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Social Work – (M.A.)
Brunel University
School of Health Sciences and Social Care
| Application Deadline: | as early as possible | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 4,740 - ≈ € 14,334 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | London / United Kingdom / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 24 months | Start Date: | September |
| Educational Form: |
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| Education Variants: |
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| Credits (ECTS): | 180 | ||
| Languages: | English | ||
Location of Brunel University
This is a General Social Care Council´s accredited social work training programme, which aims to educate and train individuals to be reflective, research-minded practitioners who are able to work critically and professionally and in accordance with the principle of anti-discriminatory practice. The professional and academic elements are closely integrated throughout the programme. There are 200 placement days, with the working week divided between time in placement and time in the University.
The MA Social Work is a postgraduate programme that prepares students for social work practice that requires critical thinking and research skills. By end of this programme, students will be able to:
* Meet the requirements for professional practice according to the General Social Care Council´s accreditation standards, and the National Occupational Standards of the United Kingdom;
* Be competent for ethical, innovative and effective social work practice in a diverse society;
* Undertake critical and professional practice with service users that actively promotes social justice, and make professional decisions and perform professional functions that are informed by an understanding of inequality, disadvantage and discrimination;
* Integrate theory , policy, practice, and research evidence to meet service users´ and the profession´s needs;
* Have a generic and detailed understanding of social work knowledge, values and intervention skills, applicable to all fields and methods of practice; and
* Demonstrate research capacity to critically evaluate social work research, understand a range of relevant research methods, and independently undertake and manage a research project.
Contents
Modules in Year 1
* SW5530 A Critical Introduction to Social Work Theory
* SW5531 The Foundations of Social Work Practice
* SW5532 Social Work, Law and the English Legal System
* SW5533 Social Policy and Social Welfare
* SW5534 Life-span Development
* SW5535 Practice Learning A (100 days)
* HH5577 Research Methods
Modules in Year 2
* SW5536 Advanced Social Work Intervention Skills
* SW5537 What Works in Social Work?
* SW5540 The Dissertation
* SW5541 Practice Learning B (100 days)
And one elective from:
* SW5538 Social Work with Children and Families
* SW5539 Social Work with Adults: Community Care
Main Topics of Study
SW5530 A Critical Introduction to Social Work Theory
Main topics: the construction of social work theory; the nature of theory and the implications for social work practice; the value base of social work: empowerment and advocacy; and the different perspectives of social work etc.
SW5531 The Foundations of Social Work Practice
Main topics: the values, codes of ethics, and anti-oppressive practice in social work; power and authority and their effects on workers, service users and others; skills in relationship building; and skills for working with individuals, families and organisations etc.
SW5532 Social Work, Law and the English Legal System
Main topics: English legal system; the legal framework for a social worker; legal frameworks of social work and social welfare; general ethical and legal issues in relation to social work and social welfare practice; and law and safeguarding children etc.
SW5533 Social Policy and Social Welfare
Main topics: theoretical and ideological perspectives on social policy and social welfare; the process of policy-making, and the framework and methods of policy analysis; translating policy agendas into an analysis of national and local needs; and social welfare and services for particular groups etc.
SW5534 Life-span Development
Main topics: key concepts and theories of human growth and development; physio-psychosocial and cognitive development in infancy, childhood, young people, adolescence and adulthood; deprivation and disadvantage across the life-cycle; the impact of culture and ethnicity; developing observational skills, and monitoring and recording observations etc.
SW5535 Practice Learning A & SW5541 Practice Learning B
All practice settings provide: a defined student workload reflecting the nature of normal practice in the agency; opportunities for direct interventions with service users and carers; opportunities for learning about organisational processes; opportunities for learning about the legal duties and powers, and their application or implementation within the context of the agency etc.
SW5536 Advanced Social Work Intervention Skills
Main topics: specialist knowledge and skills for social work in therapeutic settings; and advanced skills for working with individuals such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Family Therapy; advanced skills for working with families and groups etc.
SW5537 What Works in Social Work?
Main topics: concepts and definitions of evidence, evidence-based practice and evidence informed practice; wider contexts to the evolution of evidence based practice- political and economic influences; use of standardised instruments; measuring change; and choosing evidence based interventions etc.
SW5538 Social Work with Children and Families
Main topics: developing skills in effective communication with children; assessment frameworks and assessment of risk; child care policy; analysis of serious case reviews, regulatory and legal framework; government guidance and initiatives affecting children and families; working with children in need; the child protection process, investigation, conference, planning, core groups etc.
SW5539 Social Work with Adults: Community Care
Main topics: the development of community care and care management, ideological underpinnings and contemporary issues in policy and practice; user involvement and community care; social and medical approaches to care in the community; key legislations; the care management models and process; risk analysis; networking and collaboration; and safeguarding vulnerable adults etc.
SW5540 The Dissertation
Recent examples of dissertations by students taking this course include:
* Identity issues in trans-racial adoption
* Globalisation, employment and disability
* Giving your carers a voice
* Exploring the relationship between travellers and social services
HH5577 Research Methods
Research methods appropriate to both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including surveys and longitudinal studies; questionnaire design; experimental and quasi-experimental designs; statistical analysis and using SPSS; depth interviews; focus groups; observation; qualitative analysis etc.
IELTS
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
Take testRequirements
* A minimum of a 2.2 Honours degree in a related subject (eg. Education; Sociology; Social Policy; Politics; Psychology; Law; Health and/or Social Care) or a minimum of a 2.1 Honours degree in an unrelated subject (eg. Business, Creative Arts, History);
* Before applying applicants must have a minimum of 1 year´s full time work experience (or equivalent) in social work/ social care, in a paid or supervised unpaid capacity;
* All candidates must have GCSE Grade C in English Language and Mathematics or acceptable equivalent,
* Applicants must provide an academic reference from first degree level and a reference from their supervised employment in the care services; and
* International applicants will require a level of English as outlined for all Higher Level Courses:
* IELTS 6.5
* TOEFL 585 (paper test)
* Cambridge proficiency - grade C
* Cambridge advanced - grade B
* GCSE - grade C
* All applicants must demonstrate: appropriate personal qualities and life experiences; ability to reflect on and positively learn from significant events in their life; recent undertaking of pre-course preparatory work either by making use of training opportunities within their work or by undertaking relevant study; the ability to express themselves orally and in writing and the ability to think critically and analytically; and an understanding of the role of research in informing social work practice.
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 6.5 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): | Grade C (Score: 60) |
| TOEFL Paper-based: | 585 |
Ask a Question
You can contact Dr Ben Chi-pun Liu to ask a question about Social Work at Brunel University.
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