Course specification and structure
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PMSOCWRK - MSc Social Work

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Master of Science Level Masters
Possible interim awards Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, Advanced Diploma in Professional Development
Total credits for course 180
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University
School School of Social Sciences and Professions
Subject Area Social Work, Community and Youth
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Full-time 2 YEARS  
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

The course has been designed to meet the requirements of Social Work England Education and Training Standards and is accredited by Social Work England. Once you've successfully completed the course, you can then join the Social Work England register that all qualified social workers must register with to practise in England.

London Met was the 2017 “preferred provider” of the North East London (NEL) commissioning panel, which represents the Social Work Development Partnership of five local authorities. This demonstrates the excellence of teaching you can expect on our Social Work MSc.

The MSc (Hons) Social Work course at London Metropolitan University has 5 key themes which seek to reflect the current stakeholder demands and requirements for social work as follows:

  • Encouraging People with Lived Experience participation
  • Valuing diversity, promoting equality and social justice
  • Developing positive relationship–based social work practice
  • Promoting research –minded and evidence-based social work practice
  • Nurturing emotionally resilient, intelligent and confident practitioners

We are proud of this tradition and keen to build on this success and enhance our reputation with students, people with lived experience, social work practitioners, local and regional employers and other key stakeholders.

The course offers a social justice framework, emphasising empowerment, advocacy, anti-racist, anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive practice, professional activism, relationship and strengths-based practice as well as a thorough consideration of safeguarding principles and knowledge. The underpinning values and principles of the Education for Social Justice Framework are integrated within all levels of the course. The course has a focus on strengthening the infrastructure to build ‘belonging’ environments in which to learn and develop positive learning and professional identities. The course aims to provide a curriculum that broadens the learning horizons of students with an opportunity to study an optional modules within year 2. Together with increased support and initiatives for students to develop positive, dialogic relationships with the academic team where their voice and feedback is valued, this course has actively put in place strategies to begin to address and reduce the awarding gap.

People with Lived Experience colleagues have contributed to the development, design and delivery of this course in the following way/s (this list is not exhaustive):

  • Developing case studies
  • Identifying different, creative ways to share their stories
  • Co-designing and co-facilitating sessions
  • Marking presentations
  • Developing and participation in experiential learning and teaching activities
  • Developing and writing Good Practice guides for working with People with Lived Experience
  • Co-producing strategies to widen the diversity of People with Lived Experience colleagues involved in the social work courses

The course content is also informed by the Social Work Subject Benchmark Statement as defined by the QAA (2019), which informs essential practice for a Social Worker upon qualification.

The overarching standards for Social Workers in England are currently defined within the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) which has been used to develop the curriculum. These nine standards or capabilities are as follows: 1. Professionalism; 2. Values and Ethics; 3. Diversity; 4. Rights and Justice; 5. Knowledge; 6. Critical Reflection 7. Intervention and Skills 8. Contexts and Organisations 9. Professional Leadership.

These nine capabilities have been integrated across the BSc Social Work degree curriculum in terms of the content, learning outcomes, learning and teaching strategies and assessment and enhanced learning opportunities. Additionally, 30 skills days are incorporated within the taught Readiness for Direct Practice taught module as well as in a separate Schedule of Skills Days whereby students are recalled to university to consolidate and integrate their theoretical knowledge via a range of interactive workshops.

Overall, the course content ensures students are prepared to become resilient, effective and reflective practitioners and who are fit to practise in Social Work. Additionally, the course content and each module has been mapped with the Knowledge and Skills Statement for Child and Family Social Work, and the Knowledge and Skills Statement for Social Workers in Adult Services. 
 All students have access to the wide range of London Metropolitan University student support services which includes:

  • Disability and dyslexia support services
  • Counselling, Money advice and Accommodation services
  • Library and Learning Resources services
  • Careers and Employability services
  • Student Journey and Student Hub
  • Academic Tutors and Academic Mentors
  • Student Union

The learning and teaching strategies applied on the course aim to develop and consolidate student’s values, skills and knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of social work. The teaching programme provides the underpinning theoretical and practical basis for learning in the area of social work. Students’ thinking and practical skills are developed through complementary activities including lectures, seminars, workshops, group work, on-line educational resources, tutorials, assignments, preparing for and undertaking practice- based learning to acquire the requisite professional capabilities. 

Students undertake a series of taught modules in the key areas of social work. In addition, students undertake two placements of 70 days within year 1 and 100 days at year 2. Placement modules are undertaken with qualified practice educators and onsite supervision. Prior to placement students attend pre-placement workshops and during placement students are supported in their learning via dedicated a Practice Learning Agreement meeting and a Midway Review meeting with their practice educator and placement tutor. Established processes are in place to ensure the student receives a structured induction which is recorded in the practice learning agreement and that any concerns are addressed in a timely manner via The Cause for Concern procedure. Students are further supported by their Academic Tutor at the university. The placements are designed to enable students to achieve the full range in the 9 domains in the Professional Capability Framework.

Suitable placements are normally found within the London and south east area. Each placement provides contrasting experiences in terms of adults and children service user groups. At least one placement requires students to undertake statutory and legal interventions consistent with the role of a social work practitioner. All placements are quality assured prior to a student being placed there using the Quality Assurance In Practice Learning (QAPL) template developed by the Pan London Social Work Education Network.

Students are normally placed in different organisational setting in the first and then final placement.  Suitable placements are identified and approved by the University and Senior Lecturer and Placements Lead in conjunction with the Placement Co-ordinator and the Placements Office.  

The academic teaching team comprises suitably qualified and experienced university staff that are all registered as social workers with Social Work England as set out in the professional requirements for social work education.  Students are expected to complement formal teaching with guided VLE learning resources and independent self-directed learning and completion of specified assignments.  Students are encouraged to use all the resources and facilities made available by London Metropolitan University and those available within the M25 area under the SCONUL exchange Scheme.

The course also seeks to promote student’s self-awareness and self-management as well as a reflective approach to their learning with a view to the enhancement of their personal and professional development (PPDP). Students are encouraged to develop their employability attributes through reflecting on their learning from the taught and the placement modules. The portfolio components of the placement modules will support their Personal and Professional Development Planning as they will provide opportunities to evidence their practice capabilities in relation to knowledge, skills and values.

Course aims

As a student on the course you will:

  • Engage with and understand the concept of radical Social Work
  • Build on your existing knowledge, expertise and experience
  • experience an environment in which you are able to enter into constructive and ongoing dialogue with the teaching and learning staff and with with your peers.
  • have the opportunity to engage with social work practice from a range of perspectives and these will include non-eurocentric, Global South issues and debates.
  • have space to enjoy their time at the university and to broaden their horizons though the opportunity to select optional modules
  • Learn about rights, personal, community, and professional activism
  • Develop your professional identity and values of a social worker which will be underpinned by a commitment to Social Justice, anti-oppressive practice and anti-racist social work
  • Learn about theoretical knowledge, skills and values and how to apply them in practice
  • Become accountable, reflective and self-critical and critically integrate knowledge from research and theory to underpin their practice and professional development
  • Learning to demonstrate autonomy and originality in solving problems, and act independently in assessing, planning and implementing interventions at a level of professional excellence
  • Engage with people with lived experience of social work and social care services as an integral part of year learning
  • Gain a critical understanding of inter professional learning and working in multi-disciplinary teams
  • Be supported to understand and meet the Professional Standards of Social Work England and the BASW Professional Capabilities Framework as they relate to your developing practice.

Course learning outcomes

  1. Practice Social Work through the critical understanding of the principles of anti-racist social work and anti-oppressive practice.
  2. Recognise and promote the fundamental principles of human rights, social justice and economic wellbeing
  3. Work with people with lived experience of social work to challenge inequality and injustice
  4. Develop awareness of activist campaigns and political movements led by groups including for example, women, disabled people, people from Black, Asian and minoritised communities and LGBTQIA+ people.
  5. Understand the principles of co-production of services involving the sharing of power between professionals, citizens and communities to plan and deliver support together for social change
  6. Apply methods and techniques appropriate to your own research or advanced scholarship in Social Work
  7. Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences
  8. Exercise self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level
  9. Manage your own lifelong learning, knowledge, understanding and skills in relation your personal and professional development
  10. Demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible practitioners/professionals in their discipline.

Assessment strategy

The course will use a variety of teaching and learning styles and there are, in turn, reflected in the variety of assessment tools employed through the course. Within the general principle of mixed mode formative and summative assessments can be found a diversity of instruments: practical reports, reviews, presentations and essays, portfolios, practice-based presentations, observations and assessed practice.

Transferable skills have been embedded in the learning outcomes of the course modules. It includes formative assessment, so that students can test and assess their own performance before handing in or presenting work. The MSc includes a dissertation based on the student’s own area of interest but must be relevant to social work .
The team also acknowledges that the overall assessment load on social work courses can be high due to the complexity of practice that needs to be assessed against a range of professional capabilities. This has been mitigated in line with the Education for Social Justice Framework, Inclusive Assessments to ensure the assessments are varied and that the spread and load is balanced

The course assessment table sets out the volume timing and nature of summative assessments across the two years

Organised work experience, work based learning, sandwich year or year abroad

The course includes two compulsory placement modules SW7W00 Social Work Practice Learning 1 and SW7W01 Social Work Practice Learning 2 SW7W01. The University makes arrangements for pre-placement interviews for students with suitable local partner agencies. Placements are currently sourced and quality assured by the University and Senior Lecturer and Placement Lead in conjunction with the placement Co-Ordinator and the Placement Office.

Each placement is designed to meet the required 9 domains of the Professional Capability Framework and the SWE Professional Standards and KSS for Adults and KSS for Children and Families. The first placement is undertaken in year 1 currently consists of 70 days with pre-placement workshops and 30 skills based workshops – 24 provided via SW7065 and 6 spread over the course. The final Placement 2 currently consists of 100 days with pre-placement work and skills-based workshops. Students will experience placements in different organizational settings and working with different people with lived experience groups.

Students will be supported on their placement by a suitably qualified and experienced practice educator who is responsible for holistically assessing their practice against the Professional Capability Framework and all students will be allocated a placement tutor to further support and guide them during their placement. Students must pass the required modules including the first placement before proceeding to the next year of study.

All placements are evaluated as part of an established continuing improvement cycle using the Pan London Common paperwork Quality Assurance in Practice Learning template (QAPL). Students, practice educators and placement supervisors (where applicable) are asked to complete an evaluation of the placement so that further support or training can be provided to placement organisations if required and areas of good practice can be reflected upon and shared widely amongst partner agencies.

Course specific regulations

Course Regulatory schedule for Social Work Programmes
Status

This schedule forms a part of the Regulations for all Social Work programmes and should be read alongside the University’s Regulations, which govern courses and the responsibilities of students.


All University students are bound from the commencement of their course or from the point of enrolment, by all relevant Regulations, Procedures and policies.

Students enrolled on all social work programmes are governed by:

The University’s Academic Regulations which govern the standards of the University’s awards, the responsibilities of students and the formal roles played by staff in relation to admission to courses and programmes of study, assessment of student’s work and conferment of awards;

Regulations and Procedures, which govern the conduct of students, in particular, the Regulations applicable to all students in cases of Misconduct – incorporating a Code of Discipline; Fitness to Study; Fitness to Practise Social Work; and,

Responsibilities placed upon students regarding not only their conduct but also their professional suitability and Fitness to Practise, as set out in the Social Work England Professional Standards. Social Work students are expected to understand and work towards these professional standards in preparation for when they apply for registration. Students should ensure that during the course, including whilst on placement, they do not do anything that contravenes the Professional Standards or the policies and procedures of their placement provider.

All breaches of the professional standards/codes will be progressed in accordance with the Fitness to Practise Social Work Procedures or other University Regulations or Procedures as appropriate

In addition, social work students on the qualifying programmes have specific regulations governing professional practice placements that are also outlined below in the weblinks

It is the responsibility of all students to read the Social Work England Standards and the relevant University Regulations (accessed via the University’s online Student Handbook) to familiarise themselves with all responsibilities and requirements

Issues that may affect a student’s suitability to commence or continue training as a social worker

Students must familiarise themselves with the Fitness to Practise Social Work Procedures, which set down the suitability requirements and the process for reporting and investigating any breaches.

It is the responsibility of each student to bring to the attention of the Principal Lecturer for Social Work or nominated staff member, in a timely manner any matter including ill health of any kind that could be considered to have a bearing on their continued suitability for social work training. Likewise, students are required to bring to the attention of the Principal Lecturer for Social Work any matter as indicated above that could be considered to have a bearing on the suitability of another social work student

Failure to disclose any circumstance or information affecting a student’s suitability occurring prior to entry to the course or subsequent to enrolment shall be deemed a breach of the University’s Code of Discipline and shall be progressed in accordance with the Student Disciplinary procedures (see 5 and 6 above).


Exemptions and credit transfer

Students will not normally be exempted from any part of the social work programme, including the transfer of credits acquired by prior certificated learning and experiential learning due the extensive professional standards that must be met and the capabilities embedded across the whole course. For this reason, it is not normally possible to offer credit for prior learning or transfer onto a social work programme from any other programme including social work at another institution. Exceptionally students may be admitted with credit where they can demonstrate that they gained credit from study in the previous academic year as part of consecutive years of study and where the learning outcomes in their previous programme are equivalent to the learning outcomes for the modules that they aim to gain credit for.



Placement Requirements

Information on Placement Requirements can be found here:
https://bblearn.londonmet.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/pid-3344003-dt-content-rid-11741592_1/xid-11741592_1




Re-registration of module and timetabling

As far as possible, the course will be scheduled to allow modules that need to be re-registered and repeated from a previous year to be undertaken in such a way that they do not clash with the following year’s modules.




Social Work Awards

Students may pass the Social Work course with either a postgraduate diploma or MSc.

PG Dip
Social Work
Normally pass ll modules except SW7P00 and the option module.

MSc
Social Work
Normally pass all modules except the option module.


Students who are unable to pass the full requirements for a Social Work award, may be eligible for
an Applied Social Studies award

PG Cert
Applied Social Studies
Normally 60 credits from any modules except SW7W00 SW701


PG Dip


Applied Social Studies
Normally 120 credits from any modules except SW7W00 SW7W01


MSc
Applied Social Studies
Normally 180 credits from any modules except SW7W00 SW7W01. Must include SW7P00.

Students who are not able to complete all modules from the programme to achieve the required number of credits to gain a Applied Social Studies award may take modules from any subject area in the School of Social Sciences and Professions.

An aegrotat award would not provide eligibility for admission to the Social Work England Register. There shall be no aegrotat awards for containing the title Social Work.

A student may gain an Applied Social Studies award if they are not able to continue on a placement module. They will be entitled to have a further take of alternative modules, subject to standard regulations on charges for retaken modules, from the option programme, or elsewhere in the School in order to substitute for the credit failed on the placement module.


External Examiner Appointments

Responsibility for recruiting external examiners for the social work course rests with the Head of Social Work. Appointments are made via the University’s quality assurance processes. The appointed external examiner must be appropriately experienced and qualified and be from the relevant part of the Social Work England Register.

Placement Requirements can be found here:
https://bblearn.londonmet.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/pid-3344003-dt-content-rid-11741592_1/xid-11741592_1

    
Termination of training information can be found here:
https://bblearn.londonmet.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/pid-3344004-dt-content-rid-11741593_1/xid-11741593_1


Whistle-blowing & Complaints Procedures in Relation to Practice Placements can be found here:
https://bblearn.londonmet.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/pid-3344005-dt-content-rid-11741594_1/xid-11741594_1

Fitness to Practise Procedures can be found here:
https://bblearn.londonmet.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/pid-3344006-dt-content-rid-11741597_1/xid-11741597_1

Modules required for interim awards

DIAGRAM FOR POSTGRADUATE AWARD TITLES
Level
Title of available award
Requirements
PG Cert
Applied Social Studies
Normally 60 credits from any modules except SW7W00 SW7W01


PG Dip


Applied Social Studies
Normally 120 credits from any modules except SW7W00 SW7W01


PG Dip
Social Work
Normally all core modules except SW7P00


MSc
Applied Social Studies
Normally 180 credits from any modules except SW7W00 SW7W01. Must include SW7P00.

MSc
Social Work
All core modules must be passed


An aegrotat award would not provide eligibility for admission to the Social Work England Register. There shall be no aegrotat awards for containing the title Social Work.

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

The student’s Personal, Professional Development Plan (PPDP) creates an opportunity for the student to identify their overall professional goals related to the PCF and Social Work England’s Professional Standards. Students are given the PPDP at the start of the Readiness for Direct Practice Module SW7065 They also complete these during each of their professional placements.

The mid-way placement meeting is an opportunity to review the student’s PPDP. The student must have begun to complete this prior to the mid-way stage meeting by stating their goals for the end of placement. This should be shared regularly in weekly supervision in order for it to be discussed and signed by the tutor, practice educator and student during the mid-way meeting.

Before the end of the placement the PPDP should be completed and signed by the Practice Educator and Placement Tutor. The completed and signed form must be included in the placement portfolio

Other external links providing expertise and experience

Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) accreditations & exemptions

The Social Work MSc is accredited by Social Work England. You must successfully complete and pass all your assessments to register as a social worker with the organisation.

If you successfully complete all modules apart from the dissertation module, you can gain a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. This option will also allow you to join Social Work England register.

The course is also compliant with the Professional Capabilities Framework as defined by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW). Once registered with Social Work England, you’ll be eligible to join BASW, which will further boost your employability.

Career, employability and opportunities for continuing professional development

This qualification will lead to professional registration with Social Work England and typically students are employed as social workers in a variety of agencies across the public, voluntary and independent sectors, working with different client groups or services. Recent graduates have been employed in the local authority social services departments, mental health trusts, drugs and alcohol services, children’s centres among others. Graduates have the opportunity to progress to senior social worker and advanced social worker roles, team leader and managerial roles and education including practice educators with 2 years’ experience. Students who demonstrate research potential maybe encouraged to undertake doctoral studies or publish

Career opportunities

You will be qualified to practise social work (subject to the requirements of registration with Social Work England) and be eligible to become a member of the British Association of Social Workers. This is of major importance to your career as a social worker.

Because of the diverse topics taught on this course, you'll have the benefit of being able to work in multiple fields of social work.

Our graduates have taken up posts in both statutory and non-statutory settings and with different care groups. These include working with children and families, mental health settings, working with older people and supporting those with learning disabilities.

Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

  • a second class honours degree (2.2) or above
  • GCSE English Language at grade C/grade 4 or above, or Functional Skills English at Level 2 (or equivalent)
  • employers references are needed to demonstrate a minimum of 12 weeks previous experience (at the point of application) either in a paid or voluntary capacity of working directly with vulnerable people normally within a social care or health context
  • an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for the Child and Adult Workforce that's registered with the DBS Update Service

If you’re shortlisted, you'll be invited to attend an interview day. On the day, you'll undertake a test, participate in a group exercise and have an individual interview.

As part of the admissions process, you'll need to complete a criminal convictions, health and personal circumstances self-declaration check; present your original qualification certificates and your passport.

International students and English language requirements

Due to statutory requirements, we are not able to offer sponsorship under the Student visa route for this course. We will be happy to consider those falling into this category for an alternative suitable course on request. Overseas nationals may be considered for admission who already hold an alternative visa in a suitable category or have been granted permission to remain in the UK indefinitely, but please note that an additional international enhanced police check will be required.

Funding

There may be an NHS bursary available for applicants. Recommendation for the bursary is based on how well you perform in your interview and test. Find out more about the bursary.

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2013/14 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 01 Sep 2013 Last validation date 01 Sep 2013  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes L500 (Social Work): 100%
Route code SOCWRK

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 07 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SW7062 Applied Law for Social Work Core 40 NORTH AUT+SPR MON PM
SW7063 Social Work Theories and Perspectives Core 20 NORTH AUT THU AM
SW7064 Assessment Planning and Professional Ethics Core 20 NORTH AUT THU PM
SW7065 Readiness for Direct Practice Core 40 NORTH AUT FRI AM
          NORTH AUT FRI AM
          NORTH AUT FRI AM
          NORTH AUT FRI AM&PM
SW7066 Development across the lifespan for Social Work Core 20 NORTH SPR MON AM
SW7W00 Social Work Practice Learning 1 - First placement Core 0 NORTH SPR MULT  

Stage 1 Level 07 January start Not currently offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SW7062 Applied Law for Social Work Core 40        
SW7063 Social Work Theories and Perspectives Core 20        
SW7064 Assessment Planning and Professional Ethics Core 20        
SW7065 Readiness for Direct Practice Core 40        
SW7066 Development across the lifespan for Social Work Core 20        
SW7W00 Social Work Practice Learning 1 - First placement Core 0        

Stage 2 Level 07 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SW7P00 Research Mindedness for Practice Core 60 NORTH AUT+SPR MON AM
SW7W01 Social Work Practice Learning 2 - Second placement Core 0 NORTH AUT+SPR MULT  
EL0000 Elective Option 20 NORTH AUT NA  
          NORTH SUM NA  
          NORTH SPR NA