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Pre-training experience for social work
The majority of students studying the DipSW are over 25 years old and most courses require people to have had some experience of social work before they are accepted. All postgraduate courses and several undergraduate courses require six to 12 months experience in a social work or social care setting. For precise requirements, it is always best to contact the university you are interested in applying to, as the criteria vary considerably from place to place.

Working as a volunteer or as an unqualified worker in social work or social care settings can be very satisfying and valuable. It is also a way of finding out more about different kinds of social work and social care and helping you to think about your future career. You may decide you want to remain in the workplace and add to your skills by studying National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs). Or, you may want to apply to study the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW) or the new degree in Social Work.

This section looks at some of the most effective ways of getting started in social care and social work.

What is relevant experience?
Relevant experience can be voluntary and/or paid work experience, in some cases life experience, or a mixture of all three. Whichever way you gain your experience, DipSW courses and the new degree courses will be looking for:

• some knowledge and experience of the structure of the personal
  social services and an understanding of the role of social workers;
• some indication of basic social work skills - listening, assessing,
  communicating, liaising;
• personal commitment to and experience of anti-discriminatory practice;
• self-awareness, flexibility and openness to new ideas and attitudes.

Voluntary work
Opportunities for voluntary work may be available with statutory bodies such as local authority social services departments and, more commonly, voluntary agencies. For people whose full time jobs and/or financial commitments prevent them from spending long periods in unpaid employment, the most effective way of gaining relevant experience may be to undertake voluntary work in the evenings or weekends. After several months, it is possible to gain paid employment in social care using the experience and reference from that period of voluntary work.

The addresses of local volunteer bureaux or councils for voluntary service are listed in telephone directories, public libraries and citizens advice bureaux.

Newspapers such as The Guardian on a Wednesday, magazines like Community Care, and this website and local and community newspapers also advertise voluntary work vacancies. Large public libraries and town halls usually have a notice board advertising local voluntary work opportunities.

Useful addresses for information on voluntary work
National Association of Volunteer Bureaux
Tel: 0121 633 4555.

Community Service Volunteers (CSV) is a national organisation that helps place 16-35 year olds in voluntary projects usually lasting four months to a year. Projects are available throughout the UK and volunteers are often placed away from their home area. All CSVs receive pocket money, meals, and if placed away from home, rent-free accommodation and return fares to and from home at the beginning and end of the project.

CSV
237 Pentonville Road
London W1 9NJ
Tel: 020 7278 6601.

Millennium Volunteers
National Number: 0800 917 8185
London: 020 7278 7898
BTCV
80 York Way
London N1 9AG

Voluntary work and benefits
If you are unemployed you can undertake unpaid voluntary work and continue to claim unemployment benefit or income support provided you are free to attend interviews and take up a job if offered one.

Employment as an assistant or ancillary
Many social service and voluntary agencies employ staff at assistant level with job titles such as care assistant, support worker, residential social worker or ancillary worker.

Care assistant/support worker/ancillary worker posts are reasonably common if not very well paid and can provide people with enough relevant experience to apply for the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW). However you will be expected to have reflected on and learnt from your experience and to have received good references.

The Guardian on Wednesday, Community Care Magazine and this website and the local press all advertise vacancies for unqualified social workers. Details may also be available from local job centres and employment agencies. Local authority social services/social work departments and voluntary agencies may also be able to provide details of current or forthcoming vacancies.

Private social care/social work agencies
For those people with considerable paid relevant experience, there are employment agencies specialising in the recruitment and placement of unqualified and qualified social workers. These can be found in telephone directories and in advertisements in the social care press. It is advisable where possible to select long-term placements so that you can build up working relationships and demonstrate your competence with both service users and managers.

Newspapers, magazines and websites advertising social care & social work vacancies
UK-Wide:

www.communitycare.co.uk
Community Care (Thursday).
The Guardian (Wednesday).
The Voice (Monday) black and ethnic minority.
Disability Now (monthly) disability.
The Pink Paper (Thursday) lesbian and gay.