Social Work

Why study this course?

Our Social Work MSc degree is accredited by Social Work England. Once you've successfully completed the course, you can then join the Social Work England register that all qualified social workers must register with to practise in England.

Our course is rooted in the principles of equality and social justice. It covers a wide range of social work subjects, helping you to become a reflective and resilient practitioner who can work in a variety of settings. This may include working with children, families, older people or individuals with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

London Met was the 2017 “preferred provider” of the North East London (NEL) commissioning panel, which represents the Social Work Development Partnership of five local authorities. This demonstrates the excellence of teaching you can expect on our Social Work MSc.

More about this course

The focus of this professionally-accredited Social Work MSc programme is to help you develop practical skills that are necessary for a successful career in the health and social care sector. Training is based on up-to-date research, academic theories, policy and legislation. You’ll develop knowledge in a number of relevant subjects including the application of law, assessment and planning, human growth and development, research evaluation, safeguarding vulnerable adults and children, as well as social work theory.

Crucially, we’ll ensure that you understand how to apply your academic knowledge, skills and theory to the real world of social work.

In your final year, you’ll write a dissertation on a topic of your choice. This is achieved through your own independent study. You’ll be free to combine research and evidence, current policy, practice and theoretical perspectives.

You’ll be taught by a team of senior lecturers who are registered as social workers. Alongside our senior lecturers, we invite service users, carers and practising social workers to contribute to your learning.

You’ll be encouraged to interact with this dynamic mix of teachers. We welcome your questions and contribution of ideas and experiences to classroom debates.

In year one you’ll undertake supervised practise within two different placement settings for a duration of 70 days and 100 days in year two. To prepare for these placements you’ll undertake 20 days of skills training prior to the placement and a further 10 throughout the remainder of your course.

If you successfully complete all modules but not the dissertation module, you can be awarded our Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. This option will also allow you to register with Social Work England.

As the 2017/18 “preferred provider” of the North East London commissioning panel, we’ve been commissioned to train existing social workers as Practice Educators to supervise students while on placement.

A key role of Practice Educators is to support your development of practical skills. This will make you more effective in a diverse range of social work settings.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed through a variety of methods including essays, exams, oral presentations, group work, a portfolio and two periods assessed practice placements. You’ll also undertake supervised social work placements within at least two different practice settings over a minimum of 170 days during the course, as well as undertaking 30 skills days.

Professional accreditation

The Social Work MSc is accredited by Social Work England. You must successfully complete and pass all your assessments to register as a social worker with the organisation.

If you successfully complete all modules apart from the dissertation module, you can gain a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. This option will also allow you to join Social Work England register.

The course is also compliant with the Professional Capabilities Framework as defined by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW). Once registered with Social Work England, you’ll be eligible to join BASW, which will further boost your employability.

After the course

You will be qualified to practise social work (subject to the requirements of registration with Social Work England) and be eligible to become a member of the British Association of Social Workers. This is of major importance to your career as a social worker.

Because of the diverse topics taught on this course, you'll have the benefit of being able to work in multiple fields of social work.

Our graduates have taken up posts in both statutory and non-statutory settings and with different care groups. These include working with children and families, mental health settings, working with older people and supporting those with learning disabilities.