This part-time course prepares you for the challenges of management in organisations where policy and structure are subject to constant change. It encourages you to reach your full potential as a leader and manager in social work by enhancing your knowledge, skills, sense of enterprise and self-awareness.

The degree covers key issues in social work leadership and management, honing your ability to critically examine daily management practice. It provides budding social work managers with a deep understanding of current knowledge about effective practice in leadership, management and supervision. Your learning is placed within the context of current social work practice and how it can best enhance outcomes for those who use the service.

Whether you undertake the full Master’s programme or opt for individual units, you will benefit from the expertise of a team of experienced social work academics committed to holistic practice firmly embedded in research, in partnership with practitioners and service users. The full course is normally completed within five years.

Intermediate qualifications available:

• Postgraduate certificate – 60 credits at Master’s level
• Postgraduate diploma – 120 credits at Master’s level

Why choose this course?

• It is mapped against the Professional Capabilities Framework for social work at Advanced level (BASW 2018)
• Gain the skills, confidence and mental agility to lead and make effective decisions, even in the absence of complete data, and motivate others in ever-changing environments with competing demands
• Develop your expertise in critical reflection, bringing analytical and research-led perspectives into your leadership and management practice
• Be able to clearly communicate your ideas to a range of audiences, influencing change through creative thinking and collaboration
• Explore your full potential as a leader and manager in social work by evaluating and planning for your own future career direction and learning needs
• Study with an academic team with a proven track record in delivering innovative social work programmes as well as a commitment to teaching informed by up-to-date, evidence-based knowledge
• Our Schools work closely with the Institute of Applied Social Research (IASR), where the majority of research has been rated internationally excellent or world-leading by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

Qualification

As a successful applicant, you will normally have an honours degree (2:2 or above), and must have a professional qualification in Social Work and have proven ability to work at post-graduate level.

Experience

As an applicant you should be practising social work manager in a social work setting, or should be an aspiring manager who is expected to progress to a management role at some stage during the programme. Usually you will have a minimum of three years of post-qualifying experience for direct entry into the course.

Should you have three years' experience, but do not hold an honours degree, with a classification of 2:2 or above, you will be required either to complete a written assessment of your academic ability to write at postgraduate level or provide evidence of your ability to study at this level.  One way of evidencing this is the successful completion of the unit Embedding Professional Capabilities ASS037-6.

Registration

As an applicant you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

RPL

Should you seek accreditation for recognition of prior certificated learning you will be referred to the University of Bedfordshire's regulations for admission with advanced standing.  Each case will be assessed on its merit and in line with the University's maximum permissible credit transfer for the level of award sought.

How will this course improve my career prospects?

You will be able to seek key leadership or management opportunities in social work or social care in the process of the course or upon graduation. On completing leadership and management units, past graduates have been promoted to positions of greater responsibility such as Heads of Service and have used the knowledge gained on the course to secure these positions.