We reported yesterday that Jackie Rafferty, Hilary Tompsett and Sue White have written to ministers warning that any removal of bursaries for social work students could result in significant personal debts and a shortage of applicants.

The story focussed on bursaries, but, as Rafferty later pointed out, universities receive a certain amount of funding per student from the Higher Education Funding Council for England as well.

Rafferty said it was the potential loss of both that would be the double whammy. If bursaries are used differently but HEFCE funding remains, students might be able to weather the storm.

But if both go, social work may no longer be able to sustain its status as a degree-level profession.

Read the complete post at http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/social-work-blog/2010/11/will-social-work-maintain-its.html