Social Work Courses

You can study Social Work at either the Leeds Beckett University or the University of Leeds. Both have an excellent reputation in Social Work education and offer undergraduate and post-graduate Social Work Degrees.

Leeds Beckett University

Leeds Beckett University can be traced back to 1834 with the founding of the Mechanics Institute.  Since then, a number of colleges and institutes were brought together in 1970 under one name: Leeds Polytechnic, which has evolved into what is now, Leeds Beckett University. The university’s aim is to offer a high-quality education and student experience.

We build strong relationships with employers, professional bodies, and community organisations to ensure our education and research is contemporary, rich, and relevant, and enables our graduates to make an immediate and effective contribution to society today, and throughout their careers. We are united by shared beliefs in academic and creative freedom and in the powerful, positive difference education makes to the people, organisations, and communities we serve. 

Leeds Beckett University provides social work education and training for motivated individuals who are interested in a career in social work and for experienced Social Workers who want to refine their specialist knowledge and skills. 

Courses Offered 

BA (Hons) Social Work, MA Social Work,  Social Worker, Degree Apprenticeship, Mental Health Practice PG Certificate, and a suite of accredited and non-accredited CPD Modules. 

The BA (Hons) Social Work, MA Social Work and PG Certificate in Mental Health Practice (incorporating the Approved Mental Health Professional training) are all approved by Social Work England, enabling professional accreditation on successful completion. In May 2022 Social Work England successfully reapproved the BA and MA social Work qualifying courses without conditions. 

 Social Work Education 

Social work education is located in the School of Health, whose aim is to make a difference to the health and wellbeing of communities and individuals. All the research and teaching contributes to this commitment, and the multi-disciplinary nature of the school encourages inter-disciplinary learning and supports multi-agency working. 

 Research 

Most staff within the social work team are registered Social Workers and are engaged in research or writing for publication. The team is research active, with several members of staff undertaking doctoral research within key areas such as emotional resilience, participation of children and young people in child protection, working with fathers and adoption and ethnicity. 

Professor Sharon Vincent joined Leeds Beckett University in March 2023 and has been undertaking research in child welfare and protection for over 20 years. Her work has informed local and national policy and practice. Particular areas of expertise include child death review processes and prevention of child deaths from abuse and neglect. Also, research and evaluation of programmes which aim to improve support for children, young people, and their families, encouraging social work students and practitioners to undertake research and embed research into practice. 

 Facilities 

Specialist facilities such as communication suites, a mock court room and simulated housing and hospital environments enable students and practitioners to apply their expertise and develop their practical skills safely and with guidance from expert tutors. 

 Our library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year, providing students with access to specialist books and journals, learning spaces, computers, multimedia facilities and media equipment hire. Furthermore, tens of thousands of our library’s digital resources, including eBooks, ejournals and databases, can be accessed online. 

From values and ethics to more practical things like assessing and care planning, my degree prepared me for any field of social care. I was able to hit the ground running and make confident decisions that help improve people’s lives.”
BA (Hons) Social Work, Leeds Beckett University 

 BA (Hons) Social Work, MA Social Work, Mental Health practice PG Certificate

The BA (Hons) Social Work, MA Social Work and PG Certificate in Mental Health Practice (incorporating the Approved Mental Health Professional training) are all approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), enabling professional accreditation on successful completion.  The HCPC commended these courses for the involvement of service users and carers in the teaching and assessment of social work students.

Social Work Education

Social Work education is located in the School of Health and Community Studies, whose aim is to make a difference to the health and wellbeing of communities and individuals. All of the research and teaching contributes to this commitment and the multi-disciplinary nature of the School encourages inter-disciplinary learning and supports multi-agency working.

All staff within the Social Work team are registered Social Workers and are engaged in research or writing for publication. The team is research active, with several members of staff undertaking doctoral research within key areas such as emotional resilience, participation of children and young people in child protection, working with fathers and adoption and ethnicity.

Professor Nick Frost undertakes international research in areas of childhood, multi-disciplinary work, family support and safeguarding and he currently serves as the independent Chair of a Local Safeguarding Children Board.

University of Leeds

Ranked in the top 100 universities in the world, the University of Leeds is a Russell Group University. Our quality of teaching is rated as ‘Gold Standard’ in the latest TEF framework, and research-informed learning produces highly respected, employable graduates. Our rate of employment after graduation currently stands at 100%. 

Our Social Work programmes are innovative, challenging and rewarding. We have state of the art facilities including our own on-campus flat for community practice, hospital wards and virtual environments for court and scenario practice. Our experienced lecturers share their latest knowledge, practice skills and first-hand research, so you can learn at the cutting-edge of social work. 

Adam Boyes (programme lead) is interested in educational innovation, technology and blended learning and looks at how technology can aid our students to learn and better prepare them for their careers. 

Robin Graham comes from a recent adult social work background, also with experience in the voluntary sector. His interests lie in strength-based approaches, relationship-based practice and hoarding, and he is the BA Admissions Tutor.  

Iain Moody has worked within both the voluntary and statutory sectors. He has been involved in social work education, initially as a local authority trainer, then at the University for nearly twenty years. His research focuses on the design and evaluation of social work simulations. He has worked closely with social work practitioners in facilitating a broad range of tasks to support students in their transition into practice and these are a feature of the current social work courses. 

Ged McGurn has a professional social work background, working with care management teams, especially transitions to adulthood and Learning Disability. His research interests are national and international approaches to child to adult transition and improving outcomes for social work students with additional needs. 

Hedwig Verhagen has a background in adoption and kinship care services in the statutory and voluntary sector, with ongoing practice in therapeutic social work. Her interests include trauma-informed practice, first parent experiences, neurodiversity and child-to-parent violence and aggression.   

 Kirsteen Laidlaw has been working in the social care and social work fields for her entire working life and moved to social work education over ten years ago. Kirsteen has a strong interest in intersectionality and how this impacts student and placement experiences. As well as facilitating the Transnational Social Work Education Research Group, Kirsteen’s other research interests are focused on the field of Young People, co-production approaches in research and in decolonizing knowledge production. 

Courses offered 

BA Social Work Programme 

The BA Social Work three-year programme provides the skills and knowledge necessary to become a Social Worker. 

Year One:

You will look at social work theories across the life course, including the broader influence of sociology, psychology and social policy. Modules consider social work practice and the related fields of psychology and sociology. You will learn about the legislative framework that underpins social work and there is a voluntary sector 20-day work experience, as well as 2 days shadowing a Social Worker in practice. 

Year Two: 

You will look at the context and theories for both child and adult social work. You will study decision making in inter-professional contexts. You will continue to develop your understanding of the law related to social work, study research methods, and complete a 70-day placement. In both the second and third year, teaching is split around placement which helps support you in linking theory to practice. 

Year Three: 

Students consider both children and family social work and working with adults. You will complete a 100-day placement in a social work setting. You will also complete an online module while on placement focusing on Social Work and technology. You will complete a research project allowing you to critically review the literature in relation to an area of social work practice and apply this to a case study, to a particular part of your practice placement.

 You will use innovative teaching tools; video case studies, a skills room and mock wards to facilitate home and working environments to simulate authentic assessments, plus interactive online tools and video skills. All this will support your learning throughout the programme.

“I knew Leeds was the place for me as staff were so knowledgeable and down to earth. I wanted to do something that would make a difference, so I decided to go for it, and I am so pleased I did! The highlight of my course was meeting such a diverse group of people who had a similar value base as me. 

The support from staff was amazing and my studies really gave me the confidence in myself and my own abilities. I would recommend the University of Leeds to others without a doubt. It’s been the best thing I have ever done”. 

Social Work Students, University of Leeds 

How to apply

Applications to the BA and MA social work courses at both University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett are made via UCAS and our selection process consists of 3-stages, including an interview, group discussion and a written exercise involving academics, practitioners and service users.

We welcome people who have relevant social care experience and are able to demonstrate an understanding of the Social Work profession. You will need to relate your experience to the contemporary setting in which Social Workers operate.

For more information please see the useful links below:

University of Leeds

Telephone: 0113 3431347

Email: Admissions@healthcare.ac.uk

Website: https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/h810/social-work-ba and https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/h973/social-work-ma

 

Leeds Beckett University

Telephone: 0113 812 3113

Email: admissionsenquiries@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Website: http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/school-of-health-and-community-studies/social-work/

 

Leeds and Wakefield Teaching Partnership

Email: leedswakefieldteachingpartnership@leeds.gov.uk

Twitter: @LWSocialWork

 

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