School of Health Professions interview days - social work

Interview days
School of Health Professions interview days - social work

This page contains all of the information you require prior to your interview for prospective undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Please note all applicant interviews will now take place by Skype or Zoom. If you have already booked an interview with us, please be assured we will be in contact to offer an alternative arrangement. Our Admissions Team is here to support you and answer any questions you may have.

You can give us a call on +44(0)1752 585858 or drop us an email at healthinterviews@plymouth.ac.uk

Please ensure you have a form of photo identification with you on your Zoom interview, such as a passport or driving license. We will not be able to complete your interview without this.

Message from the Admissions Tutor

Congratulations on being invited to interview for our BA (Hons) Social Work programme. On this page, we have provided information regarding the tasks we would like you to complete in advance. It is vital that you are prepared and are able to talk about these tasks when you meet us.

During the interview day, we will:

  • Help you to give the best account of your skills, experience and character. This enables us to decide if you will thrive in the University of Plymouth's culture.
  • Explain more about the University, the School of Health Professions and your programme.
  • Enable you to understand as much as you can about the way we work with our students and what it means to become a University of Plymouth student social worker, to develop into a healthcare professional graduate.

The University of Plymouth is required to select applicants using a ‘values based’ approach for pre-registration health and social work professions programmes. This is to ensure we recruit the right students with the right values for the delivery of excellent social work practice to service users and carers. All aspects of the interview will be aligned with the core values of Social Works’ professional codes and frameworks:

Please ensure you read the interview pre-work below carefully as this provides information on what you need to do before attending your interview and what you need to bring with you on the day.

We look forward to meeting you at your interview and if you should need any help or assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best wishes,

Margaret Jelley
Admissions Tutor for BA (Hons) Social Work and Lecturer in Social Work
School of Health Professions

Interview pre-work

The following preparation should be completed if you have been invited to interview for the BA (Hons) Social Work programme:

You must get a referee to complete the second reference form and email this to us

For all interviews, we advise you to think about the reasons why you want to study the course you have applied for or your chosen career path.

We suggest that you do some reading and research in advance in regards to the topic ‘what is the role of social workers in modern society?’ Suggested reading includes:

  • Thompson, N. (2016) The Professional Social Worker: meeting the challenge. Palgrave MacMillian.
  • www.communitycare.co.uk. This website discusses current social work issues.
  • The Guardian newspaper ‘society section’.

We advise you to think about your personal commitment to the Social Work core values mentioned above.

Take a detailed look at the University of Plymouth’s website, as well as the professional and regulatory body website for social workers, which will provide you with details and links for preparing your application and how to succeed in your interview.


For your online interview please ensure you have with you:

  • A form of photo identification such as your passport or driving license. We will not be able to complete your interview without this
  • Pen and paper should you wish to make notes
Your allocated Zoom interview session will last for no more than 30 minutes. You do not need to create an account to use this software. You will receive a Zoom link via email from your interviewer, where possible within 24 hours prior to your interview.

After your interview

The decision to offer places is based on your performance in all the above alongside both your references and original application.

If you are successful at interview and are made a conditional offer, as part of your offer you will need to complete a DBS and Occupational Health check. If you do not pass these checks satisfactorily, you will not be able to start a course with us. For more information on how to complete these checks, please visit our Health and Human Sciences- additional checks page.

Offer Holder Days

If you are offered a place with us you will be invited to one of our Offer Holder Days to give you the opportunity to learn more about the university.


FAQs

How do I book my interview?

Upon successful submission of your application, you will be sent an email with a unique link to our online booking system. You can use our online system to select an interview date that best suits your availability.

If you have not received this email, please be sure to check your junk or clutter folders.

What if I need to reschedule my interview after I have booked onto one?

You can change, move or reschedule your interview at any stage using the online booking system. If you are unable to attend any of the dates shown, then please do email healthinterviews@plymouth.ac.uk or call +44 1752 585858.

What if I have applied for more than one programme?

If you have applied for more than programme listed, you will require an additional interview for the other course, to establish if you are suitable for that programme.

What happens after my interview?

If you are successful at interview, your offer will be conditional on meeting the academic requirements for the course, satisfactory health and DBS checks. For further information, please visit the Health and Care Professions Council’s website.

Please make sure you download all of the non-academic requirements documents listed below.

Non-academic requirements documents