Course Summary

The Graduate Diploma in Specialist Social Work has been designed for all qualified social workers and other professionals who work with children, young people and their families across all sectors. Equipping you with specialist knowledge and skills to improve your social work practice, this part-time course is delivered by qualified staff and service users who offer a range of thought-provoking modules.

All practitioners, except those with PQ1, begin with the Consolidation Unit, which enables you to demonstrate that you have consolidated your training since qualification and can put your knowledge into practice. This unit establishes the building blocks for the rest of the course and develops best practice in working with children and famililes. Other units include Research and Child Care Law, Ethics for Professional Practice, Inter-Professional Working and Enabling the Learning of Others.

This integrated academic and professional course is one of several that we offer in Post-Qualifying Training in Social Work. As well as enhancing your post-qualification skills, it enables you to demonstrate your commitment to continuous professional development and your suitability for continuing registration.

Why choose this course?

On this course you will gain the knowledge and skills you need to improve your social work practice and enhance your career opportunities. Designed in consultation with local employers, it offers you the chance to demonstrate your competence as a social work practitioner, your commitment to continuous professional development and your suitability for ongoing registration. The course is validated by GSCC as a Post-Qualifying Award at Specialist Level and is regarded as a key component of career progression in this area.

During the course you will:

• Gain an understanding of the importance of reflective practice and professional development
• Receive support in dealing with the uncertainties and complexities of professional social work practice with children and families
• Develop critical reflective skills and learn how to use up-to-date evidence and research to inform your practice
• Become equipped to deal with the challenges you face in the workplace

GDSSW-SN

Assessment

Essays, direct observations, class presentations, critical logs, critique of subject specific research, account of application of law to practice are used across the range of modules to test candidates abilities in different ways, and to allow them to show a range of methods of gathering, organising and dissemination knowledge and skills relevant for practice.

Educational Aims

The Course aim is:

To provide an effective learning experience at graduate level for a student to reach a confident level of working within the framework of an academically rigorous programme of study relevant to their work in Childrens Services.

Objectives

• To provide opportunities for relevant learning at post-qualifying level and to provide opportunities for understanding and way-marking the journey of professional development


• To enable students to develop at post-qualifying level the core knowledge, skills and values necessary for contemporary social work as identified by Government policy and guidance, the Quality Assurance Agencys Benchmark Statement for Social Work, and the GSCC standards and requirements for post qualifying education, and the GSCC Codes of Practice


• To provide learning opportunities for students to develop and show how their practice meets relevant National Occupational Standards


• To promote ethics for professional practice that enable practitioners to understand the effective use of power and the meaningful application of working in diversity


• To support an approach to study that sustains a systematic and independent ability to develop professionally through the use of a discerning and critical eye


• To demonstrate a willingness to remain curious about how the world of work works, and the ways it can shape practitioners, and the ways in which they can shape it so that they remain effective and intervene in ways that are useful to service users


• To demonstrate an on-going commitment to work collaboratively within and across organisations and professions, and service users and carers

Student support

Standard:

Standard entry requirements for UK students http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/ukugentryreqs

Students from the European Union - http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/eu/guides

International students - http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/international/apply

Additional:

This programme is designed for qualified social workers registered with the General Social Care Council (GSCC) who are employed in social work practice and are seeking to gain the Post Qualifying Award in Social Work at Specilaist Level. It is particularly suitable for those who wish to top up their Diploma in social work or other social work qualification to degree level whilst working in their chosen career. Those with a degree in social work already, will qualify with a graduate diploma.

The programme is designed to enable social workers to achieve the standards prescribed by the GSCC under its recently revised Post Qualifying Framework for Social Work Education and Training.

Successful applicants will not be permitted to register for the BA programme until they have gained the credits for the appropriate Consolidation unit or have satisfied APL requirements for this unit.

Other professionals/ service users may study the course or individual units they will qualify with a graduate diploma in work with with Children Young People Families and Their Carers.

Team working

The principles and practice of effective team working are crucial in professional Social Work practice and the curriculum of this course is designed to develop and enhance these skills in students. Group presentations, seminar discussions and group work on case study scenarios will be utilised to allow students to practice and evidence these skills throughout the course. In the units Enabling Others in the Workplace and Enabling Practice Learning and Assessment, students are given the skills to enhance team working in others.

Career Management Skills

As an integrated academic and professional award career planning and development is at the heart of this course. Students are at the start of their studies in the consolidation module required to reflect upon their journey in social work so far and to consider the steps they need to take to enhance their career development with best professional practice at the heart of this endeavour. Units Enabling Others in the Workplace and Enabling Practice Learning and Assessment, students are encouraged to begin to develop their skills mentoring/ supervising others. This will directly introduce them to the notion of supporting others in he workplace and enhance their career development opportunities.

Career/Further study opportunities

Career:

This course is validated by the GSCC as a Post Qualifying Award at Specialist Level. This course enables qualified social workers to be able to demonstrate their competence as a social work practitioner and to be able to consolidate their learning since qualification. For those students without a qualifying degree in social work it will enable them on completion to achieve a degree.

This award allows social workers to demonstrate their commitment to continuous professional development and demonstrate their fitness for continuing registration. Many local employees use successful completion of this course as a part of their internal career progression structure.

Further study:

The University of Bedfordshire offers PQ programmes at post graduate level and a Professional Doctorate in Social Work for those working with children and young people. More programmes are being developed with local employers to meet the needs of the workplace.

Entry

Additional:

This programme is designed for qualified social workers registered with the General Social Care Council (GSCC) who are employed in social work practice and are seeking to gain the Post Qualifying Award in Social Work at Specilaist Level. It is particularly suitable for those who wish to top up their Diploma in social work or other social work qualification to degree level whilst working in their chosen career. Those with a degree in social work already, will qualify with a graduate diploma.

The programme is designed to enable social workers to achieve the standards prescribed by the GSCC under its recently revised Post Qualifying Framework for Social Work Education and Training.

Successful applicants will not be permitted to register for the BA programme until they have gained the credits for the appropriate Consolidation unit or have satisfied APL requirements for this unit.

Other professionals / service users may study the course or individual units they will qualify with a graduate diploma in work with with Children Young People Families and Their Carers.

UK students Undergraduate entry requirements

Standard entry requirements for Foundation degrees (FD/FdSc)

A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.

Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.

• As a guideline, a typical offer would require you to obtain a UCAS tariff score of between 80-120 points, based on your level 3 studies.

Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.

We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.

Standard entry requirements for Undergraduate degrees (BA/BSc)

We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.

The general requirement is one of the following:

• UCAS Tariff Score greater than 200, which should include either two A level passes or an AVCE Double Award
• An Access qualification
• Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate or BTEC National Diploma

Students from the European Union

Entry requirements

As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.

We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.

How to apply

International students

• Undergraduate applications (BA/BSc) can be made direct to the University or via our representatives in your home country. If you intend to apply to more than one university in the UK you should apply via UCAS. If you want to apply to the University of Bedfordshire only you should apply directly using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Postgraduate applications should be made directly to the University using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Healthcare, nursing and midwifery students Many of these courses are not available to overseas students due to UK immigration law in regard to bursary funding. Please contact international admissions to find out if you are eligible to apply
• BA Nursing Studies Level 3 (with or without Overseas Nursing Programme) is available to overseas students - please contact International Admissions by email at international-admissions@beds.ac.uk for further information

(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)

Course application form for international students

We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.

• Course application form for direct applications [PDF]

How to complete your course application

Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.

Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section

Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APL)

APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.

Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `

The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.

We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.

• APL application form for International students [100Kb] updated 041007

What next?

Return your completed application to:

University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom

Contact International Admissions

T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk

Awarding institution

University of Bedfordshire

Professional, Statuatory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

General Social Care Council

Students with disabilities

Across all the Social Work programmes students with disabilities are actively encouraged to apply. This course aims to ensure that all assessment strategies are adapted as necessary to ensure that any disabled student registered on the course is not disadvantaged, and is enabled to attain the learning outcomes, develop identified skills and achieve the professional requirements.

Students with specific needs (e.g. dyslexia, visual or hearing impairment, mobility issues) that may require additional resources will need to notify the programme leader of these needs at the earliest opportunity so that appropriate arrangements may be made with employers and / or learning providers to ensure equality of opportunity.

Unit assessments are designed to allow all students to demonstrate their knowledge skills and competence required by the GSCC, reasonable adjustments may be made where necessary to ensure that students with disabilities are enabled to meet the academic and professional requirements of the course.

Skills Development

As a professional course this course focuses on the enhancement of professional skills and academic knowledge. Skills are identified for each Unit and are clearly related to the University Cre8 requirements for the curriculum ensuring enhanced employability As all students will already be employed the focus will be upon enhancing and developing skills to reinforce this and ensure continuous professional development and increase career prospects. The skills lie in the following broad areas: communication; information literacy; research and evaluation; creativity and critical thinking.

Communication

To help with the development of this you will:

Develop your communication skills in the Consolidation module by demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively with children and families. In other Units such as Ethics for Professional Practice and Enabling Others you will develop skills in group discussions, presentations and case study activities. In other units you will also develop skills in working with other professionals and communicating in legal contexts.

Information Literacy

To help with the development of this you will:

Be given support to develop your IT skills. You will be supported by Learning Resources to be able to access research, journals and other online resources. Students will also engage with e learning and Breo as well as other specialist social work e learning resources. Skills in this area will be tested in assignments where students will be expected to produce presentations and research assignments.

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:

Be taught about evidence based professional practice and research methods. Students will be required as part of the Research and Child Care Law unit to develop research appreciation skills in critically appraising a piece of current research relevant to their social work practice.

This will provide a foundation, should they choose to move on to higher specialist awards or postgraduate study, for undertaking research.

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:

Be encouraged throughout to take a critical and reflective stance to:

Reflective practice has long been a hallmark of competent Social Work practice and students will be enabled to develop the skills of reflective practice and critical thinking both in academic work and in practice learning.

A self-evaluative assignment proforma has been devised to enable students to reflect on and evaluate their learning from each unit assignment.

Improving learning and performance

The course offers an integrated approach to learning, with students reflecting on their professional practice, relating this to theory and critically evaluating the evidence base of social work. Students are required to develop research and evaluative skills which will encourage their learning and lead to better outcomes for service users. Students are also required to critically reflect upon their own performance in all units, leading to a better understanding of their professional performance in practice.

Progress files

As part of all the Units on the course students will be required to reflect upon their journey thus far in their social work professional practice and identify how this learning can be enhanced and new skills developed ensuring continuous professional development.

Professional standards

In order to achieve the Specialist Award, all social workers on the course must be registered with the General Social Care Council as Registered Social Workers in that section of the Professional Register. As such in addition to abide by the University Student Code of Conduct students on the course commit to abide by the GSCC Code of practice for Social Care Workers (GSCC 2003). This means that they must uphold the standards set in the Code of Practice, in their daily lives, employment and academic study. The University is committed to ensuring that any evidence of dangerous or damaging practice and or Practice which creates unacceptable risk is investigated and students will be made aware that the University is required to inform the GSCC about any suitability concerns that may arise from this.

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

The professional and academic requirements of the course are laid out in the unit and students are introduced to and helped to develop as they progress through the course. Students need to evidence in all their assignments their adherence to the GSCC Code of Practice, especially in relation to anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice, professional boundaries and role. As part of the learning students will engage in presentations to service users which will be formatively assessed by service users and carer representatives alongside academic staff.