Social Work BA (Hons)

 

Course Code

UCAS Code: L500
International Code: HLSU194

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

 

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

3 years full-time

Start date

September 2022

How to apply
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Course overview

Study level: Undergraduate

Make a big difference to people’s lives - take the first step to a rewarding career with our Social Work BA (Hons).

  • 6 for Social Work in the Guardian University Guide 2021
  • Opportunity to put theory into practice on two placements of 70 and 100 days
  • On successful completion, you’ll be eligible to apply to register as a social worker
  • Coventry University has been educating social workers for over 50 years.
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Global Ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities
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Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
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Employability

Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Why you should study this course

There aren't many careers that make you feel like you're giving back to society in the way that social work can. Social work is much more than ‘helping people’. At its best, it helps save lives, protect vulnerable people from harm and enhances the life chances of those in social need.

There aren’t many careers that make you feel like you’re giving back to society in the way that social work can. Social work is much more than ‘helping people’. At its best, it helps save lives, protect vulnerable people from harm and enhances the life chances of those in social need.

Coventry University has been educating social workers for over 50 years. Professionally accredited by Social Work England (SWE), on successful completion of this course you will be eligible to apply to SWE to register as a social worker (additional costs apply).

This course encompasses contemporary issues in social work practice, and it aims to give you an understanding of the knowledge, skills and attributes required to be an effective social worker and make a positive difference to service users. You’ll be encouraged to put theory into practice on placement in a range of social work and care settings, dealing with complex situations and learning alongside experienced social work practitioners.

You will undertake a 70-day placement in Year 2 and a 100-day placement in Year 3*. The placements are sourced by the university and you will be fully supported and supervised in the workplace by a qualified and experienced social work practitioner. Your personal tutor also plays a key role in ensuring that practice placement provides a quality learning experience for you and that the course requirements are met.

You will be taught by a dedicated team of social work academics which includes academics with substantial practice and research experience across a range of social work practice settings, including children and families, adult practice, and service users and carers. There is an emphasis on the development of your emotional literacy and intelligence capacity in order to promote resilience and psychological wellbeing to practice effectively as a social worker.

The teaching curriculum reflects the changing demographics of society and emerging social issues. The decolonisation of the curriculum is integrated so that graduates have the required skills and capabilities to practice with diverse groups of people presenting with the complexities of modern-day social problems. Many of the modules throughout the course are aimed at equipping you with the awareness of the nature, causation and impact on people of current social problems and how you may constructively and creatively respond to these.

No. 6

for Social Work

Guardian University Guide 2021

Accredited by:

Social Work England

The course is accredited by Social Work England. Once you graduate, you can apply to register with Social Work England to start work as a qualified social worker (additional costs may apply). The university is also an active partner on the West Midlands Teaching Partnership for Social Work.

Close partnerships exist with employers and other higher education institutions in the Teaching Partnership, and there are particularly established links currently with Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and several independent and voluntary organisations. (subject to change)

What you'll study

Year one contains a series of modules introducing you to the core learning required in social work education. You will explore baseline concepts and skills development in preparation for assessed practice in year two, including an innovative new module exploring emotions in social work.

Modules

  • The module introduces you to social work as a form of practice that has been constructed over time within legal, policy and organisational frameworks. You will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of the dilemmas, conflicts and tensions within and between legislation, policy, organisational structures and practice within diverse service user groups. The contingent nature of social work is considered by examining key historical ‘moments’ in the development of social work, exploring the political, economic and social context of each moment and the forces that shaped the form social work took. The module examines current social work roles and responsibilities and the settings in which social work is practised.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • This module will enable you to develop effective communication and relationship building skills in social work in all its relevant forms including written, spoken, non-verbal and observational. You will have the opportunity to acquire underpinning knowledge and skills to equip you to communicate in a variety of practice settings with both individuals and groups. You will gain a range of techniques for working with service users, carers and professionals. In addition, the module will explore barriers to communication that are experienced by service users and carers with particular communication needs and those from diverse backgrounds. The module will relate to and inform the learning in other modules including contributing to your preparation for readiness for practice prior to starting your first placement.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • This module aims to introduce you to the English legal system and the way in which the law is relevant to social work practitioners. You will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of the primary and secondary legislation and apply key pieces of legislation to practice situations. The objectives are to explore the legal system, introduce key items of law including the Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005, and to enable the practice realities of the implementation of the law.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Test

  • This module aims to help you to consider some of the basic concepts in sociology, and how they may associate to social work practice. This includes the idea of being 'sociologically imaginative', and why connecting the lives of the people they work with to wider structural issues may be helpful. Further, the module will assist you to understand forms of social identity, and consider how key social divisions are of relevance to social work practice through the oppression and discrimination that can arise from them.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • This module seeks to develops your understanding of the role and impact of emotion in social work. It outlines an understanding on how emotional awareness and intelligence can promote an individual's own wellbeing in the context of the realities of contemporary social work practice. It also seeks to enable students to develop an understanding of the centrality of emotion in social work and how paying attention to the emotional dimensions of engagement with service users has the potential to improve effective practice performance.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • The aim of this module is to explore social work theory, models and methods in relation to practice through the prism of relationship-based and person-centred social work in the context of both the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) and the Knowledge and Skills Statements (KSS) for social workers in England. The module will enable you to explore and evaluate theory, models and methods, utilising principles of anti-oppressive practice and strengths-based approaches. This module is underpinned by relationship-based practice and therefore, will focus on the lived experience of service users and carers alongside the perspective of social work agencies, social work practitioners, and other professionals.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • The overall aim of the module is to ensure that you meet the Professional Capabilities Framework (BASW) at the point of assessment of readiness to practice i.e. the required capabilities prior to first placement. Thus, you should demonstrate a range of knowledge, core skills and values in order to engage effectively with service users and carers, work collectively as a member of an organisation and are open to learning and supervision in order to make effective use of their first practice placement. You will also demonstrate an awareness of the Knowledge and Skills Statements (KSS) for Adults and Child and Family practitioners, alongside an appreciation of Social Work England's (SWE) professional standards and their relevance to social work practice.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework and Viva (oral exam)

The second year designed to develop your knowledge, skills and behaviour, marked by the first practice placement. There follows a trajectory of academic study, focusing on applied work.

Modules

  • This module allows you to gain the essential knowledge and skills needed to become a critical evidence-informed practitioner. However it also considers the nature of ‘truth claims’ by pointing to the way questions of knowledge are related to issues of power and ideology; the questions of which evidence ‘counts’. The module combines a theoretical approach to understanding what knowledge is with skills development in looking critically at research and evidence and how these inform the doing of Social Work. The module places a significant emphasis on the voices of experts by experience as part of developing evidence informed social work practice.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • You will be required to demonstrate an understanding of the role of the professional social worker in a range of practice contexts. You will demonstrate, through effective communication, evidence of forming appropriate relationships with professionals and service users.

    You will be expected to use critical reflection to inform your learning, to ensure your practice is underpinned by professional codes of conduct, ethical principles and social justice. You will also apply your understanding of legislation, theoretical perspectives and evidence-based research to their practice.

    The module will enable you to demonstrate the capability requirements for qualifying practice at the end of first placement. You will be expected to critically reflect on the relevance of the Knowledge and Skills Statements (Department for Education and Department for Health) to social work practice.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Portfolio

  • You will be required to demonstrate an understanding of the role of the professional social worker in a range of practice contexts. They will demonstrate, through effective communication, evidence of forming appropriate relationships with professionals and service users.

    You will be expected to use critical reflection to inform your learning, to ensure your practice is underpinned by professional codes of conduct, ethical principles and social justice. You will also apply your understanding of legislation, theoretical perspectives and evidence-based research to their practice.

    The module will enable you to demonstrate the capability requirements for qualifying practice at the end of first placement. You will be expected to critically reflect on the relevance of the Knowledge and Skills Statements (KSS) to social work practice.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • The aim of the module is to enable you to develop a critical understanding of human growth and development across the lifespan of childhood to adulthood within context of internal and external dimensions of development. It examines theories of human growth and development throughout the life cycle, and how, at different points people’s identities are shaped by their social, political, economic and cultural locations.

    There will be a particular focus on how inequality, adversity and oppression can have significant implications on human development and affect people’s experiences. The module aims to develop your theoretical understanding of human development and its practical intervention in practice.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • This module is designed to enable you to develop understanding and knowledge of social work with children, young people and families in a range of settings including agencies and organisations operating in both the statutory and third sector. Learning will incorporate both the context and breadth of issues that children and families’ social workers encounter to prepare you for practice. It will include the application of legislation and policies related to children’s safeguarding and an analysis of recent developments and their implications to practice, including an exploration of contemporary themes in children’s safeguarding. The module will principally aim to enable you to develop your understanding, knowledge and skills working from a rights-based approach to promote relationship based social work and strengths-based models of assessment. The module will also provide you with an understanding of the impact of poverty, inequality and diversity in the lives of children, young people and families and how you will address this through your practice.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • The module aims are:

    • To understand that the principle of individual wellbeing is central to all professional practice with adults under the Care Act (2014).
    • To acquire and be able to apply a range of knowledge, values and skills in order to understand people’s situations, build relationships with them and work directly with them, their families and their carers in order to enable them to achieve the best possible outcomes.
    • To develop knowledge and skills in undertaking assessments, planning care and support and making the best use of available resources to enable people to have better lives.
    • To enable people to experience personalised integrated care and support them in maintaining their independence and wellbeing, coping with change, attaining the outcomes they need, understanding and managing risk and participating in the life of their communities.
    • To understand and counter the impact of poverty, inequality and diversity on social and economic opportunities and relate these experiences to people’s health and wellbeing as well as the functioning of their families, particularly in connection with adult safeguarding and in empowering individuals who may lack mental capacity.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

The final year includes a longer period of assessed practice, in preparation for professional qualification, and a particular focus on employability and independent study.

Modules

  • Placement module.

    Compulsory

  • This module will enable you to consolidate and develop your practice, achieved in Year One, in a contrasting statutory, voluntary or independent social work or social care setting. The module requires advanced integration and practical application of knowledge of social science, legislation, theoretical perspectives and evidence-based research. You will be expected to use critical reflection to inform your learning, to ensure your practice is underpinned by professional codes of conduct, ethical principles and social justice.

    In addition, you will be required to demonstrate that you can work effectively within an organisational context, including multi-agency and inter-professional settings.

    The module will also require demonstration of professional and leadership development and the application of critical reflection, analysis and creativity, to more complex practice situations. You will be required to demonstrate an understanding of risk factors and appropriate responses to safeguarding vulnerable people.

    The module will enable you to demonstrate the capability requirements for qualifying practice at the end of final placement. You will be expected to critically reflect on the relevance of the Knowledge and Skills Statements (KSS), to social work practice, in preparation for the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • This module aims to support the development of the leadership and management skills required to function effectively as a newly qualified registered professional working within the multi-professional team in the delivery of high-quality services.

    You will critically examine leadership and 'followership' models and the concept of empowerment and distributed leadership, to gain understanding of ethical leadership, culture and values within the delivery of effective social care services. You will explore the concepts of service improvement and gain an understanding of the application of relevant management tools and techniques.

    You will reflect on their observed experience of professional leadership behaviours and management skills whilst on practice placement and develop a personal development plan to guide your ongoing professional leadership development as a social care professional.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • The final year capstone project is a multi-faceted assignment that allows you to synthesise and apply the knowledge and skills that you have acquired through your university studies and practice placement learning. This is achieved by undertaking an in-depth study of a particular area of interest that is relevant to working with service users and/or carers. In the study, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate creativity, curiosity, and academic rigour as you exhibit your mastery of the knowledge, skills and values required of an emerging professional social worker.

    The module therefore aims to enable you to:

    • analyse critically an area of practice interest relevant to working with service users and/or carers and demonstrate the application of knowledge, research and evidence-informed practice;
    • develop creative and practical solutions and strategies that can be employed in working with service users and/or carers, taking into account relevant ethical, legal, and policy dimensions;
    • consider how different professionals can collaborate and work towards creating positive outcomes for service users and/or carers.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Project

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

The course is designed around the applicability of learning to practice and thus a number of modules incorporate research through the use of real-life case studies, serious case review findings, and the involvement of experts by experience, to enhance your learning experience.

You will be taught using a mixture of large and small group lectures, seminars and workshops supported by online content focusing on case based problem-solving approaches and skills development. You will also have dedicated tutorial support for academic and personal development supported by online content.

You will receive around 12-14 hours teaching contact time per week. This is made up of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Whilst on placement you are expected to work full-time. Social Work England define a placement day as usually no less than 7 hours (plus lunch break), but exact hours and working patterns may vary depending on the placement provider.

Some ‘contact’ hours may take the form of synchronous online learning (e.g. live online lectures, meeting tutors via video calling etc).

The university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to Covid-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

Assessment

The course adopts diverse assessment methods through academic assignments, case study analyses, reflective writing, practical interviewing and presentation skills, practice-based portfolio and includes formative and summative assessment.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.

Job ready

The course has embedded the employability of graduates and a major stem throughout the degree programme by ensuring currency in the curriculum. We will support you in your final year as you transition to employment through a range of initiatives with our local employer partners. and working closely with employers. There are also opportunities to participate in collaborative online international learning with peers to further enhance professional and personal development.*

You’ll be encouraged to put theory into practice on placement in a range of social work and care settings, dealing with complex situations and learning alongside experienced social work practitioners.* You’ll be supported to develop the self-efficacy, autonomy, self-awareness, reflective ability, emotional intelligence and the organisational skills to work as an effective and empathic social worker.

On successful completion, you’ll be eligible to apply to register as a social worker with Social Work England (additional costs may apply).

International experience opportunities

In recent years the faculty have offered international experiences* and recently social work students have been involved in visits to places such as Finland and the Netherlands.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2022 entry.

Requirement What we're looking for
A Level BBB.
BTEC BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM in a Health subject.
IB Diploma 30 points with 14 at Higher Level.
GCSE requirement Minimum 5 GCSEs graded 9-4 / A*- C including English Language and Mathematics, or specified equivalents.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Typical offer for 2022 entry

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Europe

Americas

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

East Asia

Africa

Russia and Central Asia

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 7.0 overall (with at least 6.5 in each component area)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

2022/23 Tuition fees

Student Full time Part time
UK £9,250 per year Not available
International £15,300 per year Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

Facilities

Three students sat talking in community house living room.

Community houses

The Alison Gingell Building features two full-size homes which can be used for sessions simulating working scenarios with different client groups.

Careers and opportunities

Previous graduates from social work qualifying programmes at Coventry University have had excellent career prospects in the caring professions, supported by our close links with local employer partners, who are actively involved in the design, delivery and assessment of the programme. There remain healthy employment rates in the local area for qualified local authority social workers, however previous graduates have also gone on to wider range of positions in the NHS and voluntary sector.

Where our graduates work

Previous graduates have benefited from particularly helpful working relationships with local employers who make up the West Midlands Teaching Partnership, and especially Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.

How to apply

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Your next steps

Student life
Accommodation
Fees and funding

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  • Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2021/22 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

    Tuition fees

    The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.

    For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.

    Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. 

    Facilities

    Facilities mentioned on this page may not be relevant for every course. Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Placements and study abroad opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.

    Additional costs

    This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to), equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas).