Social Work at Brunel University
BA Social Work
 MA Social Work
 CPD and PQ degrees
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Social Work Division
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Rated 1st in The Guardian League Table, 2012
Highest rated student satisfaction (NSS) of London social
work departments
One of the largest social work schools in London
recruiting c85 students each year
Social work education ranging from undergraduate to
PhD
Leader in social work research with an international
reputation
Academic staff research activities
 Effect of Family Drug and Alcohol Courts on children
(Prof Judith Harwin)
 Rights of service users to be involved in decisions
affecting their lives (Prof Peter Beresford OBE)
 Care experiences of older people with no children (Dr
Mary Sullivan)
 Experience of international social work practitioners in
English social work practice (Dr Sue Hanna)
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Four research centres in the Division, and Brunel
Institute for Aging Studies, contribute to linking
research, theory and practice in teaching
Social Work Programmes
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Meet requirements for professional practice as defined by The
College of Social Work and HCPC
Teaching underpinned by high quality research, antidiscriminatory and anti-oppressive perspectives, and reflective
practice
Generic social work curricula with an opportunity to specialise
in a specific pathway in the final year
Service user and social work practitioner involvement in
teaching & Interdisciplinary teaching
Small group teaching to support and stimulate learning
Typical Social Work Course Content:
academic
Introduction to academic and professional practice
 Social work themes, roles & contemporary practice
 Human Development
 Social Policy & Sociology
 Self reflection and Skills Development Hub
 Introduction to Law
 Working with Service Users & Service Providers
 Theories underpinning social work
 Contemporary issues and values
 Professional pathways (Children & Families OR Adults)
 Choice of one Elective
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Typical Social Work Course Content:
practice
Skills development (campus based: 30 days)
 Practice seminars (campus based)
 Practice placements (170 days over 2 years)
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 Long term relationships with well established
partner agencies, including memoranda of
cooperation
 Dedicated team to develop and manage practice
learning
 Placements run concurrently with teaching
Students have agency placements that
include:
Statutory Placements
Hillingdon Social Services
 Hounslow Social Services
 Ealing Social Services
 Slough Social Services
 Brent Social Services
 Harrow Social Services
Voluntary Placements
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Re-Start
St.Mungos
Crime Reduction Initiative
Community Housing and
Therapy
Graduates will be competent to:
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Undertake ethical, innovative & effective social work practice in a
diverse society;
Undertake critical & professional practice with service users that
actively promotes social justice;
Integrate theory, policy, practice, & research evidence to meet
service users’ and the profession’s needs;
Have both a generic & detailed understanding of social work
knowledge, values and intervention skills, applicable to a variety
fields and methods of practice;
Demonstrate research capacity to critically evaluate social work
research, & independently undertake and manage a research
project.
Additional Information
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Allocated an academic tutor
Typical week is 9am-5pm (typically 2 days academic input,
3 days in practice setting)
Student supported in placement by practice educators,
practice tutors, and academic tutors on campus
Students will need to get a criminal records check from
the Disclosure & Barring service to practice
Fees /Costs
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The fees for this course are £9,000 per year for
2013/14 Home/EU students and
£15,00 for international students.
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The Department of Health is currently consulting to
reform the bursary. Consultation is underway
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Currently no bursary will be offered in the first year
with a cap on the number of bursaries in years 2/3
See www.nhsbsa. Nhs.uk/students/825. aspx for details
of the social work bursary
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Assessed and Supported Year in
Employment
new requirement from 2015/16
 It will be a form of CPD with students expected to
complete an assessed and supported year in
employment (ASYE).
 extra support provided during first year in practice.
 For more information see The College of Social Work
Website
 www.collegeofsocialwork.org
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Our Graduates
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Highly sought after as social
workers in various locations in
the UK with the majority working
in London boroughs
Pursue post graduate study and
research focused careers
Continue their association with
Brunel as Practice Educators
Alumni Group which mentors
and supports on course students