Faculty of Health & Social Sciences
School of Society, Community and Health
Begin@Beds
STUDYING PGDip PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE
2 CONTENTS Welcome to PGDip: Professional Social Work Practice (Step Up to Social Work) 3 What to expect in induction week 4 What you will be studying in your first year 5 Professional Courses and Placement Experience 6 Assessment 7 Preparation for your first week 8 Indicative Teaching timetable 9 Frequently asked questions 10 Final Thoughts 11
WELCOME
We are delighted that you have been successful and have been offered a place on the Step Up to Social Work programme at the University of Bedfordshire.
We run two Step Up programmes concurrently. The South East Regional Partnership (SE) comprises Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Central Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire Councils. The Central Eastern Regional Partnership (CERP) constitutes Hertfordshire, Luton and Bedford Councils.
Here at Bedfordshire social work is located within the School of Society Community and Health.
ESSENTIAL CONTACTS
Course Lead
Laura Shephard
laura.shephard@beds.ac.uk
Your personal academic tutor is Email
PGDip PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE TO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Dr Lana Burroughs is our Head of School and Dr Alberto Poletti is the Portfolio Lead for Social Work. The Course Lead for Professional Social Work Practice (Step Up to Social Work) is Laura Shephard.
You will also be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) who will support you throughout your studies.
Dr Lana Burroughs Head of School
Dr Alberto Poletti Portfolio Lead
Laura Shephard Course Lead
Student Information Desk (SiD)
beds.ac.uk/sid sid@beds.ac.uk
Treehouse Community & Faith Centre
Mental Health Services
beds.ac.uk/student-support/mentalwell mentalhealth@beds.ac.uk
BedsSU (student union) help@bedssu.co.uk
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WHAT TO EXPECT IN INDUCTION WEEK
Here are some of the activities that we typically cover during Welcome Week:
Induction week for the 2 Step Up cohorts starts Monday 8 January 2024
During your induction we will welcome you to Belong@Beds
You will meet the staff team and your fellow students
We will introduce you to the support services offered at UoB
Current students and alumni will talk to you about their experiences of studying at UoB and answer any questions you may have
You will be provided detailed information about what to expect within your programme of study and what we expect from you as students on a professional programme
You will also meet your Employer Partner Leads, who will introduce you to your sponsor Local Authority
ESSENTIAL LINKS
For more information on joining your course, visit Begin BSc Professional Social Work Practice @Beds where you will find updated info, tips and dates of your course induction week etc.
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WHAT YOU WILL BE STUDYING IN YOUR FIRST YEAR
Your programme will combine a mix of seminars and skills days to equip you with the knowledge base, principles, theories, legislation and the practical skills to develop your readiness for practice, and prepare you for your 70-day placement and your 100-day placement.
Your cohort starts January 2024 and you will qualify in April 2025. From January till March 2024, there is a block of intensive teaching covering: core knowledge including professional standards, values and ethics plus the Readiness for Direct Practice assessment against the Readiness for Direct Practice level of the PCF.
Teaching hours are 10am – 4pm, 5 days/week. After this, you go out into your placements, and return to University one day a week for teaching May/June 2024, and October – December 2024, plus a block of Skills Days in August 2024.
Overall, you will complete 4 academic units, 6 assignments and 3 workbooks.
ESSENTIAL LINKS
How to find your Timetable
Information about your learning with BREO
Get support with your learning and assignments
Study Hub
Visit the Library
Begin@Beds Start your student journey
Thrive@Beds My Beds Life
Succeed@Beds Careers and Employability Service
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PROFESSIONAL COURSES AND PLACEMENT EXPERIENCE
Our Course is approved by Social Work England, the regulatory body for social work profession.
As you enrol on the course you will be asked to complete an enhanced DBS, ID checks and an occupational health assessment. You will also be asked to read and sign your professional studies contract in line with Social Work England’s Professional Standards which will guide you through your course.
Your placement experience will be provided by your local employer partner offering a variety of learning within statutory sectors of social work practice, and potentially in the private, voluntary and independent sector.
All programmes require 2 placement experiences, one 70-day placement and one 100-day placement. During placement, you will be present for the normal working hours of your local authority.
For Step Up, the 70-day placement runs April – July 2024. There is a short study break in August (2/3 weeks) and the 100-day placement runs from September 2024 – March 2025. Both placements are assessed against the Professional Capabilities Statements and you will be supported and assessed by an experienced social worker who is also a qualified Practice Educator in each placement.
Learning does not stop once you are qualified as UoB offers a range of post-qualified units to support your continuous professional development, including a 1 year dissertation unit which allows Step Up graduates to top up their PGDip to a MSc.
Links to our employer partners websites for further information:
South East Regional Partnership
• Oxfordshire CC
• Buckinghamshire Council
• Milton Keynes
• Central Bedfordshire
Central Eastern Regional Partnership
• Bedford
• Luton Council
• Hertfordshire County Council
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ASSESSMENT
Assessments are creative and designed to be inclusive of our diverse range of students. They are also designed to reflect the key social work skills you will need within your social work career, in accordance with Social Work England’s Standards and the Professional Capabilities Framework.
To pass your practice placements you will gather a range of evidence, including critical reflections, direct observations and feedback from others.
During your practice placement you will be supported and assessed by a Practice Educator, who is a qualified social worker.
RANGE OF ASSESSMENTS
Types of assessment for these units include:
Essays
Presentations
Case studies
Placement workbooks
Open book online assessments
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PREPARATION FOR YOUR FIRST WEEK
SOMETHING TO READ
• What do social workers do? includes video feedback from service users about their social workers
• BASW – Code of Ethics
Download BASW Code of Ethics for Social Work as a PDF
• Step Up Pre Reading List
ABOUT THE CAMPUS
• Putteridge Bury Campus – University of Bedfordshire
• Aylesbury campus – University of Bedfordshire
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INDICATIVE TEACHING TIMETABLE
This is a 14 month Fast Track Course. You will have a ten week full time block of teaching when you start the course. After that you will be on placement 4 days a week and in university one day a week.
Sample timetable – Semester 1 PGDip: Professional Social Work Practice
Day 1
Day 2
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The professional self 1: professional identity/boundaries
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The professional self 2: Emotional Resilience/Managing competing demands/Multiple selves
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Day 3
PCF/Evidencing Professional Capability/Boundaries/Adult Learning Styles
RfDP Workbook and Introduction to Pebblepad
Day 4 Values & Cultural Awareness
Day 5 Journey of the Child
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many hours do students have to study in Uni each week?
Step Up students are on a 14 month fast track programme with teaching and/or placement 5 days/week for the duration of the programme. On university days, teaching hours are 10am – 4pm. Placement days are the standard Local Authority working hours.
Where will placements be?
Placements are provided by your employer partner within voluntary, private and statutory sectors.
Am I able to chose my placement?
No, however you are able to state any preferences in your placement profile although this cannot be guaranteed.
When does the course start?
The Step Up programme runs every other year and the next cohort will start 8 January 2024.
Is there somewhere for me to get support if I have a learning difference such as Dyslexia?
Yes! There is plenty of help available and students may be eligible for a Learning and Teaching Agreement, stating any reasonable adjustments needed for classroom learning and examinations.
Are there clubs and activities I can get involved with?
Yes! The Student Union will provide lots of information about the sporting clubs, activities and events available for all students at UoB. For more information visit bedssu.co.uk
ESSENTIAL LINKS
Simulation suite beds.ac.uk/simulation
Learning Difference support information beds.ac.uk/student-support/disabilities2
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FINAL THOUGHTS
Seeing our students grow, thrive and develop through to graduation is one of the joys of our job. Hearing of their success in practice once they have qualified and are employed is the icing on the cake.
The University of Bedfordshire Social Work Team are passionate about Social Work and believe that Social Workers make a huge difference to the lives of the people they support, as well as to society as a whole. Every year we are proud to see our newly qualified Social Work students from across the various courses graduate and enter the profession.
We now look forward to joining you on your journey!
THIS IS WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY
Lectures provide a safe place to learn and we are encouraged to express our opinions. We are well supported by the teaching team and are well prepared to enter the profession. I feel understood and I can develop at my own pace.
The Placement and University pattern provides a good balance for learning.
Tutors are accessible and supportive. All staff very helpful and responded quickly.
I was matched with an excellent placement that really supported my learning needs – really boosted my confidence for the final placement and work in general.
I felt supported throughout the course and would like to say a huge thank you to all parties for making this journey a success!
Social work is an opportunity to walk with people through the darkest times in their lives, and support them to make purposeful change. Nothing beats that!
Because when things can sometimes feel so unjust, you can be a force for good. Social workers work with some of the most vulnerable people in society, challenging racism, disablism and other forms of oppression and discrimination.
TOP REASONS TO LOVE THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION
Because you learn so much about yourself. Social workers need to practise reflectively, and you will learn to deeply analyse your assumptions and your practice.
Because social work is all about people. It is an exciting and varied role in which you have the privilege of working with adults and children in their homes and other settings so you can try to understand the world through their eyes.
Because in social work you draw from a broad knowledge base. The theories that underpin social work come from diverse subjects such as sociology, psychology, social policy, organisational behaviour theory, law and education.
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