Professional Conversion Programme For Social Workers
Fact Sheet (2016 intake)
(A) About the Professional Conversion Programme for Social Workers (PCP SW)

WDA has partnered SIM University (UniSIM) and the Social Service Institute (SSI) to offer a Place-andTrain Professional Conversion Programme for Social Workers (PCP SW).

The Programme is open to mid-career switchers and aims to train mid-career individuals to become
qualified Social Workers. Candidates must secure employment with a participating employer in order to
qualify for the PCP SW.

Upon completion of training, graduates are required to serve a Minimum Service Period (MSP).

There are two courses offered by UniSIM under PCP SW. Both courses are accredited by the Singapore
Association of Social Workers (SASW).
Table 1: Basic Course information
1
2
Course Title
Target Group
Graduate Diploma
of Social Work
Accelerated
Bachelor of Social
Work
Degree and above
A levels/ International Baccalaureate (IB)/
Local Poly Diploma/
NUS High School Diploma/
SSI Higher Diploma in Social Services
Course
Duration
18 mths
Next Intake
24 mths
25 Jul 2016
30 Jul 2016

The courses cover theories of human behaviour and social systems, principles of human rights and social
justice, amongst others. Besides classroom training and practicum, PCP SW trainees will be required to
undergo on-the-job training at their workplace.

An overview of the PCP SW can be found in Annex A.
(B) Career Opportunities as a Social Worker
Social Workers or Medical Social Workers are employed in organisations like family service centres, special
education schools, youth centres, sheltered homes and hospitals. Throughout their practice career as a Social
Worker, they play diverse roles - in direct practice, in administrative, management and policy planning
positions. Social Workers serve persons with disabilities, children from disadvantaged backgrounds, persons
with addictions and mental illnesses, and many others, making their job a challenging yet fulfilling one.
You may refer to https://www.ncss.gov.sg/sector-salary/ for the latest salary guidelines for Social Workers and
the social service sector.
<Information accurate as of 17 Nov 2015 >
Page 1 of 6
(C) Funding Support under PCP SW
i)
Course Fee Funding
Table 2: Breakdown of Course Fee Funding
MOE Funds
WDA Funds
SSI/ Healthcare
Employers Funds
Trainee Pays
Graduate Diploma
of Social Work
(Total course fee
= $20,075* + GST)
Singaporean
PR
$14,052.50 (70%)
Accelerated Bachelor
of Social Work
(Total course fee
= $32,240* + GST)
Singaporean
PR
$17,732 (55%)
$6,448 (20%)
$4,836 (15%)
$4,015 (20%)
$6,448 (20%)
$2,007.50 (10%)
(exclusive of GST)
$3,224(10%)
(exclusive of GST)
$14,508 (45%)
(exclusive of GST)
Table 3: Breakdown of Course Fee Funding for Singapore Citizens (40 years and above), Eligible for
SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy
MOE Funds
WDA Funds
SSI/ Healthcare
Employers Funds
Graduate Diploma
of Social Work
(Total course fee
= $20,075* + GST)
$18,067.50 (90%)
$1,003.75 (5%)
Accelerated Bachelor
of Social Work
(Total course fee
= $32,240* + GST)
$26,436.80 (82%)
$4,191.20 (13%)
$1,003.75 (5%)
$1,612 (5%)
(exclusive of GST)
(exclusive of GST)
*Info accurate as at 28 Sep 2015, please refer to UniSIM’s website for updated course fees.
Trainee Pays1
ii)
Salary Support Funding
WDA provides salary support for new entrants hired under the PCP SW. The following funding is extended to
participating employers:

70% of trainees’ monthly salary (subject to a cap of $2,000); OR

90% of trainees’ monthly salary (subject to a cap of $4,000) for Singaporeans aged 40 years and
above; or those unemployed for more than six months.
(D) Bond Period and Liquated Damages

Minimum Service Period – Upon completion of training, trainees have to serve an employment bond as
Social Workers in either the Social Service or Healthcare sector, for a period no shorter than the
duration of their course.

Liquidated Damages - Should a trainee withdraw from the Programme, whether during the course of
study or during the Minimum Service Period, the trainee will be liable for liquidated damages payable to
the sponsoring institution(s). The amount payable will depend on various factors including the costs
incurred by WDA, SSI or the employer as well as the terms of the training deed(s).
1
Calculated based on trainees’ eligibility for SkillsFuture Mid-career Enhanced Subsidies at course commencement.
<Information accurate as of 17 Nov 2015 >
Page 2 of 6
(E) Application Details for PCP SW 2016 intake

Interested applicants can apply via the online portal (http://app.wda.gov.sg/pcpsw) from 16 Nov 2015
to 4 Jan 2016, 1700 hours.

In Jan 2016, all applications will be routed to participating employers for shortlisting. Interviews will be
held from late Jan – early Mar 2016.

All job offers are to be confirmed between employer and employee by 11 Mar 2016.

Applicants who have secured employment with a VWO or Hospital will then be notified to submit an
online application to UniSIM by 31 Mar 2016 for Accelerated Bachelor of Social Work OR Graduate
Diploma of Social Work. There may be admission interviews conducted by UniSIM from Apr 2016
onwards.

To qualify for funding under PCP SW 2016, applicants must:
i.
Confirm employment with one of the participating PCP SW employers; and
ii.
Successfully enrol into UniSIM’s Bachelor/Graduate Diploma of Social Work course (Jul
2016 intake).

For successful trainees, funding agreements would be signed between SSI and trainees in Jul 2016,
to commit to the programme.

Funding agreements may be signed between trainees and employers, for mutual obligations
negotiated for the programme.

SSI will also sign funding agreements with employers in Jul 2016, and request for copies of the
employment contract for PCPSW trainees for their records.
(F) Participating Employers for PCP SW 2016
•
VWOs
1.
AMKFSC Community Services Ltd
2.
Care Community Services Society
3.
Care Corner Singapore Ltd
4.
Caregiving Welfare Association
5.
Kampong Kapor Family Service Centre
6.
Lutheran Community Care Services Ltd
7.
MCYC Community Services Society
8.
Ministry of Social & Family Development
9.
Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS)
10. Montfort Care
11. New Hope Community Services
12. Presbyterian Community Services
13. Singapore Indian Development Association
14. The Salvation Army
15. Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities
•
Healthcare
16. Eastern Health Alliance/ Changi General Hospital
<Information accurate as of 17 Nov 2015 >
Page 3 of 6
Annex A: Overview of PCP SW 2016
Details
Accelerated Bachelor of Social Work
Graduate Diploma of Social Work
25 July 2016
30 July 2016
24 months
18 months
Course
Commencement
Course Duration
(including a 4-month bridging course)
Course
Training
Details
-
Classroom + practicum
-
Classroom + practicum
-
To graduate, students are required to
-
To graduate, students are required to
-
complete a total of 130 credit units
complete the 3 pre-requisite modules
including 10 university core modules
for non-social work degree students, 6
and a 400-hour practicum
compulsory modules, any 4 electives
Lessons are held 3 times a week on
weekday evenings
and a 400-hour practicum
-
Classes are held on Saturdays
Minimum
GCE ‘A’ Level with two passes (prior to
Undergraduate Degree or an equivalent
Educational
2007) or two H2 passes (from 2007);
from a recognised institution
Qualification
Local Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent;
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma;
NUS High School Diploma or SSI Higher
Diploma in Social Services
For applicants with international
qualifications, you may refer to
http://www.unisim.edu.sg/admissions/Und
ergraduate/PT/Documents/InternationalQu
alifications.pdf for the list of acceptable
international qualifications.
Entry
-
21 years old and above
Requirements
-
At least 2 years’ working experience (excludes NS)
-
Sponsored by participating employer
-
Trainees may be required to undergo screening interviews/assessments conducted
by UniSIM
Work Attachment
4-day work week
4-day work week
24 months
18 months
(Recommended)
Minimum Service
Period*
Application for
PCPSW
Deadline for
UniSIM
Application**
16 Nov 2015 – 4 Jan 2016
31 Mar 2016
(For successful PCP SW applicants)
*Trainees are committed to serve a bond period equivalent to their period of study upon completion of
training.
**A non-refundable application fee of $64.20 (GST inclusive) will be charged upon applying to UniSIM,
regardless of the application outcome.
<Information accurate as of 17 Nov 2015 >
Page 4 of 6
FAQs for PCP SW 2016 intake
1. Why is the PCP SW a Place-and-Train Programme?
The PCP SW operates on a Place-and-Train mode in order to prepare trainees for the job of a Social
Worker upon graduation. This ensures that trainees gather prior workplace experiences, and have the
opportunity to apply the theories learnt in the course.
2. Will the training be full time or part time? Where will it be conducted?
Training would be on a part-time basis at UniSIM’s campus. The Accelerated Bachelor course is conducted
on three weekday evenings a week, while the Graduate Diploma course is conducted on Saturdays.
3. Upon completion of the training, what qualification/title can the trainee get?
Upon successful completion of training, graduates will be awarded a Graduate Diploma or a Bachelor of
Social Work, depending on the course taken.
You may wish to contact UniSIM at 6248 9777 for more information on ABSWK and GDSWK respectively.
4. Are the courses recognised in Singapore?
Both courses are accredited by the Social Work Accreditation and Advisory Board (SWAAB).
5. What is the course content?
Kindly refer to UniSIM’s website (http://www.unisim.edu.sg) for details of the course content.
6. Will I be eligible for funding?
To be eligible for funding, you must:
- Be a Singaporean or PR
- Secure employment with a VWO or Hospital
- Fulfil UniSIM’s course pre-requisites & requirements, pass admission interview, and successfully enrol
into the Bachelor or Graduate Diploma of Social Work
7. What is SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy? Will I be eligible for it?
In line with the objectives of SkillsFuture to support and encourage lifelong learning and help Singapore
Citizens (SCs) stay responsive to a changing workplace, and in recognition that mid-career individuals may
face greater challenges in undertaking training, SCs aged 40 and above will receive up to 90% course fee
subsidy for WDA-funded courses2, and additional reductions for MOE-funded diploma and degree courses
under the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy. More information on the SkillsFuture Mid-Career
Enhanced Subsidy is available at the SkillsFuture website: http://www.skillsfuture.sg/programmes-andinitiatives/skillsfuture-mid-career-enhanced-subsidy.html.
SCs taking up the Graduate Diploma of Social Work under the PCP SW, can enjoy the enhanced subsidies
if they are aged 40 and above in the year of course commencement;
SCs taking up the Accelerated Bachelor of Social Work under the PCP SW, can enjoy the enhanced
subsidies if they are aged 40 and above in the year of course commencement, or when they turn 40 during
the training.
2
WDA’s funding is effective from 1 October 2015, and is applicable to PCP SW 2016 intake onwards.
<Information accurate as of 17 Nov 2015 >
Page 5 of 6
8. Is there a bond for the programme? What if I quit the programme midway?
Yes, there will be a bond. Trainees will be required to sign a Letter of Undertaking to serve the Minimum
Service Period (MSP) with their employer for a duration equivalent to the course duration after graduation,
i.e. 24-month bond for the ABSWK and 18-month bond for the GDSWK. If you quit the programme midway,
you will be liable to pay liquidated damages which comprise the full course fees and salary support.
9. If I miss the current intake of the PCP SW, is there a next round?
There should be another intake in 2017 unless the demand for the programme based on the 2016 take-up is
very low.
10. How many vacancies are there for PCP SW 2016?
There are 40 vacancies for this year’s intake of the programme.
11. What if I do not get a job offer from a PCP SW employer?
To qualify for funding under the PCP SW, trainee needs to successfully secure employment in the sector.
In the event that you are unsuccessful in securing a job to qualify for PCP SW 2016, you may also consider
pursing the UniSIM Social Work Degree/Graduate Diploma as a self-sponsored part-time student, and seek
employment in the sector after graduation.
12. What if I do not get into UniSIM’s Degree or Graduate Diploma of Social Work?
To qualify for funding under the PCP SW, trainee needs to successfully enrol into UniSIM’s Degree or
Graduate Diploma of Social Work.
If your university application is unsuccessful, it is likely that you do not meet UniSIM’s admission
requirements. You may want to consider taking up the Social Service Institute’s (SSI) Higher Diploma in
Social Services, to be considered for the UniSIM Social Work Degree in the future.
13. How can I find out more information about the PCP SW and who can I contact?
Please visit the following websites for more information on PCP SW:
 http://www.wda.gov.sg/pcpsocialwork
 http://www.ncss.gov.sg/social_service_jobs/PCPSW.asp
Should you require further information, you may contact:
Enquiries regarding the PCPSW
Singapore Workforce Development Agency
(www.wda.gov.sg)
1 Marina Boulevard
#16-01 One Marina Boulevard
Singapore 018989
Email: css_wsq@wda.gov.sg
Social Service Institute (SSI)
TripleOne Somerset
111 Somerset Road, #04-01
Singapore 238164
Tel: 6589 5500
Email: career_centre@ncss.gov.sg
Enquiries regarding the courses
SIM University (www.unisim.edu.sg)
461 Clementi Road Singapore 599491
Tel: 6248 9777
Email: student_recruitment@unisim.edu.sg
<Information accurate as of 17 Nov 2015 >
Page 6 of 6