PgDip Social Work

Social workers support people experiencing difficult times of change and circumstances, by offering guidance and acting as an advocate for people who are vulnerable. Specialising in supporting children, adults, or adults with a range of issues, they use social care legislation to improve outcomes in people’s lives and safeguard their rights.

Social workers offer support to a wide range of people.

• Safe environment 
  Social workers offer support to provide a safe environment for families to thrive.

• Adoption 
  Social workers support the adoption process again to create safe and happy environments.

• Voices are heard 
  Social workers ensure children’s voices are heard and listened to especially if they have disabilities or are vulnerable.

• Societal and personal issues 
  Social workers support adults who may be dealing with issues related to homelessness, addiction, and maintaining good mental health. They also help clients to live independently and safely.

• People’s rights 
  Social workers champion people’s rights to ensure they are being respected and valued.

Social workers work with people of all ages, from the very start of life to the end. As a result, some difficulties may be more prevalent in certain age or service user groups than others. Some of the clients you might see include:

• older people
• children and families
• young people who may have been involved in criminal activity, for example county lines
• people with substance misuse such as drugs and/or alcohol
• people who are homeless
• people experiencing poor mental health
• children and adults with disabilities

• Get a head start – on successful completion of the course you can apply to become a registered social worker.

• Benefit from the expertise of our network of partner agencies across the social work spectrum, learning from professionals to develop your skills.

• Enhance your career options – six months after finishing the course, 95% of our graduates are in work or further study (source: 2019 DLHE survey).

• Gather insights and develop a real understanding of social work through our highly commended approach to integrated learning.

• Build your hands-on knowledge and experience on an excellent variety of placements, working in real-life adult and childcare settings in both years.

• From 2023, students in Plymouth can train and practice their professional healthcare skills in an inspiring purpose-built environment, InterCity Place.
  

• Engage with real service users and carers at every stage of your learning, so you graduate primed to put effective strategies to use in the workplace.

• Learn about the increasing influence of global issues on social work and be inspired by staff who are leading the way in international social work.

• Develop as a professional – equip yourself with the skills to be a reflective and ethical practitioner, committed to lifelong learning.

• Year 1

• Over the course of the programme you will cover the fundamental knowledge needed for social work focusing upon social policy and law, ethics and values, contemporary theory and professional practice. In doing so you will be learning how to apply ethical and theoretical perspectives to human development, understanding social sciences in a social work setting and getting to grips with applying legal and social policy in the context of welfare. Exploring issues of diversity and difference, reflecting on real-life issues that impact service users and carers, and develop your skills in collaborative working making connections between local and global issues. Learn how to analyse complex issues, and apply your knowledge and skills to resolve them. Gain a critical perspective on complex, uncertain and changing contexts in social work, further your skills working in multi-agency settings and develop your understanding of the international arena.

  In developing your professional practice you will engage in 30 skills days in preparation for practice, followed by 170 days of practice learning; 70 days in the first year and 100 in the final year in contrasting placements. In your final year, you’ll consolidate your learning, working towards becoming a safe, competent, ethical practitioner who demonstrates sound professional judgement.

  The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

  
  

  Core modules

  • Social Policy and Law (SW701)

    The module provides students with up-to date knowledge and critical understanding of the law and social policy relevant to professional social work in the UK and explores how to use this knowledge and understanding in work with vulnerable people with diverse need

  • Professional Practice (SW702)

    The module examines contemporary social work practices including undertaking of child observation sessions, group presentations, narrative sessions conducted by the Service User/Carer Consultative Group, and an interactive course in advanced communication skills. Lecturers and guest lecturers cover an array of topics including, Critical Reflection and Critical Analysis, Safeguarding, Signs and Symptoms of Abuse, Human Growth and Development, Attachment Theory, Mental Health, Assessment Processes, Ecological Theory, Task Centred Practice, Motivational Interviewing, Drug and Alcohol misuse, Crisis management and Global Social Work.

  • Contemporary Social Work Theories and Issues (SW703)

    This module critically examines contemporary theories and social issues that are helpful in understanding the behaviour and/or functioning of individuals and communities most relevant to social work practice. Students are expected to examine their own relationship to these issues and develop the skills of theorisation as expected at a graduate level

  • Ethics and Values for Social Workers (SW704)

    The interrelationship between theory, practice and core values is presented as critical in the delivery of care. Account is taken of transcendent basic humanitarian principles in social work. Major social philosophies and virtue ethics underpinning care are considered and the moral dilemmas arising from conflicts between personal, professional and organisational norms.

  • Integrated Practice I (SW705)

    This module will enable students to develop their professional identity through the integration of theory, methods, skills, knowledge and values within practice. Combining classroom and practice based learning and opportunities it will provide students with a repertoire of critical knowledge, skills, evidenced based and informed responses and interventions congruent with working with people and situations across a plethora of society

• Final year

• Core modules

  • Integrated Practice II (SW706)

    The module enables students to consolidate their professional identity through integration of theory, methods, skills and values in practice. Teaching and practice learning provide students with a repertoire of evidenced informed responses congruent with complex practice situations. The module seeks to prepare students for the socio-legal and procedural aspects of statutory social work.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

PgDip Social Work Programme Specification 22-23 7399

You should have a lower second-class (2:2) undergraduate honours degree or above.

Your undergraduate degree can be in any subject. You must have GCSE 4/C for Mathematics and English or above.

A minimum of twelve months’ experience working with vulnerable or disadvantaged people in a social welfare capacity/setting (statutory, voluntary or independent sector, waged, unwaged or part-time, in the UK or overseas).

Extended entry requirements

• In addition to the above, evidence of academic study within the last five years is required.
• You must pass disclosure and barring service and occupational health checks satisfactorily in order to be able to start this course.
• If English is not your first language and you do not have GCSE English grade 4/C or above you will have to achieve an IELTS or equivalent qualification at the grades stated below.
• IELTS – 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all elements (if you need to improve your English language to get onto a degree course at University of Plymouth, you can book a pre-sessional academic English course)
• Meeting the academic minimum is the first stage of an application being considered. Applicants must also submit a strong personal statement in order to be considered further.
• English language requirements