Social worker
About the job
“As well as being empathetic and resilient, to be a social worker you must have the desire to support positive change. It’s important to achieve the best possible outcome for the individuals you support.”
As a social worker, you’ll offer a person-centred approach to people who need support at particular times in their lives for a variety of reasons. You will be ensuring that they are living their lives to their full potential and supporting them to make their own choices. This will include working with a wide range of people including children with disabilities, older people, teenagers with mental health problems, adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health problems or physical disabilities, people with alcohol or other substance misuse problems, refugees and asylum seekers or children who are at risk of neglect or abuse.
Visit Think Care Careers for information about:
A career you’ll care about – social worker
How to become a social worker in Devon
Qualification
BA (Hons) Social Work
Entry requirements
5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including maths, English and science. Consideration may be given to Functional Skills Level 2 in maths.
One of the following: 3 A Levels, International Baccalaureate, Access, BTEC, BTEC National Diploma modules.
Length of study
3 years full time
Where
Devon Social Work Traineeship Scheme (Adults Social Care)
Qualification
BA (Hons) Social Work
Entry requirements
GCSE at grades A*-C in English and maths or certified equivalent.
Meet the UCAS tariff threshold of 96 points or equivalent
Be employed in Devon County Council Adult Social Care.
Length of study
3 years alongside work
Where
Qualification
Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work
Entry requirements
2:2 honours degree or above and a minimum of 12 months social care experience OR
2:1 honours degree or above in a relevant subject.
Be employed in Devon County Council Adult Social Care.
Length of study
17 months including placements
Where
Devon Social Work Traineeship Scheme (Children’s Social Care)
Qualification
BA (Hons) Social Work
Entry requirements
GCSE at grades A*-C in English and maths or certified equivalent.
Meet the UCAS tariff threshold of 96 points or equivalent
Be employed in Devon County Council Children’s Social Care.
Length of study
3 years alongside work
Where
Qualification
Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work
Entry requirements
2:2 honours degree or above and a minimum of 12 months social care experience OR
2:1 honours degree or above in a relevant subject.
Be employed in Devon County Council Children’s Social Care.
Length of study
17 months including placements
Where
Plymouth City Council Academy of Social Work
Qualification
Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work
Entry requirements
2:1 honours degree or above in a relevant subject. OR
2:2 honours degree or above plus at least 12 months social care experience.
Be employed as a Trainee Social Worker at Plymouth City Council.
Length of study
17 months including placements
Where
Torbay Council routes into social work
Qualification
MA in Social Work
Length of study
Approx. 18 months
Qualification
Social work degree apprenticeship
Entry requirements
GCSE English and maths grade C/4 or above or certified equivalent.
Be employed in Torbay Council social care.
Length of study
Between 3 and 3 ½ years
Where
Torbay Council and the Open University.
Amy – registered nurse
Meet Amy, a registered nurse working in Exeter.
I think it can feel like you have to decide really early what you want to do but I was never sure. When I dropped out of university, I stopped to think about what I really wanted to do. I just knew that I wanted to help people.
After working in a care home to get experience of caring for people I got into Plymouth University to study nursing.
Read more about Amy’s journey, her job now and why she thinks nursing is a really special career.
