Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Bachelor of Arts with Honours - BAH

Accreditation

Social Work England

Apprenticeship Standard

Social worker (integrated degree) - ST0510

Programme Offerings

Full-Time

F2F-JMU-JAN

Educational Aims of the Course

This is an Integrated Degree Apprenticeship in Social Work. The course aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills and values to practice as professional social workers in the full range of social work settings with all service user groups. The course recognises that social issues become social problems when social processes and institutions fail to meet the needs of individuals, groups and communities - personal experience cannot be separated from the social, political and economic context in which social work is practiced. The programme aims to stimulate within students an enquiring, analytical and creative approach to working with a range of people. The programme will build graduate knowledge and skills to study systematically and independently at degree level. The programme also aims to help students to develop their theoretical understanding and ability to critically evaluate research evidence. It is anticipated that those students who successfully complete the BA (Hons) Social Work Apprenticeship programme will be confident, autonomous, competent, critically reflective, reflexive and research-minded Social Work practitioners who are committed to engaging in ethical and politically aware practice who contribute to the difficult process of changing systems which preserve inequality, oppression and social exclusion. The behaviours expected for Social Workers are as follows: • communicate openly, honestly and accurately. Listen to people and apply professional curiosity to evaluate and assess what information they need to gather, to provide quality advice, support or care. • treat people with compassion, dignity and respect and work together to empower positive change. • adapt approaches according to the situation and context. • commit to continuous learning within social work, with curiosity and critical reflection. • adhere to the professional, registering body's professional standards.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Take account of professional values ensuring professional ethical standards are developed, maintained and promoted, taking responsibility for decisions and recommendations whilst being aware of their own values on practice.
2.
Work in partnership with others, balance appropriate levels of autonomy within a complex system of accountability, respond appropriately to unexpected situations, identify and challenge practices which present a risk to, or from, people they are working with, their carers or others in order to uphold professional requirements.
3.
Respond appropriately to signs of harm, abuse and neglect, maintain the safety of people they work with, their families/carers and your colleagues, establish and maintain personal and professional boundaries and follow health and safety policies and procedures.
4.
Communicate in English at the level required by Social Work England , communicate their role and purpose sensitively and clearly, using appropriate language and methods, communicate in a way which is engaging, respectful, motivating and effective, even when dealing with conflict or resistance to change.
5.
Exercise professional curiosity, have difficult conversations with empathy, demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and engage with individuals and their families/carers and sustain effective relationships in order to effect change.
6.
Engage effectively in inter-professional and inter-agency working to achieve positive outcomes, access support networks, groups and communities to meet needs and outcomes and maintain accurate and complete records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines.
7.
Prepare formal reports in line with legislation, policies and procedures and present reports in formal settings, critically reflect on/review practice and record the outcomes of reflection appropriately.
8.
Use technology to manage their work, to communicate appropriately, to maintain individuals’ information security and protect data.
9.
Advise people on how to use assistive technology and promote the use of technology to achieve better outcomes.
10.
Exercise authority as a Social Worker within the appropriate legal and ethical frameworks ensuring the highest standard of person centred practice, so that people are treated with dignity and their rights, values and autonomy are respected.
11.
Practise in a non-discriminatory manner, listening to the views of people who use services, carers, their families and communities, recognising their expertise, and enabling their views to have validity and influence
12.
Promote the best interests of people who use services, carers, their families and communities and work with people to enable them to make informed decisions and exercise their rights, promoting individual growth, development and independence.
13.
Undertake assessments of need and/or capacity, initiating resolution of issues and using initiative to gather, analyse, critically evaluate and use research information and knowledge in their practice to develop an understanding of the individual’s situation.
14.
Use social work methods, theories and models to enable individuals to identify actions to achieve change and improve life opportunities, managing and weighing up competing/conflicting values or interests to make reasoned professional judgement.
15.
Work within scope of practice as an autonomous professional maintaining high standards of personal and professional conduct whilst managing the physical and emotional impact of their practice.
16.
Use a range of research methodologies to inform their practice and practice in an anti-discriminatory manner.
17.
Identify and apply strategies to build professional and emotional resilience using supervision to support and enhance the quality of their practice, maintain their own health and well-being, recognise the need to manage workloads and resources effectively, keep their skills, knowledge and ongoing professional development up to date and show an awareness of current and relevant legislation.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The pattern of study will be 4 days in the work environment, with the employer meeting the requirements of the Institute for Apprenticeships, in releasing the students for a minimum of 20% of their paid working hours for off-the-job training. One day a week will be devoted to academic teaching and learning. Periods when new work based learning take place are built into the programme. A total of 200 days of new work based learning must take place during the programme, prior to the End Point Assessment. Teaching, learning and assessment at level 4 will focus on gaining the foundational knowledge and understanding behind effective social work, which includes law and policy and working with diverse groups. At level 5 students will build on level 4 learning by developing their critical skills to analyse the evidence for social work practice across a range of settings. Level 6 will advance social work expertise as students explore solutions to more complex social work problems. Assessment will vary and include case study reflection, presentations and essays culminating in the End Point Assessment as required by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Progression will include formative assessment across the three years. This will enrich the knowledge base of the students from the beginning of the programme to completion. Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated include: Lectures Seminars Workshops Action learning groups Reflective practice Online directed learning journeys through the VLE On-line assessment tools Portfolio Practice learning reports Presentations Personal development reports Exam Observed Practice

Opportunities for work related learning

Practice learning experiences will be provided to meet the 200 days of new work based learning required for social work programmes nationally. New work based learning will be in approved environments and supported by appropriately qualified Stage 2 Practice Educators. A 'New Work Based Learning' audit will be completed for each new work based learning experience. This is supported by the Commitment Statement for LJMU Social Work Degree Apprentices. Apprentices will have the opportunity to work on practical placements relevant to contemporary social work practice. Apprentices will be allocated a work based mentor and will have monthly tutorials with their academic tutor.

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

All modules are core and must be passed in order to meet Professional Body requirements. All assessment components must be passed in order to achieve an overall pass in individual modules. Apprentices all need to complete mandatory training in Safeguarding, British Values and Prevent before they can undertake the End … For more content click the Read More button below.

Approved variance from Academic Framework Regulations

The following variances from the Academic Framework Regulations have been approved:  Social Work England require that students meet all their requirements if they are to qualify and register from programmes. Students must pass all assessments on all modules to do this (Approved 20/12/2019). There are no opportunities for semester or … For more content click the Read More button below. The Project / Dissertation module (6050SWA) at Level 6 is a 60 credit module (Approved 25/07/2023)

Entry Requirements

A levels
Alternative qualifications considered
International Baccalaureate
Other international requirements

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH15-04) health and social care