Social Work – More than a job?

Roisin McGoldrickRecruitment and Selection Coordinator

r.mcgoldrick@strath.ac.uk

Is it the right choice?

• Students need to be resilient, realistic, ready

• It’s a challenging course academically• It’s demanding emotionally• Placement makes up 50% of years 3 & 4• Full time course• Some things you might encourage pupils to think

about…

Thinking About Social Work?

• What do social workers do?

• Where do they work?

• Would I make a good social worker?

• What qualifications do I need?

• Who studies social work?

• How do you cope with all the bad publicity?

• How do I decide if it is the right course for me?

• Where can I get experience?

What do social workers do?

• Social workers help, support, and protect people who experience difficulty in their daily living

• Social work is about care, and can also be about protecting people from harm

• Social work is about helping people using a professional knowledge and training

• Social work is about making good relationships with people

Where do social workers actually work?

• Local Authorities• Schools• Prisons• Hospitals• Faith Based

Organisations• Voluntary

Organisations• Charities• Private Companies

• Criminal Justice • Drug and Alcohol

Addictions• Mental Health

Services• Residential Services• Community Care• Early Years• Disability• HIV/AIDS• Adoption and

Fostering• People Seeking

Asylum

Would I make a good social worker?

• Can you make good relationships with people based on trust and openness?

• Can you make difficult decisions?

• Can you accept people for who they are ?

• Can you recognise prejudice and discrimination?

• Are you passionate about human rights and social justice?

What qualifications do I need?Undergraduate course - 4 years• ABBB at Higher – no specific subjects but those which involve essay writing are

useful and we usually seek English at ‘B’ • usually recruit from Year 6• Don’t distinguish between first and second sittings of Highers• English and Maths at Standard Grade 2 minimum or equivalent• HNC in Health and Social Care +SVQ 3 – need merit/A in graded unit• Work / volunteer experience

For those students who feel too young at this stage – perhaps a general social sciences degree is best and then -

Post graduate course 2 years• Usually good honours degree – relevant subject preferred but not essential• Experience – minimum of 6 months at point of application

FAQ sheet available on website

Preparing for interview/application

Personal statement, which includes:

- What do you understand the to be the main challenges

facing social work today?

- Why do you think you could meet these?

- What draws you especially to social work as a career?

- Your personal qualities and experiences (work and otherwise) helpful to a career in social work?

- What do you think the potential benefits and costs of professional training will be for you?

Dealing with challenge

To do with ethical dilemmas and what action candidates would take and why

Three scenarios and candidates select one. For example:

The child of a neighbour – a friend of yours – reluctantly discloses serious abuse by one of the parents but begs you

not to say anything to anyone about this

Who applies for social work?

• More women than men• Most from West of Scotland• Wide range of age groups from schools leavers

through to grandparents

How do I decide if this course if for me?

• Do your research!!• Talk with family and

friends• Think about your

strengths and the qualities that you have

• Ask yourself, can I make a difference by being a social worker?

Where can I get experience?• Volunteer!!

http://www.volunteerscotland.org.uk/• Visit our webpages: Click on the links for

social work.• Visit the Scottish Social Services Council

webpages• Read about social work, Community Care

is available online and a good place to start.

Thank you!!