MA PG Dip Social Work

Applicants require:

• 2:1 (or above) honours degree in any subject.
• Grade C/4 in GCSE Maths and English Language.  We will also consider Level 2 equivalent qualifications in Maths, but please note we are unable to consider Level 2 equivalent qualifications for English Language.
• IT competence.
• A minimum of 200 hours’ social care work experience on a voluntary or paid basis.

https://www1.chester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/postgraduate-finance/current-postgraduate-fees

On completion of the course you will be eligible to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for social work registration.

Registered social workers are able to practice in a wide variety of settings.

Programme Structure:

Year 1

Applied Sociology and Social policy

This module will enable students to identity, analyse and apply the key values underpinning social work practice in the context of anti-discrimination and anti-oppressive practice, and how in future practice this knowledge can be used in the context of responding to individual rights and advocacy, thereby providing  a foundation basis of knowledge for students to apply in all subsequent modules. The module outlines the wider socio-political context of practice in relation to social policy initiatives, social divisions and the social construction of social work, and contemporary policy initiatives and their associated ideologies will be explored.

Social Work Law and Ethics

The aims of this module are for students to understand the legal and policy context of social work practice in relation to for example, asylum seekers, domestic violence, mental health, community care, and children and families. The module will also endeavour to build the skills students will use when gathering evidence in legal cases, in the court room and when writing court reports.

Readiness for Direct Practice

This module will enable students to develop an understanding of the professional social work role and its responsibilities, conflicts, boundaries and ethics, and their impact on practice and delivery. Students will develop a range of skills in order to function effectively in their communication with service users and colleagues in an organisational setting, and provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for direct practice outlined in the PCF Readiness for Practice Capabilities Framework.

Human Growth and Development

This module will enable students to understand the life course perspectives on human growth and development; the life stages/transitions and the factors that influence individual pathways, strengths and resilience/vulnerability and adversity in order to relate in order to relate to and inform social work practice. This module therefore provides a foundation basis of knowledge for students to apply to their own growth and development experiences; and in all subsequent modules and areas of practice.

Placement 1 (70 days)

The module will enable the student to demonstrate capacity to work with people in a placement organisation setting, and engage with service users in situations where there may not be simple clear-cut solutions. Students with support from supervision will be enabled to apply the theoretical knowledge, skills and values from previous module learning and teaching to their practice. Students will be provided with an opportunity to experience the responsibility of meeting service users’ and carers’ needs, and to demonstrate social work values and anti-oppressive social work practice, and to achieve the PCF End of First Placement Level Capabilities.

Year 2

Social work practice with Adults

Social work practice with adults is a complex activity involving a range of competing priorities. Practitioners are required to promote self-determination and autonomy whilst managing risk and protecting service users from harm. The aim of the module is to develop the students’ understanding of the different needs of adult service users, within a variety of different service delivery and organisational contexts, and to consider a range of interventions that can lead to positive outcomes. The focus of the module is on the process of assessment, working systemically, planning and intervention with service users and carers from a diverse range of backgrounds and communities, and to help students to develop their critical analytical and reasoning skills.

Social work practice with children and families

Social work practice with children and families inevitably involves uncertainty, ambiguity and fallibility. Practitioners have to walk a tightrope, balancing the privacy of the family and the conflicting rights of individuals in order to minimise the harm to children and to maximise their welfare. This module aims to prepare students for direct social practice with children and families. As child and family social work, and specifically child protection social work practice, is intellectually and emotionally challenging, the module aims to help students to develop critical analytical and reasoning skills, formal knowledge and an ethical child-centred approach when working with families.

Research Methods

The aims of this module are for students to develop knowledge and apply research methods in the context of social work practice with service users, carers and families. This module will outline the key principles of and its relationship to the context of evidence-based practice interventions. Students will develop an understanding into the different ways in which research can be carried out (methodology) as well as considering the philosophical traditions underpinning research. More importantly, this module will develop critical analysis and reflexivity in the context of social work knowledge and research paradigms.

Placement 2 (100 days)

This module will enable students to demonstrate their capacity to undertake complex work involving statutory/legal interventions, to demonstrate their ability to work directly with service users/carers in complex situations. With support from supervision students will be enabled  to apply the theoretical knowledge, skills and values from previous placement and module learning to their practice, and to achieve the PCF Qualifying Social Worker Level Capabilities and HCPC Standards of Proficiency.