Thinking about a career in social work with adults

Social workers protect children and adults with support needs from harm. From helping keep a family under pressure together to supporting someone with mental health problems, social work is a varied, demanding, often emotional and very rewarding career.

If you are working in adults' services you may work with older people, people with learning or physical disabilities. If you work with people with mental health problems, you'll focus on promoting independence, wellbeing and having control over their lives, including accessing their entitlements to welfare support and/or to be in employment. You may also support adults who have substance abuse problems, have offended, are living with HIV or Aids, or are involved with the criminal justice system.

How to become a social worker

Social worker is a protected title, so the routes to qualifying as a social work professional are regulated by the UK care regulators. It's important to enrol on an approved course.

Here is some information about fast-track and apprenticeships options as well as more traditional routes - and the financial support available for your studies.

Qualifications and experience

Social workers must have a degree in social work (BA), or master's degree in social work. A master's degree is a two-year-long postgraduate course for those with a degree in a different subject. Some universities offer part-time studying.

Experience is an important part of social work qualifications. A work placement forms half of social work courses with academic learning focusing on legislation, ethics and theory. You'll need some experience of social work or social care when applying to study. This can be paid, voluntary or placement work, or even life experience.

Typical skills

Here are some essential skills you'll need to become a social worker:

• problem solving skills to advise people on the best support for them
• digital skills to keep records and find information online
• the ability to stay calm under pressure
• team working skills to work with other social care and health professionals

You'll usually work as part of a team but have responsibility for a number of different people. You'll work closely with other organisations including health services, therapy services, other providers, voluntary sector agencies, police and probation services.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements differ from course to course. Generally, you'll need a minimum of 240 UCAS points: five GCSEs grade A* to C, including English and Maths, and two A-levels.

Where you can study

We work in partnership with five universities and colleges in the North East who offer excellent social work programmes.

If you have the support of an existing employer who can provide you with the practice placements you need you can also consider programmes offered by the Open University.

Financial support

If you are undertaking an undergraduate degree in social work, post graduate diploma in social work, or a masters degree in social work you may be eligible for a bursary. Bursaries are supported by the Department of Health as an incentive to train in social work and are administered by the NHS Business Service Authority (NHSBSA). See NHSBSA - funding for social work students for more information

You could also consider a student loan - see Gov.uk: student finance for more information

Overseas qualified social workers looking to work in the UK

First, check if your social work qualification meets the standards for registration with one of the four UK regulators. If you wish to register, you'll need to complete application forms and pay an application fee, which is different for each country. The process of registration may take some time.

If you do not already have a job with a sponsoring employer, there are various ways you can find social work jobs. Employers often advertise through social work publications, for example, Professional Social Work (PSW) magazine, through the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) website or through local council websites. You may decide to use the assistance of a social work employment agency. These companies discuss your work experience and may be able to assist in securing either permanent or locum/temporary work in the UK. Most of these companies are 'for profit' and charge for this service.

Fast-track programmes and bursaries

If you wish to become a Mental Health Social worker, and already have a degree (at least a 2.2 in a non-social work area), the fast-track programme 'Think Ahead' may be for you. The programme offers paid training to become a social worker in mental health, supporting people with mental health problems to thrive, and start a career that changes lives.

Social workers can work in a variety of mental health settings. The Think Ahead programme qualifies you for any social worker role, including work in specialist mental health settings like forensic services and child and adolescent mental health services, but the main focus is on experience in adult community mental health services. Teams within these services are multi-disciplinary, and can include social workers, nurses, support workers, occupational therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists.

This programme is a great way to change your career while being paid to undertake a master's degree and gaining vital experience of carrying out the role. This could be the perfect time to change your career and start making a difference.

Find out more on the Think Ahead website.

Please note that the Think Ahead programme qualifies you to apply for registration with Social Work England. Your ability to practise as a social worker is subject to the regulator accepting you onto the register.