Course summary

“Recommended for approval (with conditions) by Social Work England The overall aim of the programme is to produce postgraduates who are accountable, capable, competent, creative, autonomous practitioners. Students will be able to demonstrate an ability to integrate specific subject knowledge, values and skills while drawing on analytical tools to promote and protect individual and collective well-being in complex situations. The MA Social Work aims to provide: 1. Education that meets the professional requirements of Social Work England for eligibility to apply for registration as a social worker. 2. Practitioners who have a reflective and critical perspective of complex, uncertain and changing contexts. 3. Structured learning opportunities which facilitate the attainment of transferable skills and knowledge across the range of contexts in which social work takes place. 4. Students who have the capacity for critical enquiry and reflective approaches to defining human needs, knowledge of human behaviour, current social policy and law relating to social work, and knowledge of social work theories and methods of assessment and intervention, including issues concerning human rights and professional ethics. 5. Students with effective and critical skills in applying research, theory and evidence to practice, using their understanding to inform judgements and develop ideas for policy and practice. 6. Practitioners who have advanced skills in communication, assessment and applied research for professional social work practice; practitioners who are competent in assessing and analysing complex issues and applying appropriate knowledge and skill in resolving these; Practitioners who can demonstrate innovation in collaborative and inter-professional and multi-agency contexts. 7. Ethical practitioners who are safe and competent and can demonstrate sound professional judgement in a range of settings; Practitioners who have an appreciation of global issues and the international nature of social work. Students who promote the development of anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory approaches to social work and meet the Social Work England Standards and the Social Work Professional Capabilities Framework. 8. Practitioners who value feedback and participation from service users, carers and those with lived experience, and are focused on enhancing the outcomes for all service user and carer groups. 9. Students who are prepared for future employment as autonomous professionals, able to work effectively and creatively within legal, policy and agency frameworks, in a complex, inter-professional social welfare environment.