The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree is a professional qualification in Social Work accredited by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (thereafter Social Care Council) and recognised throughout the UK, the Republic of Ireland and elsewhere. The programme is a combination of academic study and assessed practice learning opportunities. Practice Learning Opportunities are regionally allocated in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Degree in Social Work Partnership and key stakeholders.
Queen's University is ranked 1st in the UK for Social Work by the The Complete University Guide 2023 and 2nd in the UK by The Guardian University Guide 2023 and The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.
The Social Care Council developed a suite of online resources in consultation with the NI Degree in Social Work Partnership, service users and Social Work agencies to assist potential applicants to find out more about Social Work. Links outline what the role entails, where you can study Social Work and what service user’s value.
The Degree in Social Work is professionally accredited by the Social Care Council.
Social work students in Northern Ireland are required to register with the Social Care Council.
As part of the registration process, you will be asked to declare information so that the Social Care Council can assess your suitability or ‘Fitness to Practise’. The purpose is to protect the public. Each case will be considered separately and on its own merit. Further information can be accessed at:
The Social Care Council may refuse to register a student if declarations are deemed incompatible with registration (e.g. serious criminal convictions, specific health declarations, Care Orders or safeguarding issues). In some instances, students will be referred to the Social Care Council’s Consultant Psychiatrist or one of the committees. Information can be accessed at:
https://niscc.info/how-do-hearings-work/
http://www.niscc.info
Social work students normally resident in Northern Ireland are eligible to apply for the Student incentive scheme. This is available from the Department of Health and valued at 4000 GBP per year with an additional fund of 500 GBP.
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-degree-in-social-work.pdf
For information on the Assessed Year in Employment:
https://niscc.info/aye/
For employment opportunities in the statutory sector in Northern Ireland:
https://www.hscrecruit.com/
For registration as a Social Worker in the Republic of Ireland:
https://system.coru.ie/index.php/interfaces/Registration
Permanent academic staff employed by Queen’s to deliver teaching are actively conducting and disseminating research in peer-reviewed journals or at national and international conferences or seminars. In most instances, they are international leaders within their specialist field. In the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 the Social Work Degree at QUB is ranked in the top 10 for research in the UK for Social Work.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ssesw/research/
Whilst on the BSW degree there will be opportunities to engage with social work students from other countries to explore social work education and practice from an international perspective. The Degree in Social Work will enable graduates to work in countries outside of the UK throughout their career.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ssesw/
The Degree Plus / Future Skills Award recognises and accredits Queen’s students for the personal initiative and drive they demonstrate in developing skills and experiences outside of their academic programme. Students who successfully complete Degree Plus / Future Skills will have the accreditation recorded on their QSIS record and will receive a certificate at their graduation ceremony.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/degreeplus/
We offer a wide range of postgraduate programmes, such as Child Care, Mental Health, Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Systemic Psychotherapy, as well as a comprehensive list of research topics, as shown on the SSESW website.
http://www.qub.ac.uk/ssesw
Modules often draw on recent developments within policy, research and theory. The teaching is research-informed and uses international comparisons. Service user involvement permeates all the modules, through direct involvement, research findings or online or audio/visual resources.
Semester One
Introduction to Social Work
This module aims to provide students with an introduction to the core knowledge, skills and values for social work practice; to explore the context of social work practice in Northern Ireland and internationally; to understand the relevance of sociology, psychology and other theoretical perspectives to social work; and to introduce students to a number of models and methods of social work intervention.
Law for Social Workers
The aim of the module is to enable you to acquire an understanding of current legislation underpinning key areas of social work practice in Northern Ireland.
Preparation for Practice Learning
This module aims to: prepare students for initial engagement with service users and carers and prepare for contact, using a range of tuning-in frameworks; develop basic communication and interviewing skills for each stage of the work process; to develop basic skills required to work within an organisation; and to analyse, evaluate and reflect upon their own application of knowledge, skills and values in practice and to identify their strengths and learning needs.
Semester Two
Themes and Issues in Social Policy
Psychology for Social Work
The aims of this module are to provide an introduction to the main theoretical approaches in psychology; and an overview of how or understanding of human development and behaviour links with social work practice and intervention.
Sociology for Social Work
This module aims to introduce students to the nature of sociology and sociological imagination, and to acquire an appreciation for the importance of sociology for social work.
Semester One
Practice Learning Level 2
This module aims to provide guidance and support for the first practice learning opportunity (PLO). It will equip students with frameworks to reflect on their own values, ethics and practice, and to develop reflective and critical writing skills.
Evidence Informed Case Study Level 2
This module will enable you to identify different frameworks underpinning social work practice, illustrate the application of values, ethics and anti-oppressive practice frameworks, and acquire the skills to critically evaluate knowledge, skills and values.
Semester Two
Social Work in Context
This module aims to provide students with a critical overview of a range of social work approaches to working with individuals, groups and communities, with a particular focus on anti-oppressive dimensions to professional practice. Students will be enabled to develop critical understanding of values and ethics at a personal and interpersonal level, and will be introduced to broader cultural and structural dilemmas arising in social work from an anti-oppressive perspective.
Research, Policy and Practice
The aims of this module are to equip students with the skills and knowledge to find and utilise research and other literature to inform their social work practice.
Social Issues Across the Life Course
This module aims to provide students with a knowledge of sociological and psychological perspectives on the life course, improve self-awareness and reflection on their own life course, critically analyse social issues relevant to social work (with children and adults) and recognise the implications of multiple adverse childhood experiences in adult life.
Semester One
Social Work with Children and Families
The aim of this module is to prepare students for social work practice with children and families by offering you an overview of the three main areas of child welfare social work: family support; child protection; and looked after children. The module will encourage students to explore the ethical dimensions of practice, review the research base, and become familiar with the policy and legal contexts for this field of practice.
Social Work in Adult Services
The aims of this module will be to encourage students to think critically about ethical dilemmas, cultural competence, interagency working, managing risk, adult safeguarding and the social work process across a range of service user groups/programmes of care (i.e. mental health, learning disability, dementia, older people, physical health and disability, sensory impairment, and palliative care).
Social Work in Criminal Justice and the Courts
This module aims to encourage students to develop knowledge and understanding of the justice system and the contemporary issues/challenges facing the courts; explore the types of cases that come to court; introduce the social work role in the context of court work; develop the necessary skills required to present written and oral evidence in court; and develop skills of critical analysis and reflection.
Semester Two
Practice Learning Level 3
This module enables students to enhance their understanding of the social work role during their final practice learning opportunity. Students will be encouraged to consider the importance of values and ethics in practice; to explore ethical decision-making; to critically reflect on anti-oppressive practice, and to discuss risk assessment prior to engaging in the Assessed Year in Employment.
Evidence Informed Project Level 3
This module will enable students to critically explore an aspect of social work practice from a theoretical and research perspective by completing a literature review on a topic emerging from the final practice learning opportunity.