The Open University
Social Work Degree
Programme in England
An introduction for employers
Photo: Karen Parker
Our track record
 Successfully educating social workers since 1997
 Over 1500 graduates in England since the launch of the
Degree Programme in 2005
 Listed in top 5 for student satisfaction in the National
Student Satisfaction Survey
 Re-approved by HCPC in 2013
 Co-produced award winning TV documentaries,
including ‘Someone to watch over me’, ‘Sectioned’,
‘Protecting our children’
OU Social Work Programme:
the same, but different
We are the same:
 Regulation: HCPC
 Complies with College of
Social Work
recommendations for
– Curriculum
– Assessment
 Work in partnership with
service users and carers
We are different:
 Our students are already
practitioners
 Our tutors are practitioners
 Distance learning
 Employer supported and
work based
 Employers have ownership
of practice placements
Added value
Develop staff and
offer career
progression
within your
organisation
Anecdotal evidence that
sponsored students
remain with their
employers for longer
A practitioner background
can help newly qualified
staff to fulfil their qualified
role more quickly
The OU work-based Social
Work Degree Programme
 Distance learning
 Can be completed in 3 years but may extend to 8 years
 Readiness for practice in the first stage
 2 practice placements in stages 2 and 3
 Skills days and tutorials built into the Programme across
all 3 years
 Assessment against the PCF
 Digital literacy skills development
Stages of study
Critical analysis:
K315 Critical social
work practice
Application:
K216 Applied social work practice
Awareness:
K113 Foundations for social work practice
What will students study?
Stage 1 K101 An introduction to Health and Social Care
K113 Foundations for Social Work Practice
Stage 2 K270 Social Work and the Law in England
K216 Applied Social Work Practice
Stage 3 Optional module – adult care or children and
families or leadership and management
K315 Critical Social Work Practice
Study timeline
K315
Stage 3 option
K216
K270
K113
K101 (Oct)
Oct
Jan
YEAR 1
Oct
Jan
YEAR 2
Oct
Jan
YEAR 3
Oct
Practice placements
 100 days on K216 (70 days from 2015)
 100 days on K315
 One can be in the student’s own workplace
 Final placement must cover statutory interventions
 Holistic assessment against the regulatory and
professional requirements of the PCF
 Supervised and assessed by suitably qualified practice
educator
 Preparations for ASYE
The PCF and the new
Curriculum
2014
K113
K216
K315
2015
2016
20 ‘readiness for practice’ days
New curriculum introduced 2014
100 days
practice
(PCF)
70 days practice (PCF)
plus skills days
New curriculum introduced 2015
100 days practice (PCF)
New curriculum
and skills days
introduced 2016
Student support: people
Teaching:
Region:
 Module tutors
 Staff tutor
 Learner support
On placement:
 Programme tutor
 Agency coordinator
 Practice educators
 Workplace supervisors
Student support: resources
Online resources provided in many formats:
Module study
planner
OU Skills for study
▪
Video, audio and
podcasts
▪
Interactive learning
Forums
▪
Practice learning
resources
OU library
Student support: resources (2)
 Print based resources:
– Guidance and handbooks
– Printed study materials
– Readings
– Readers
Assessment
 Academic assignments
(TMAs)
 Interactive computer marked
assessments (iCMAs)
 End-of-module assessments
and exams
 Practice assessment report
Rigorous quality assurance
 Correspondence tuition is monitored
 Practice learning evaluation
 Continuing professional development of tutors
 Subject to regular review under OU QA processes
 Student and employer feedback
 Stakeholder groups
The student is required to…
 Study for 16-18 hours per week, for each 60 credit
module
 Submit assessments by the due dates
 Attend skills days and tutorials
 Have a lot of stamina!
The employer is required to…
Sponsor students by:
 Providing 2 placements at intermediate and final stages
 Providing 2 different suitably qualified practice educators
 Ensuring the student is supported with appropriate study
time
Selection onto the
Programme (1)
Interview for selection can be conducted by
either:
 the sponsoring agency
(if approved by the OU)
or
 the OU (on specified
selection days at
predetermined locations)
Selection (2)
Entry requirements include:
 240 UCAS credits (A’ level) or K101
 GCSE grade A*-C in English and Maths
 Declaration of suitability for social work:
– Enhanced DBS with lists
– Medical fitness to practise
 Formal application with written statement
 Panel interview including written test
(may involve a group exercise)
* Evidence of meeting academic requirements will be needed at
interview
Further information
 Health and Social Care prospectus
 Social work programme website:
www.openuniversity.co.uk/socialwork
 Opening Doors: How to implement the Social Work
Degree Programme (England) in your Agency
 Regional office Learner Support
Faculty of Health and Social Care
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
www.open.ac.uk