our Dependants Bursary as part of our financial support package. 
Find out more about Dependants Bursary
Carers Bursary
If you need extra support because you have unpaid caring responsibilities alongside your studies.
Find out more about Carers Bursary
Sports scholarships
We offer student athletes support and opportunities for their playing careers whilst they study a high-quality degree.
Find out more about Sports scholarships

Learning and assessment

Further information

Key aspects of the programme include:

Professionalism: developing awareness in students of how to behave as a professional social worker and in accordance with professional requirements.
Values and ethics: understanding and applying values and ethics to practice in an anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory manner.
Diversity: recognising diversity in all its forms and applying anti-oppressive principles in practice.
The advancement of human rights, social justice and economic wellbeing.
Applying knowledge for social work: knowledge of human growth and development, psychology, social policy, sociology, law, research and theory for social work.
Critical reflection and analysis in respect to professional decision making: critical approach to contexts, professional development and individuals/groups concerned.
Self-awareness, emotional intelligence and skills and knowledge for resilience within a challenging profession.
Skills to intervene to promote independence, provide support and prevent harm and abuse – both digitally and in person.
Working in organisations. including collaborative working between agencies/organisations and individuals/professionals.
Taking responsibility for professional learning and development of yourself and others through leadership.

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This course is based in the School of Health, Social Work and Sport

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page

Your saved courses

Social Work

Why study with us

What you'll do

Modules

Modules studied

Compulsory modules

Preparing for Social Work Practice

Understanding and Applying Social Work Law and Policy

Theories for Understanding Self and Others Across the Life Course

Complexities in Social Work Practice

Social Work Practice: Experience 2 (Advanced).

Research Informed Social Work

Social Work Practice: Experience 1 (Intermediate)

View the course facilities

Academic expertise

Future careers

Fees and funding

Additional costs

Scholarships and bursaries

Social Work Bursary (NHS)

Dependants Bursary

Carers Bursary

Sports scholarships

Learning and assessment

Further information

Social Work

Why study with us

What you'll do

Looking to start your postgraduate journey?

Modules

Modules studied

View the course facilities

Academic expertise

Future careers

Fees and funding

Additional costs

Scholarships and bursaries

Social Work Bursary (NHS)

Dependants Bursary

Carers Bursary

Sports scholarships

Learning and assessment

Further information