The MA in Social Work is a professional qualifying course in social work. It is intended for graduates in any discipline who are committed to a future career in social work.

The University of East London is accredited by the General Social Care Council (GSCC) to award professional qualifications in social work. This MA is unique and distinctive in that it is taught collaboratively by professional social work tutors and experienced practitioners/clinicians from UEL and the Tavistock Portman NHS Trust which has international reputation in social work. All staff who are personal tutors are themselves qualified and experienced social work practitioners.

Applicants must be graduates in any discipline who can demonstrate a clear commitment to social work. Applicants should normally have at least six months' (full-time equivalent) experience of social work at the time of application, with preference to those who are sponsored by employers. There is a great demand for the programme and so applicants are normally only accepted if they have 2.1 degree or higher (i.e. first or a post-graduate award). Occasionally where applicants already have several years’ experience of social work they may be accepted with a 2.2. degree. In exceptional circumstances applicants may be accepted with other equivalent qualifications, for example where someone has a qualification from abroad that does not count as an honours degree, but also has substantial practical experience and clear evidence of attainment through other means of academic standards equivalent to the level of a UK honours degree.

Department of Health requirements apply to selection procedures for admission to this programme. These requirements include: assessment of personal capacity for social work, personal interviews, demonstration of basic academic skills, involvement of stakeholders and service users and carers in the assessment of applicants' potential for social work. In addition applicants must declare whether they have criminal convictions or have been subject to disciplinary proceedings in any prior employment (the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 does not apply to professional qualifying courses in social work). Prior to enrolment all applicants will be required to complete an application for an Enhanced CRB check.

This is a full-time two-year programme which incorporates 200 days practice learning as required by the Department of Health for all qualifying social work programmes. The 200 days practice learning will take place in students' workplace where they are sponsored by employers (this is the employment based route). For all students practice runs alongside the taught element, with two days per week spent at the University or the Tavistock Portman NHS Trust during term time, and three days per week or a full working week spent in social work agencies for the rest of the programme.

Students will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and individual practice supervision sessions. Roughly 50% of the programme is devoted to practice learning, for which students will be allocated a practice assessor. Personal development and reflection on practice is a key element of social work training, so there will be a substantial experiential component to learning and teaching. The Tavistock Portman NHS Trust grounds its teaching in clinical practice and students will spend some of their time there. Teaching is also supported through web-based learning.

Assessment takes two forms.

Academic modules are assessed through coursework, with each module having a number of prescribed tasks that students are required to undertake. In addition there is a dissertation module which requires students to demonstrate the integration of research into their social work practice. These assessments are graded in accordance with the standard system for Masters degrees.

Practice is assessed by reference to National Occupational Standards and GSCC Code of Practice, and students will we required to demonstrate competences and skills as required by those standards. These will be assessed by a practice assessor who will operate under the guidance of the Practice Assessment Panel which in turn will work to the requirements laid down by the General Social Care Council. Students will be judged either to have met the required National Occupational Standards and evidenced the Code of Practice or not. Students who have met the requirements will be entitled to registration as a social worker with the General Social Care Council.

This Masters programme combines a professional qualification with a postgraduate degree.

In order to attain the professional qualification a student must demonstrate competence to the level required by the relevant professional body, in this case the General Social Care Council. This programme assesses students’ competence by reference to the National Occupational Standards in addition to integrated reflection on practice throughout the programme. A student who does not attain this level of competence may nevertheless be awarded a postgraduate certificate or diploma in applied social studies.

This Masters is built firmly on the principle of integrating theory into practice, and encouraging evidence based practice. To this end students will Be required to complete a dissertation which applies research methods and principles to social work practice.

All students enrolled on the programme will be required to submit a dissertation. A student whose dissertation does not attain a mark of 50%, but who has passed all other academic and practice assessments, will qualify for a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work which will entitle them to practice as a qualified social worker.

Students on this programme will work with teachers and practice assessors who are at the forefront in developments in social work. The programme offers unrivalled opportunities to integrate theory and research into social work practice, and while it prepares students for all aspects of social work, UEL and the Tavistock Portman NHS Trust offer special expertise in the areas of working with children and families and in the field of mental health.

There is always a constant demand for qualified social workers in all areas of practice. Students who take Masters level qualifications are well placed to progress through a range of promotional opportunities in social services departments, statutory children's services, community and children and adolescent mental health trusts, voluntary agencies and the independent sector. There are opportunities for students to develop skills in management, but increasingly emphasis is laid on the development of advanced practice skills and after social workers have registered with the General Social Care Council they should expect to go on to post-qualifying training in a specialist area of social work.

Currently students who qualify in social work find themselves very much in demand and have a considerable choice in terms of employment. While salaries are competitive, what matters ultimately to any employer is your commitment and enthusiasm for working with people. You will not become a millionaire by becoming a social worker!

In addition to offering personal tutors, this programme support students through practice assessors, who are ordinarily employed by social work agencies, although some practice assessment may be undertaken by UEL or Tavistock / Portman NHS Trust staff.