COURSE CURRICULUM

The Social Work degree spans three years and is designed to develop the knowledge, values, and skills essential for competent and ethical practice. In Year 1, students are introduced to foundational concepts through modules such as Academic and Personal Development, which focuses on essential transferable skills for higher education and future employability. Introduction to Social Work provides a historical and theoretical overview of the profession, while Introduction to Diversity, Ethics and Values explores the core principles that underpin social work practice. Introduction to Law and Social Work introduces legal frameworks relevant to adult social care. Sociology for Social Work equips students with a broader understanding of social structures, inequalities, and cultural influences, which are essential to contextualising service users’ lives. Finally, Introduction to Human Growth and Development explores the psychological, social, and biological aspects of human development, laying the groundwork for empathetic and effective interventions. In Year 2, the curriculum deepens with Application of Law in Social Work, expanding students’ legal knowledge into child and youth practice. The ASPIRE module strengthens practical competencies in assessment, planning, intervention, and review. Theories, Methods and Approaches builds students’ understanding of social work models and encourages emotionally intelligent practice. Evidence Based Practice and Research introduces students to research methodologies and how to apply findings to improve outcomes. The Disability module fosters critical reflection on inclusive practice, discrimination, and intersectionality. Safeguarding Children and Adults focuses on understanding abuse, systemic safeguarding processes, and strengths-based interventions across the lifespan. In Year 3, students address complex challenges through Managing Risk and Complexity, where they explore risk frameworks and ethical decision-making. Knowledge & Skills for Social Work Practice includes a 100-day placement and focuses on meeting the Professional Capabilities Framework. The Changing Context for Social Work encourages critical thinking on the evolving political, legal, and organisational dimensions of practice. Finally, Service Evaluation and Social Work Effectiveness equips students to appraise evidence, evaluate services, and make research-informed recommendations, ensuring a reflective, analytical, and outcomes-driven approach to professional social work.