Becoming a Social Worker

Author: Lucy Debenham BA (hons) - Updated: 11 September 2014 |  Comment

Social workers should be viewed as extremely valuable employees as far as local

communities and society in general are concerned. A social worker is responsible for
working with people of all ages who are in some way socially excluded, vulnerable or
undergoing some level of crisis.

A Social Worker's Role

The role and duties of a social worker are broad and varied, but generally include the
provision of guidance and support, in order to enable service users (the people they help)
to eventually support themselves as much as possible. Social workers are employed in a
variety of environments, with some working in schools, local education authorities and
hospitals, and others working within voluntary organisations or in an individual's own
home.

Social work can be a stressful career, you need to be well organised as there is a
significant level of administrative work - and time management skills are crucial. A social
worker is expected to assess, review and maintain records of specific cases, all within
certain timeframes whilst achieving set standards of care and providing service users and
their families with the help they need.

Personality Types
The ideal social worker will be caring by nature, with an ability to empathise and
communicate with those around them, particularly those who may be hard to deal with,
such as the vulnerable and disaffected in society. You'll need to be fairly tough to cope
with all this and you will also be up against many other organisations in trying to achieve
the necessary help for those you are supporting.

Studies undertaken by the British Association of Social Workers illustrate the high
caseloads and stress levels experienced by many social workers. Here's what they found:
What Qualifications Do I Need?
To become a social worker, you will need a social work degree. The degree course takes
3 years to complete in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - and 4 years in Scotland.
Before being accepted onto a social work degree course, you will need to demonstrate
that you understand what social work is about and have had some kind of experience in
social work or social care.

Your previous experience could be paid work experience in a related field such as a carer
or it could be voluntary experience within a care or social work setting. It will help you to
assess your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as providing an understanding of just
what sort of work is involved in a career as a social worker.

Demand for social work degree places is extremely high so the better your grades and the
quality of your relevant experience, the more chance you will have of gaining a place. To
get a place on a social work degree course in England you will need:

 A minimum of 5 GCSE's at grade A* to C - two of these MUST be English and

Maths
 You will also need a minimum of 2 A levels
At some universities this requirement can be higher. You will need to check the
requirements at the university of your choice.

In Scotland, you will need at least 4 Highers and in Northern Ireland a minimum of 3 B-
Grade A-levels.

Can I Study While I am Working?

If you do not want to give up your paid job, you can undertake the social work degree on a
part time basis. You will still need:

 To have the relevant entry requirements

 To complete all the modules within the course
  To be able to complete the 200 day practice placement

The previous qualifications necessary to become a social worker were the Certificate in
Social Service (CSS), the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW) and Diploma
in Social Work (DipSW). These are still recognised qualifications for those returning to the
workplace, but all new social work students will now need to undertake the academic
degree with integrated work placements.

Is There Much Demand for Social Workers?

Whilst periodic public sector cuts will impact spending on social services, there will always
be a need for social workers. Many charities, particularly those involved with protecting
children, the elderly and the vulnerable, also employ qualified social workers. The BASW
study of 2010 demonstrated the shortage of social work staff:

Transferable Skills
If you're already in a career, there are some Transferable Skills that you could you can
draw on as a social worker:

 Problem-solving skills
 Communication (particularly listening) skills
 Organisational and time-management skills
 Mediation skills

Knowledge and understanding of the law and legal procedures will be important as a
social worker and while this will be covered in training, any previous experience will be a
bonus. Bear in mind that whatever skills you have, you will still need to complete the
academic course and placements.

Society Sectors that Social Workers Help

Social workers can be brought in to help find support for many difference sectors of
society. Typically they deal with:

 The elderly particularly those who are becoming vulnerable through dementia or
frailty
 Vulnerable children/children at risk
 Children with disabilities and adults with learning disabilities
 Teenagers with mental health problems
  Young offenders
 People with alcohol or other addictions
 Refugees and asylum seekers
 Socially excluded people
Career Development and Salary
As you progress through your career you will receive ongoing training. All social workers in
the UK, register with the Care Council and will need to re-register with them every 3 years,
completing any necessary re-registration training in order to do so. Career development in
social work tends to veer towards developing a specialism, for instance working with the
elderly, in the foster care system, or with drug abusers etc. Through additional training
there are also opportunities to enter more managerial and team leader positions, or even
as a teacher, lecturer or political consultant.

A social worker's salary will depend on experience and qualifications. Generally however,
a social worker can earn from £20,000 up to £40,000. Management roles will earn you up
to £60,000, with senior management roles earning beyond £70,000 for a 37 hour week.

Working in social care can be extremely challenging, stressful and heavy workloads are
common. However often the emotional rewards and contributions made to individuals,
communities and society can outweigh the stresses and strains.

The Next Step?

The idea of returning to study or training to become a social worker (especially if it's a
while since you left college), can be daunting at first, but you can do it! Have a look
through Returning to University to find out what is involved.

[Comments]
HiI have no qualifications enabling me to get on a course,(I'm 47) but have been doing
independent travel training with children and young adults with learning difficulties for a
while.i have also had to deal with bringing up to children as a single father due to a partner
with mental health issues,I would like to become a social worker but how would I go about
it thanks.
Way - 11-Sep-14 @ 10:46 AM
@Em. Hope our answer to @trace helped you too.
ACareerChange - 4-Sep-14 @ 10:25 AM
@elz23. Most post graduate social work course require you to have completed a 'relevant'
undergraduate degree. You would have to contact universities directly for more details of
their specific requirements. You may be able to gain experience as part of a post grad
course (unpaid) and should also be able to prove that you have already undertaken work
to gain experience in a social work related field(paid or voluntary).
ACareerChange - 3-Sep-14 @ 1:42 PM
Trace im in exactly the same boat as you I've read that much online about where to start
and what I would need my head is mashed lol and im still no wiser.
Em - 3-Sep-14 @ 12:43 PM
Hello. Iv just graduated with a 2.1 in primary education. Im currently unemployed and
confused on which career path to choose. I have been thinking about social work for a
while. Is my teaching degree a good thing to have regarding the post grad course in social
work and is it in my favour regarding social work experience before hand? Can I
specifically look into working with children? What is the best way to gain experience and
still get paid? Iv been looking into assistant social worker. Thanks in advance
elz23 - 2-Sep-14 @ 7:03 PM
@Suki. You would probably have to become and undergraduate as it's unlikely a post grad
placement would be available with your current degree topic. You'd have to be able to
demonstrate that you have done some relevant work (paid or voluntary) in a 'caring'
capacity. An educational establishment may want to be sure that your academic
qualification is appropriate and may ask you to sit additional tests to verify this. Bear in
mind, social work courses are extremely popular and demand is high, so there is no
guarantee of a place even if you have the relevant entry requirements.
ACareerChange - 1-Sep-14 @ 11:30 AM
I would caution anyone thinking of entering social work in the current climate. Most roles
previously carried out by qualified social workers are now carried out by unqualified, low
paid workers despite the clear risks to the general public. Furthermore, most social
workers are now supervised by managers with no social work experience meaning that
your professional development and the quality of the work you do will be neglected...my
last manager was from an IT management background! High end safeguarding and
Deprivation of Liberty cases are the only roles that social workers will be carrying out in
future meaning that new workers are thrown in at the deep end once they qualify...drop out
rates are high and rising. Where local authorities are employing qualified workers they do
not want newly qualified workers as they would be obliged to support that worker through
their first Assessed year in practice. Standards are falling fast and most local authorities no
longer value the profession...why employ a qualified worker when you could employ 2
unqualified workers to do the job for the same price? The situation is unlikely to improve
anytime soon even if Labour win the next general election.
StevieG - 31-Aug-14 @ 3:39 PM
I have a 2:1 BA Hons degree in Public Administration with over twenty years experience in
recruitment consultancy and wondered if I would qualify for a post grad course in social
work or equivalent...? Thank you ..
Suki - 29-Aug-14 @ 2:38 PM
@trace. To become a social worker you do need to have completed a social work degree.
To access the course you will need to prove that you are academically capable etc. Speak
to your local college of further education to see if there are any courses that will help you
access a degree course in due time.
ACareerChange - 29-Aug-14 @ 2:25 PM
Hi I am 31 I have always been in the care sector since the age of 18. I am very interested
in taking my skills further and becoming a social worker . I do no how to go about where yo
stArt on this. I got bad grades at school . Over the past 5 years I have been very involved
with social workers with working as a care co ordinator and I am very interested in taking
on a new job change of a challenge can someone please help on where to start Thank you
Trace - 28-Aug-14 @ 11:16 PM
I was just wondering what I would need to do to become a social worker.. I have
foundation degree in interior design i want to change my field to social work. Do i need to
do diploma to get into uni?
ridz - 28-Aug-14 @ 4:06 PM
This is what you can do when you become a social worker: http://wp.me/P1Nj7d-33E The
pleasure of the job makes all the hard work qualifying worthwhile!
Grandma B - 23-Aug-14 @ 3:29 PM
l have afirst degree in Microbiology in Nigeria. i am presently in the UK and interested in
Social work what are the pathways to get into it. i do not have any working experience in
social work. Thnks
kemi - 13-Aug-14 @ 1:08 PM
@Charley. You would be expected to fund this in the same way as if you were a 'young'
student ie through the student loans system. A limited number of bursaries are given to
undergraduates and postgraduates each year however, so it would be worth looking into
that. Here is where you'll find more information on social work bursaries.
ACareerChange - 4-Aug-14 @ 12:01 PM
Hi I am interested in becoming a social worker, I have a combined hons degree 2.2 in
English with History I also have a P.G.C.E. and have previously taught at primary level.I
wonder what finance is available to me I don't really want to borrow as I am a mature
student and by the time I've finished I will be in my 50s.I have 4 children and a partner who
is in employment.thank-you
Charley - 31-Jul-14 @ 9:39 PM
@Minx. Thanks for sharing, it's great to hear from people with direct experience of social
work.
ACareerChange - 30-Jul-14 @ 12:08 PM
Hello For those of you with BAs or BScs the post graduate route would probably be the
best to take.I think it is likely that you would need a 2.1 degree classification and some
experience in a related area to be accepted on to a post grad course. I am a qualifed
social worker.I qualified with a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Social Studies and
Diploma in Social Work in 2006.To be accepted on to the course I was required to have a
2.1 Bachelors degree and some experience in a related area. Fortunately I had the
required grade of degree and about 15 years of experience working for the Citizens Advice
Bureau (CAB).When I qualified my first job was actually in an unqualified social work role
within a social work team but it gave me loads of experience and I gained alot of
knowledge.After 18 months of experience in my first job I got a qualified role in a CMHT.
Social Work is a very challenging profession to be in.You have to have lots of energy, be
focused, committed and motivated as well as highly organised but, it is also a very
interesting line of work and can be very rewarding.Good luck to all of you - whatever you
decide to do.
Minx - 29-Jul-14 @ 8:08 PM
@Xtina. Have a look at universities near where you live (or where you would like to live)
and look for courses in social work. Once you've found one you like the look of, you will
need to apply for a place. This is often done via UCAS.
ACareerChange - 28-Jul-14 @ 9:55 AM
Hi, I'm 27, I don't have a degree, I'm currently unemployed and I would like to start my
career in social care however I'm not entirely sure how. I have 2 A-Levels and 9 GCSE's
all at grade A-C and have always had a keen interest in social work. Where do I start and
exactly how do I go about getting a career in social care?... Thanks
Xtina - 25-Jul-14 @ 1:07 PM
I have a ba hons combined studies english lit major theatre and film minor. I worked for
cornwall ss and did the in service course 1 year then c.s.s and worked as an assistant
officer in a residential centre for the elderly with respite care and day centre. I have been
ever involved since in home care and as direct carer to family members (current) . I am
wanting to try to get back into care work in the future and wonder where my qualifications
place me. What would be my next step also in courses and what coukd I actively be
studying doing to ensure I can find a workplace.Funding is there any? I am in receipt of the
carers allowance
Lesley Julian - 19-Jul-14 @ 9:20 PM
Hi, I'm 30 years old and have worked in hospitality all my life, and have never been to
university. I have been very interested in becoming a social worker for the past few years
but have never been able to fine the right route for me. Would I need to do a years course
at college before applying for the university course for entry back into education? Do I also
need to do some volunteering?Thanks
Ladyward - 14-Jul-14 @ 4:53 PM
@Joanne_x06 - If your current employer would support you (not necessarily financially) -
you could try going down this route with the Open University. You have to apply via your
employer though, so if your current one will not support you, you could try an alternative
career (such as a carer) with an alternative agency.
ACareerChange - 14-Jul-14 @ 2:23 PM
Hello, i hAd my career in other country but i am registered in uk with HCPC. Now, i am
looking for social worker job , but all the places I applied on line, They call me for my CV
and then After I said that my experience as a social worker is in my Country They told me I
need it here, in uk. So how can i start¿ Thank you so much.
María - 14-Jul-14 @ 11:22 AM
Hi, I graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2011 with a 2:2 BA Hons
Criminology and Sociology. I did this degree because at the time I was unsure whether I
wanted to do something within the police force or within social work. Since graduating I've
been a support worker for adults with mental health issues and learning disabilities. I really
would like to become a social worker for children and young people but when I enquired a
couple of months ago, I was told I could not be accepted on the GSCC Register because
the course I did at Leeds Met doesn't match the nessecary criteria. If anyone can give any
advice for what my next step needs to be if be very greatful. I'm 23, working full time and
have a mortgage, so leaving my job to pay to study isn't really an option for me. Any one
have any advice? Thanks
Joanne_x06 - 13-Jul-14 @ 12:03 AM
Im being made redundant soon and ive been in social care for the past 23 years in a
residential setting for adults with a learning disability. My current role is care manager. I
have a nvq level 3 and have completed over training over the years. I am thinking of a
career change, would I have the qualifications and experience to follow the social worker
path and what would I have to do?
liz - 11-Jul-14 @ 3:15 PM
@Zoe. You need to do a social work degree to become a social worker. Typically you will
need 5 GCSEs (grades A-C inc maths & English) at least two A levels, or an equivalent to
this, which may be an NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care. So yes you could go down
the NVQ route. It will take time and dedication, there is also a lot of competition for social
work undergraduate degree courses - but if you really want it you will do it. Good luck!
ACareerChange - 10-Jul-14 @ 10:52 AM
I have just left secondary school and have always taken a great interest in Social work. I
have applied and been accepted into a college to study Health and Social Care and have
also been accepted into Sixth Form. I would prefer to go to College as I have had a bad
experience at school. Can I get to the highest stage of Social work via a college NVQ? I
seriously need advice. Thank you!
zoe - 9-Jul-14 @ 8:39 PM
I am currently with the open university learning law and social work but i want to become a
social worker and they won't let me onto the social worker course unless i have someone
to represent me but i am finding it hard to find someone i have been trying for 4 years and i
would really like to become a social worker, is there anywhere that will have a learning
social worker apprentice
Rach - 20-Jun-14 @ 7:37 PM
Hi Kaz. There is currently training scheme called Frontline, which is a fast-track social
work training scheme. It's being piloted in Greater London and Greater Manchester and
aims to train 100 graduates (2:1 in any subject) to become social workers, specialising in
working with vulnerable children and their families. More information is here...
ACareerChange - 17-Jun-14 @ 10:03 AM
I am a primary school teacher with over 14 years teaching experience. I would like to have
a change in career and go into social work. I am wondering due to the fact that I have a
degree already if there is a fast track way into the profession through relevant training. I
have had experience with working with looked after children in the school environment. I
have also worked on a voluntary basis with parent partnership helping and supporting
parents with children with disabilities access information and resources to help their
children with their learning. I have been involved with many multi - agency meetings and
have written reports regarding children and their educational needs. Where would I need
to go to set me off in the right direction ? - Thanks.
kaz - 14-Jun-14 @ 2:52 PM
Impersonating a Social Worker, by Julie Claypool, MSW
     Have you ever told a lie so many times that you convinced yourself it was
true? If I met you at a party or the grocery store, and you asked me what I did
for a living, I would repeat my well-rehearsed lie. “I’m a social worker.” I told
myself that it was not really a lie, because I actually worked as a case
manager in a social service agency. It was irrelevant that my undergraduate
degree was in journalism. Eventually, my white lie caught up with me, and I
found myself beginning graduate school in my 40s.    
     Getting a master’s degree was not on my bucket list. I had children
attending three different colleges, and I was content. I had successfully
survived having three teenagers in high school at the same time and was
prepared to continue with my job in social services until all my children
graduated. My life was running smoothly. Then I hit a major career
roadblock.  
     I worked for a service coordination agency that contracted with the Illinois
Department of Human Services. However, after Illinois was mandated to
convert its grant programs to Medicaid waiver to receive federal
reimbursement, my degree in journalism/communications was called into
question. The government didn’t care that I had spent 20+ years working in
human services. I was told that for my agency to continue to bill for my
services, I needed to take a minimum of 15 credit hours in a human services-
related field. It came down to five additional bachelor’s-level courses in
psychology, human behavior, or social work. If I successfully completed these
courses, I would be qualified for the position I already held.    
     My agency appealed the decision and provided the state with proof of 752
hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) that I had completed since
becoming their employee. After repeated denials, it became evident that I
would need to return to school or take a non-degreed position. I love to clean,
so I strongly considered giving the janitor a run for her money, but found out
that I wasn’t qualified for that, either. Who knew that handling toxic cleaning
agents required HAZMAT training? I reluctantly agreed to return to the halls of
academia, and my employer offered to pay for my classes.    
     I chose social work courses, because as a case manager, I already
considered myself a social worker. Never mind that I didn’t have the degree.  
     I initially considered the local junior college, where I believed I could knock
out the 15 hours in one semester. When the school counselor found out I
already had a bachelor’s degree, she looked me dead in the eye and lied. She
said I could attend my alma mater and earn my master’s in a mere two
semesters. The program was called Advanced Standing. I found this news
outstanding. I believed that only an additional semester stood between me and
an MSW.    
     I returned to the same college I had graduated from more than 20 years
earlier and ran into the second roadblock. The junior college counselor had
failed to mention that to be eligible for the MSW program with advanced
standing, my bachelor’s degree had to be in social work. I was now looking at
64 hours instead of 15. Not outstanding at all.    
     While I contemplated returning to the junior college and signing up for the
HAZMAT course, I stumbled upon the perfect loophole. It began with two
simple words in the graduate school brochure—life experience.    
     I believed I had found the yellow brick road. My beloved college, unlike the
state and federal government, was going to give me credit for life experience.
Forget all that nonsense about years of school ahead of me. I had discovered a
shortcut. I excitedly explained to my new counselor that I had two decades of
life experience. I waited for her to type that into her computer and transform
my journalism degree into a social work degree.    
     She cheerfully pointed out that I didn’t have life experience as a social
worker. I showed her my trump card—752 hours of CEUs. She said she was
impressed with all my hard work, but informed me that none of the hours were
in social work. It was time to stop living a lie. I begrudgingly signed up for the
MSW program and resigned myself to earning a degree in a field that I
believed I knew everything about to keep a job I already had.
The write stuff
Why bureaucratic jargon is just a pompous waste of words
Graham Hopkins, The Guardian, Wednesday 13 September 2000
Is your writing as transparent as a mixture of comminuted particles of rock with water of
varying consistency, or is it just as clear as mud?
How do we judge the quality of, say, an iron? If it gets creases out of clothes, that would
be one fair indicator. Design, colour, weight, and so on, will affect our choice, but these
count for nothing if it doesn't do the job for which it's intended.
Social care writing should be judged likewise. If something can be read and understood at
the first time of asking, then it's good writing. Simple as that. No matter that it's
grammatically correct, well structured and displaying a wide vocabulary: if it's not
understood, it's poor writing.
And, in this sense, social care is full of poor writing. It is often bloated, pompous and
jargon-filled - sometimes so much so that even people who work in social care struggle
with its meaning. And if they struggle, what chance do the rest of us have?
Why, for example, do inspectors (whose reports are all public documents) come up with
"localised lighting to beds" for bedside lamps? Or "hot water outlets" for taps. Or
"nutritional management" for food? And they must surely know that phrases such as
continuity of care, inter-agency and multi-disciplinary, domiciliary care and self-advocacy
are meaningless to the outside world. So why use them?
I believe that everybody has a fear of writing. For some, it's an in-your-face fear; for others,
it's just a nagging doubt prowling around the back of their minds. I think this fear is there
because of the permanency of writing. Say something, and it's gone. Write it down, and it's
with us forever, just waiting to come back and haunt or embarrass us. And so we write
words we would never say. We would never say, "Excuse me, may I look at your paper to
ascertain what's on TV this evening?" We'd ask to find out what's on telly.
There is also the problem of professionalism - or, at least, a grasping perception of it.
Social workers and others who see themselves as professionals also have a fear of not
appearing sufficiently eminent or knowledgeable. And so, to prove they are, they click into
pompous mode and produce bloated, jargon-filled writing. Recently, I heard a Wendy
House referred to as a "domestic experience environment".
Jargon has its place. Provided everyone understands it, it's fine - a useful shorthand.
Sadly, it is more abused than used. It excludes people and makes them feel inadequate. It
also causes headaches for translators.
Many social care staff have a real concern that writing simply would undermine them,
causing colleagues from other services to think less of them. One way around this is for
their department to issue a policy statement saying that they are committed to writing in
plain English. Some statement could also be put on letters, leaflets and posters, along the
lines of: "We believe that all our public information should be in plain English. If you think
we can improve this in any way, please let us know."
This would serve three functions: first, it would be an everyday reminder of the belief in
plain English and an encouragement to staff to think about how they write; second, it spells
out the policy for others, encouraging them not to think of everyone else as simpletons and
may even inspire them to write clearly and concisely; and third, it encourages the public to
comment on the readability of information they have received.
Talking the talk (and writing the write, I guess) is also why such overly bureaucratic
language, with all its weasel words, breeds famously in the world of social care
management. The higher up in the department you go, the further behind you leave
ordinary, everyday talk. You start having strategies, while the rest of us are stuck with
plans. You start lunching out on buzzwords - "robust" systems, "fluid" services and
budgets - and, without batting an eyelid, start saying things such as "we'll road-test that"
and "wait until the dust has settled on the budgets".
One director of social services felt the need to concentrate with staff on the "development
of strategic plans". Now, I may be missing the point here, but this means "the development
of planned plans". Or maybe that is precisely the point. It's thinking that way that makes
them directors and sets them aside from mere mortals.
To write effectively, we need to know three things: why we are writing it; what we want to
happen as a result of our writing; and who we are writing for. If the target audience
includes the public then this means using shorter sentences (average about 15-20 words),
shorter words and avoiding jargon. So don't write in plain English henceforth - write in plain
English from now on.
• Graham Hopkins is author of Plain English for Social Services and The Write Stuff - A
Guide to Effective Writing in Social Care, published by Russell House