Graduate training scheme for adult social care management
Armed with a degree but no practical experience, the next generation of adult care leaders is being trained for a rapid rise through the ranks, reports Kirsty Mc Gregor
22 September 2011
Social Work Reform Board: the contexts and organisations capability
The Social Work Reform Board has set out what is expected of social workers at every stage of their
careers. Kirsty McGregor explores how reform could see practitioners gaining the power to shape the changes that affect them and service users
10 June 2011
Ask the Expert: does my relationship break the rules?
Claudia Megele and Peter Nelson (above) answer a social worker's question about her concerns over her relationship. Q: I am a 23-year-old hospital social worker and work with adults detained under the Mental Health Act. After we had been going out for four months my 22-year-old boyfriend told me that he was admitted to hospital three years ago with drug-induced psychosis and hallucinations.
30 November 2010
Helping social workers navigate their careers
Interim co-chair of the College of Social Work Maurice Bates, presents an update on the development of the new body
03 December 2010
How To... employment references
In an increasingly competitive job market, employer references could mean the difference between employment and the dole queue.
30 November 2010
How to...tackle disguised compliance
How does disguised compliance present itself within families?
11 November 2010
How can I gain a statutory placement?
I am a second-year social work student and have had major problems in finding a placement at a local authority. A lot of people on my course are getting worried because the local council recently cut the number of placements by half. I've ended up at an older people's charity - the people there are lovely but it's not ideal, and I really want some experience of working for a local authority. Please could you advise?
10 November 2010
How best to transfer my care skills to social work?
I am a third-year student at the Open University taking a health and social care degree. I have been working as a senior care worker/co-ordinator with people with learning difficulties and special needs for eight years now. Although I love my job, the possibilities of improving my career and being able to use my studies in practice are very limited. I am looking for an organisation that could sponsor me to do the 200 days of practice that are required to get the degree or ideally, a position as an assistant social worker. Do you know of any ways to validate this 200 days of training with my eight years' experience?
09 November 2010
Ask the expert: should I increase my pension contributions?
Q. I'm currently on a defined contribution pension scheme, but my employer is asking me to raise my pension contributions from 3% to 5%. I'm only 35 and...
22 October 2010
Funding for Welsh graduate social work students at English universities
I am from Wales and have a place on a two-year social work master's course at a university in England. I was told I could not receive funding through the...
15 October 2010
Agents of permanence
Some councils are cutting the number of agency social workers but, as budgets are cut and caseloads rise, they can provide a flexible, cost-effective solution, reports Kirsty McGregor
15 October 2010
Should social work students be registered with a national body?
A social work student and an academic debate the merits of student registration
22 September 2010
Ask the expert: Should I delegate case to support worker?
Roger Kline responds to a question concerning delegating a case
09 September 2010
Do you need to be a qualifed social worker to be a good social work manager?
Hilton Dawson and Blair McPherson debate management qualifications in social work
01 September 2010
Keeping up to date with social work
Meaghan Roland responds to a social work graduate in the north of England who is out of work but needs to keep up to date on developments in the sector Q: I came to the UK from Zimbabwe in 1999 as an international student. I did my social work degree at Kingston University, London, but have not worked as a social worker due to work permit problems. I now live in the north of England and have been working as support worker in social care. In the past year I have been looking for a social work job after sorting out my papers but I have no experience. I want to renew my registration next year but how can I do that if I'm not practising? A: It must feel as though you're trapped in something of a vicious circle, but the good news is that there's lots you can do to make yourself ready for work. Make sur
26 August 2010
