A Career in Social Work
Social work is a challenging job which offers scope for initiative and the exercise of responsibility in a wide variety of situations. Like any other job it can bring frustrations but it also has its own rewards - the immeasurable satisfaction of helping people to live more fulfilled lives.
In 1989 CCETSW introduced the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW) which replaced its previous qualifying awards, the Certificate in Social Service (CSS) and the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW). This became the professional qualification for social work accepted by employers throughout the United Kingdom. Because DipSW education and training includes academic study and practical experience it is provided by colleges and agencies working together as DipSW Programme Providers and the word "programme" is used in preference to "course" throughout this article.
To take account of major changes in legislation and service delivery since 1989, the first review of the DipSW was undertaken by CCETSW in partnership with the Care Sector Consortium (CSC) in 1994/95. New rules and requirements for the DipSW were approved by CCETSW Council in February 1995 and published in Assuring Quality for the Diploma in Social Work - 1: Rules and Requirements for the DipSW in August of that year. The "Statement of Requirements for Qualification in Social Work" in Part 2 of the document is based on draft national standards developed by CCETSW and CSC in consultation with all the main employment, educational and professional interests.
Further information on the requirements are summarised in the leaflet New Requirements for the Diploma in Social Work available free from CCETSW. About a third of DipSW programmes implemented the new requirements in time for the September 1995 intakes: and the remainder will do so in time for the 1996 intakes. This means that some programmes may not have finalised their revised arrangements at the time this publication went to press in July 1996.
On 2 October 1995, the Home Office Minister announced new arrangements for probation training and recruitment in England and Wales. Possession of the DipSW is no longer a requirement for employment as a probation officer, except in Northern Ireland (see below). Home Office sponsorship of DipSW students undertaking the probation pathway ceased after the intake of the academic year 1995/96. No new students will be sponsored from 1996/97 in England and Wales.
Details of the new arrangements for training probation officers are available from:
National Probation Service (England and Wales): www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk
DipSW programmes offering pathways relevant for work in the criminal justice system, including youth justice, work with offenders in Scotland, or the probation service in Northern Ireland can be located through the index of DipSW programmes under the heading Criminal Justice. Candidates applying to those programmes are advised to contact them directly for more information, before making an application.
Social Work employers
The DipSW replaces CCETSW's Certificate in Social Service (CSS) and the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW). All employers of social workers in the United Kingdom recognise the DipSW, the CSS, the CQSW (and pre-decessor awards) as qualifications in social work.
The main statutory employers of social workers are:
- in England and Wales: local authority social services departments, which also employ social workers in the health service, local education authorities, which employ social workers in the education welfare service and in special schools; and the probation service provided by local probation committees.
- in Scotland: local authorities have a responsibility to provide social work service, including social work with offenders and in the health service (most local authorities have social work departments but some incorporate social work within larger departments, e.g. housing and social work or community services); and voluntary and private agencies.
- in Northern Ireland: area health and social service boards, National Health Service (NHS) trusts, the Probation Board for Northern Ireland, and education and library boards.
In all four countries social workers are also employed by voluntary organisations, which are independent of Government and provide social services on a not-for-profit basis; and by private agencies.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland require social workers employed by them to be qualified. Although the law does not otherwise require main grade social workers to hold a social work qualification, the majority of employers normally require it.
What selection panels look for:
The social work profession recruits people with widely varying backgrounds, age and experience.
The training makes high academic and personal demands and students should be prepared to work well beyond A level or Higher grade standard.
Provided that the minimum requirements are met and subject to the procedures agreed by CCETSW, the colleges and organisations providing DipSW programmes are responsible for the selection of students. Selection panels consider not only academic ability and achievements but also the candidate's personal suitability for and commitment to social work. Candidates must have the self-discipline to undertake sustained and detailed study and have personal qualities such as patience, persistence and the ability to help people face difficult situations. Social work involves considerable strain, both physical and emotional. Clear thinking and sound judgement are needed, together with sensitivity and tolerance.
In line with CCETSW's policy on equal opportunities and the Welsh language, CCETSW and the providers of DipSW programmes encourage applications from members of the black community, from minority ethnic groups, and in Wales, from Welsh speakers.
Selectors normally include the college staff and representatives of participating agencies. Short-listed applicants are normally asked to attend the college of interview. Discussion groups may be part of the selection procedure. Candidates may be asked to write an essay or complete and exercise or test. Selectors usually expect candidates to have had sufficient relevant experience in paid or voluntary work to be able to demonstrate an initial understanding of the demands of social work.
Criminal convictions
Certain types of criminal conviction may prevent employment as a social worker and may also have implications for practice placements. The provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 do not apply to social service employers who may require applicants for posts to declare any convictions, and may seek information from police records. Circulars issued by the Department for Education, the Department of Health, the Home Office, the Welsh Office and the Scottish Office require local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland to check with the police as to the existence and content of any criminal record when appointing staff who will have substantial access to children. This also applied to social work students on practice placements. Similar provisions in Northern Ireland also cover work with people with learning difficulties. CCETSW has advised programmes that they should:
- warn potential students of the implications of any criminal convictions for the pattern of their practice placements and future careers;
- invite all applicants to discuss openly, at the interview stage, any factors in their background which may have implications for practice placements and subsequent employment;
- ensure that candidates holding the offer of a place should make a formal declaration of any offences before the acceptance of a place is confirmed (on the understanding that a conviction will not automatically rule out an applicant);
- inform students that any information provided will have to be shared with practice placement agencies.
Provision for disabled students
CCETSW encourages people with disabilities to consider social work as a career and social work training programmes generally welcome applications from them. It is advisable to check with the programmes the particular access facilities that are available before making a formal application. Most programmes will have had some experience of providing for disabled people, and staff or student union services may be able to offer specialist assistance. It is recommended that students make clear their specific requirements in writing, and evaluate whether the programme is confident that these can be accommodated both in college and in placements before accepting an offer of a place.
Disabled students in receipt of grants may be able to apply for Disabled Students Allowance.
Skill: the National Bureau For Students With Disabilities, can provide additional advice and information on funding, applying and other matters. Information from Skill is available in a variety of formats.
Visit: Skill: National Bureau For Students With Disabilities: http://www.skill.org.uk/
Students' and candidates' rights, complaints and appeals
Approved procedures for appeals against assessment decisions and procedures for dealing with more general complaints are required by CCETSW of all programmes. Candidates and students must be issued with a handbook of programmes setting out assessment requirements, together with complaints and appeals procedures.
Candidates and students who experience difficulties must raise issues through the complaints and/or appeals procedures of programmes in the first instance. If it appears that these procedures have not been properly followed, candidates and students may write to the Head of the appropriate Regional or National Office of CCETSW for further advice.
However, please note that CCETSW cannot intervene in matters of academic or professional judgement relating to assessment, which are properly the concern of assessment boards and the relevant external assessors or verifiers.
CCETSW: www.ccetsw.org.uk/
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