Why you should study this course
There aren't many careers that make you feel like you're giving back to society in the way that social work can. Social work is much more than ‘helping people’. At its best, it helps save lives, protect vulnerable people from harm and enhances the life chances of those in social need.
There aren’t many careers that make you feel like you’re giving back to society in the way that social work can. Social work is much more than ‘helping people’. At its best, it helps save lives, protect vulnerable people from harm and enhances the life chances of those in social need.
Coventry University has been educating social workers for over 50 years. Professionally accredited by Social Work England (SWE), on successful completion of this course you will be eligible to apply to SWE to register as a social worker (additional costs apply).
This course encompasses contemporary issues in social work practice, and it aims to give you an understanding of the knowledge, skills and attributes required to be an effective social worker and make a positive difference to service users. You’ll be encouraged to put theory into practice on placement in a range of social work and care settings, dealing with complex situations and learning alongside experienced social work practitioners.
You will undertake a 70-day placement in Year 2 and a 100-day placement in Year 3*. The placements are sourced by the university and you will be fully supported and supervised in the workplace by a qualified and experienced social work practitioner. Your personal tutor also plays a key role in ensuring that practice placement provides a quality learning experience for you and that the course requirements are met.
You will be taught by a dedicated team of social work academics which includes academics with substantial practice and research experience across a range of social work practice settings, including children and families, adult practice, and service users and carers. There is an emphasis on the development of your emotional literacy and intelligence capacity in order to promote resilience and psychological wellbeing to practice effectively as a social worker.
The teaching curriculum reflects the changing demographics of society and emerging social issues. The decolonisation of the curriculum is integrated so that graduates have the required skills and capabilities to practice with diverse groups of people presenting with the complexities of modern-day social problems. Many of the modules throughout the course are aimed at equipping you with the awareness of the nature, causation and impact on people of current social problems and how you may constructively and creatively respond to these.
What you'll study
Year one
Year one contains a series of modules introducing you to the core learning required in social work education. You will explore baseline concepts and skills development in preparation for assessed practice in year two, including an innovative new module exploring emotions in social work.
Modules
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Introduction to Social Work (20 credits)
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Communication & Relationship-Building Skills in Social Work (20 credits)
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Legal and Policy Frameworks for Practice (20 credits)
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Applied Sociological Theory for Social Work (10 credits)
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Understanding Emotion in Social Work (10 credits)
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Using Theories and Methods in Social Work Practice (20 credits)
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Readiness for Practice (20 credits)
Year two
The second year designed to develop your knowledge, skills and behaviour, marked by the first practice placement. There follows a trajectory of academic study, focusing on applied work.
Modules
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Evidence-informed Practice (20 credits)
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Social Work Practice 1 (10 credits)
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Critical Reflective Practice 1 (40 credits)
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Human Growth and Development across the Lifespan (10 credits)
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Social Work Practice with Children, Young People and Families (20 credits)
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Social Work Practice with Adults (20 credits)
Final year
The final year includes a longer period of assessed practice, in preparation for professional qualification, and a particular focus on employability and independent study.
Modules
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Social Work Practice 2
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Critical Reflective Practice 2 (60 credits)
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Leadership and Management for Social Care Professionals (10 credits)
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Transition to Professional Practice (40 credits)
