BA (Honours) Social Work (England): Standard pathway

Stage 1

As you begin your study towards a professional qualification in social work, you might be asking yourself: Can I manage the demands of this qualification? Do I have the right knowledge to support my academic and professional development? Do I have the study skills to succeed?

Stage 1 of the BA (Hons) Social Work (England) will help you with all of these questions and more besides. Studying the two 60-credit compulsory modules An introduction to health and social care (K101)An introduction to health and social care::We all depend on care services at some time in our lives – at home; in hospitals, clinics or GP surgeries; in community and residential settings. As a key introductory Level 1 course, K101 provides an authoritative overview of health and social care underpinned by health and social policy, practice expertise and social science. The learning experience is greatly enhanced by real-life case studies taking you deep into the experience of receiving care and working in care services. This course will help you to build knowledge and understanding of care work and care services, develop skills, and prepare you for further study.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q32-1,module,K101,,1 and Foundations for social work practice (K113)Foundations for social work practice::This key introductory Level 1 course is a compulsory module of the OU degree in social work. You must be studying towards the degree and be sponsored by your employing agency. The course will help develop your knowledge of the key roles of social work, and introduce the social work standards and codes of practice relevant to each UK nation state. It explores ideas about what social work is – using case studies with children, older people, mental-health communities, disabled children, and people with learning disabilities to apply learning to practice contexts. The course includes a 20-day practice learning opportunity under supervision of a practice verifier appointed by your sponsoring agency.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q32-1,module,K113,,1 will give you a fascinating insight into the organisation of social care in the UK and develop your awareness of the different components of good social work practice. They’ll also help build your confidence by steadily developing and enhancing your study skills – including digital and information literacy. There’s no better way to begin your journey to your social work qualification and life as a professional social worker – and as you progress through your studies, you’ll return to your learning from these modules time and time again.

Stage 2

By Stage 2 of the degree, you’ll be ready to start applying what you’ve learnt to your own practice. Two compulsory 60-credit modules will give you the confidence and knowledge to do just this. 

The law and social work in England and Wales (K270)The law and social work in England and Wales::This course examines the legal frameworks that shape and regulate social care and social work decision-making. It considers how social work can make use of the law in a positive way and examines the value of law from the perspectives of service users and professionals. The course deals with a range of legal issues related to social care and social work practice, including children and families services; youth justice; community care; and mental health.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q32-1,module,K270,,1 examines the legal framework that shapes and regulates social care decision-making. You’ll cover a range of legal issues related to social care and social work practice including children and family services; youth justice; immigration; community care and housing. 

Applied social work practice (K216)Applied social work practice::This course is a compulsory module of the OU degree in social work in England and Scotland. You must be studying towards for the degree, have passed Foundations for social work practice (K113), be working in a practice context and be sponsored by your employing agency. The course helps you to understand the application of social work knowledge to practice, addressing key roles and standards for social workers and relevant knowledge, values and skills for social work. The course includes a 100-day practice learning opportunity under the supervision of a practice assessor appointed by your sponsoring agency.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q32-1,module,K216,,1 will help you understand the key roles that social workers undertake and the relevant knowledge, values and skills of the social work process. You’ll also undertake the first of two 100-day practice placements in this pathway.

Stage 3

In Stage 3, you’ll study the final practice-learning module – Critical social work practice (K315)Critical social work practice::This course will support you as a student social worker in becoming a confident, critical, analytical and reflective practitioner, and an independent learner. It guides you towards sources of information to interrogate and evaluate. It identifies what critical reflection is and supports its application across a range of knowledge and practices. You will reflect on practice – looking at historical and international exemplars – and develop research literacy; exploring how research can inform practice and be used by practitioners. You will also examine the nature of organisations supplying social work services, how they are changing and what this means for social work practice and practitioners.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q32-1,module,K315,,1 (60 credits) – and undertake your second 100-day placement. The practice module will support you in becoming a confident, critical, analytical and reflective practitioner. The emphasis is on supporting independent learning and you’ll be guided towards sources of information to interrogate and evaluate.

For your remaining credits you have a choice of 60-credit modules covering:

•  work with children – Working together for children (KE312)Working together for children::Working with children requires the development of the knowledge, skills, and values associated with topics including communication; transitions; relationships; health; play; participation; working with parents; early intervention; and safeguarding. All these subjects and more are taught in the context of current law and social policy, with an emphasis on the need for different agencies and practitioners to work together. Using a blend of text and online study materials, you will explore working with children aged 0–12. Studying this practice-focused course will help you to meet the professional and occupational standards required in childcare, health, social care and educational children’s services.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q32-1,module,KE312,,1
• adulthood and our ageing society – Adulthood, ageing and the life course (K319)Adulthood, ageing and the life course::In the twenty-first century many more adults will live for longer than in previous generations. The emergence of an ageing society can be celebrated, but it also poses many challenges. As workers, carers, or as people receiving health or social care support, this course will enable you to explore diverse individual, environmental, policy, and practice perspectives for adults and for adulthood. It will focus on later life, mental health, long-term conditions, learning disability, and drug and alcohol use. The course incorporates a rich blend of multi-media learning resources, including stimulating case material and opportunities for online collaborative learning.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q32-1,module,K319,,1
• or managing in the care sector – Managing care (K303)Managing care::Managing care is for people who have – or would like to learn about – frontline management roles in a wide range of health and social care settings. It provides the knowledge, skills and analytical tools needed to become an effective manager who is able to use evidence-based strategies for good outcomes for service users. The course provides an overview of the organisational, legal and policy contexts within which managers are operating, and examines in particular the impact of working with partners in order to integrate health and social care provision, exploring the implications for managers. You are encouraged throughout the course to apply your learning to your own experience.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q32-1,module,K303,,1 or Leadership and management in health and social care (K313)Leadership and management in health and social care::The delivery of successful health and social care services relies on effective management and strong leadership. This course is designed for existing and aspiring managers or anyone who would like to learn more about management and leadership in health and social care. It will help you develop the necessary knowledge and analytical skills, as well as providing an overview of the organisational, legal and policy contexts within which managers operate, focusing on the challenges and opportunities faced in this sector. Throughout the course you apply learning to real-life examples, developing evidence-based strategies for good outcomes for service users.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q32-1,module,K313,,1 – ideal if you’re working in a frontline management role.

After successfully completing all 3 stages of this degree, you’ll be able to register with the professional body in England and begin your career as a qualified social worker.