Access to Social Welfare/Social Work

Course Overview

The Access to Social Welfare / Social Work course is a successful programme that prepares mature students or career changers for either the world of work or Higher Education (vocational or academic.)

The course contains study skill units to develop skills as well as academically based study to prepare students for Higher Education. The course supports students through the UCAS application system for entry into Higher Education institutions throughout the UK and Northern Ireland.

These units aid students in preparation for Higher Education:

Essential access study skills
Study skills for success
Communication - spoken and written
Numeracy
Sociology
Social policy
Law and legislation
Social work law
Psychology
Research proposal
Research project
Oral presentation
Information technology
Work experience unit / reflection

Duration:One year | Qualification: AGORED | Level: Level 3

Delivery

The course is assessed using examinations, essays, presentations, seminars, reports and in-class timed assessments.

Students are expected to have work placements (250 hours approx. For those wishing to apply for social work with a variety of work placements needed, for example with children, with older adults, young people and families etc).

The course is delivered using lectures and guest speakers, as well as informal question and answer sessions to support students with their progress. The full time course has 14.5 hours a week of study over three days. One hour a week is given to tutorial time to support learners in UCAS applications, interview techniques and pastoral care.

Requirements

With the demands of this Level 3 programme and the need to achieve students are expected to complete successfully the Pre-Access programme which is available from January until May of the academic year. However if this is not possible arrangements for an in-class assessment can be made to enable the student to gain a place.

Students will need to demonstrate on interview a genuine interest in people, a positive attitude, the need to do well and a commitment and enthusiasm for study. Students need to be reliable, honest, trustworthy, well motivated and have integrity.

Students should be mature applicants with clear evidence of life experience.

Progression

Students will be able to progress to university from this course to study - social work, youth work, criminology, social policy, community studies, psychology, social sciences etc.

Students have also progressed on to a teaching degree. Many students gain employment from this programme including as a teaching assistant.

Additional Information

Students, if not currently employed within the social care field, will be expected to gain work experience suitable to the progression route they have chosen, students are also given the opportunity to visit local HE institutions throughout West Wales to meet the admission teams with a small cost to cover travel.

Contact:Faculty Office on 01792 284227 (Tycoch) or Tracey Jones on 01792 890700 (Gorseinon)