Hi, just wondering if anyone has any experience of a placement breaking down? I was recently on placement in an organisation that was dreadful. I was given minimal supervision, the first being 6 weeks after I started, given no real role and pretty much left to do nothing all day. As I had found the placement myself, much to the annoyance of the placement manager, I felt that I needed to make the best out of the situation and as a result did not approach the university. Due to a misunderstanding, I told my on site supervisor (OSS) that he did not need attend the midpoint review. That is where the nightmare began! Apparently he got into a bit of trouble for not attending although I was unaware of this at the time, although he did tell me that he was worried about the placement breaking down because the organisation relies on the revenue that students generate. He also told me that 'sh*t rolls downhill' implying that the buck would stop with him. My practice tutor informed me that he (OSS) needed to contact her in order to sign the midpoint off and after prompting several times by me, he eventually rang her.
When I received the copy of the midpoint review back from the PT, it detailed another meeting that had been 'agreed' by all parties, including me, scheduled for 2 days time. This was the first that I had heard of it and immediately contacted the PT to find out who had called the meeting and why. She informed me that I needed to talk to the OSS. Upon questioning him, I was still none the wiser as he told me that he was unsure about the purpose of the meeting but not to worry as he would be there to support me. The meeting was absolutely awful and I was astounded by allegations of unprofessionalism and I was told that I was lacking in initiative as well as several other complaints by the OSS. None of these criticisms had ever been raised before and I had received nothing but positive feedback throughout the placement. The placement was suspended there and then by my PT who told me that the suspension was in my best interests as there was no way I could be expected to go back to the placement the next day after . Although I felt really upset by the breakdown of trhe placement, particularly as I couldn't end my relationships with the service users in a positive way, I felt that everything would work out for the best.
After a month the Independent Practice Assessor contacted me to conduct an interview by telephone. To my shock she told me that several allegations had been made concerning my professionalism. In fact the OSS, backed up by the practice assessor had outrightly lied about my conduct in the placement. I was accused of engineering the OSS into not attending the mid-point in order to avoid him voicing his concerns. I attempted to give my perspective of the situation and was told that there was no reason why the other parties would lie and that I had more to gain from lying than them. To make matters worse, my PT had also told her that I needed a higher level of support than any other student and that she gave me weekly help via email as I couldn't perform the simplest of academic work without her input. This is a total lie and I told the IPA that I was prepared to let her access my emails in order to disprove this. I felt (and still do) shocked that she would say this when it is just not true. She has nothing to gain from lying so I don't understand why she did. To be honest it was like trial by telephone and I was left feeling very disheartened by the conversation.
Well today I received a copy of the report and I feel devastated. It is extremely negative and unbalanced and reccomends that I should not be offered another placement. I have been called manipulative and not suited for social work on the basis of unproven lies. The problem is, is that because everyone else is sticking to the same story, I look like I have made the whole thing up. It even stated in the report that I seem to look at things from a perspective that no-one else does??? The suspension of the placement has gone from being in my best interests to me not being suitable for social work.
All I wanted to do was get on with my training and get out there and be of use. I am a 35 year old lone parent who was making a 100 mile round trip on a daily basis to attend uni (MA not offered locally) and as a result have had to make so many sacrifices for what now seems like nothing. I feel so upset about the whole situation and feel as if my future is very bleak at this moment in time.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I don't even feel that it is worth complaining as it seems everyone closes ranks in situations like this.
I have read your posting and I really feel for you. I don't fully understand the ins and outs as I have not started the MA yet but I do feel that as an individual you should not accept this. I don't know if this means your course is over as I didn't really understand the outcome but I do think that even if a placement has broken down you should have the opportunity to have another palcement. What is the University's position on this? I am concerned that an assessment can be allowed to label people as manipulative, is that not slanderous? I think if the University doesn't back you it would be worth fighting that, I don't know if you are in a trade union or not but they can be helpful. I would be looking for some kind of outside help with this, maybe a student union rep or even legal advice (re manipulative comments, sue them!).
This type of thing really makes me mad, how can they say you are not suited for social work on the basis of one placement? that's terrible. Sounds to me they are closing ranks because they haven't been up to scratch as a placement. Don't let it go if it's going to stop your course, but get yourself a good advocate, don't fight it single handedly.
Good luck
Esti
You need to have copies of all Supervisions etc. if the allegations made against you are to stand up - they should have detailed areas where you needed additional help, support, knowledge etc. and demonstrated what they had done to assist you and where they felt that you were still not making progress. Student placements are a 2-way street and agencies need to be aware of your experience(s) to date and there should be regular (at least fortnightly) formal Supervision plus meetings with the Uni.
Are you a member of BASW? If so, I suggest you contact their advice and representation service asap- they may be able to help with this. If not, someone from the students union at your uni might.
I do feel for you- the stress must be unbelievable. I don't have any other ideas though, sadly.
~ The race goes not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running ~
Thank you for your replies. The support been very gratefully received!!
There were only 4 formal supervisions beginning about 6 weeks into placement, the sessions were always either cancelled or postponed. Strangely during the meeting, it was mentioned that I had supervision three days into my placement with my work based supervisor. This was during my induction week and I hadn't even met him at this point! When I raised the lack of supervision I was told that a time when myself and another student were given printed out portfolio pro formas counted as supervision. My practice tutor was in agreement that this did indeed comprise a supervision. Apparently supervision can take the form of an unrecorded informal chat too!
At no time were any concerns raised against me regarding my ability in practice other than I was under prepared for a teaching session on one ocassion. In fact I was told by my supervisors that I would make a great social worker. This opinion changed for the purpose of the report which stated that there were concerns about my ability but they were not raised with the uni because the practice assessor thought that ''I might just scrape a pass''. I don't have any copies of the supervisions, I was never given any copies. At the time I wasn't too worried about this, I just presumed that I could get copies at the end of the placement when I was compiling my portfolio. How stupid was I??
At the moment I just have to sit and wait for the external examiner to make a decision. Seeing as it will be based on the report I am not too hopeful of a positive outcome. My advice to anyone embarking on this choice of career path to make sure that they join a union as soon as they join the social work course. Unfortunately for me, I never did. I have made an appointment with the student welfare advisor so hopefully I will receive some support and advice imminently.
I have decided to pursue this further, regardless of what happens to me. I feel very strongly that professionals working with vulnerable people find it acceptable to lie to cover their own failings in effect ruining my career before it began. I have found myself in a position where I have even questioned myself as to whether I do indeed view the world through some alternative perception of reality as was suggested in the report. To someone in a more fragile state of mind this could be very damaging which is why I intend to make sure my voice is heard even if it is only recorded and left on file.
Hi Mandy, I'm so sorry to hear that you failed your placement. You must feel very disappointed being so close to the end and now having to fight for a further placement. Do you think that your appeal will be successful? What happened after the placement was terminated? Did you prove that the accusations were lies? I am so glad that I am not the only person to go through something like this although I wouldn't wish this on anyone.
Hi, just wanted to reply and offer my support to you. I had a placement breakdown in my second year of uni. Some similarities, I was given no supervision whatsoever for the first 3 months and absolutely no positive feedback,. The less feedback and guidance I received the more I retreated into myself, and this culminated in my supervisor who was also my practice teacher calling a 3 way meeting with the university. The meeting was difficult with both of us offering very different perspectives of the placement to date. The only failing my supervisor admitted was the lack of supervision. She also stated I didn't respond well to her 'direct management style'. I left the placement the same day as the meeting as I didn't feel it would ever work out as I felt so intimidated by my supervisor and the fact she was also my practice teacher meant I had no other form of support. I was then asked by my tutor to provide a report which 'evidenced' the work I had done in placement, and basically this went to a panel alongside my supervisors report and it would be decided if the days I had completed could be counted. I gave my all in the report discussing all the good work I felt I had completed and asking the panel to consider this. I was very fortunate in that it was agreed my days could be counted, and I then had to work through the summer holidays on another placement to make up the days remaining, which was approximately half in order that I could start year 2 at the same level as my fellow students. The whole experience left me severely lacking in confidence as my supervisor had described me as 'unable to take the initiative' and I was very fortunate in that I was given a superb practice teacher who did everything she could to build my confidence. I then went onto successfully complete that and my final placement with no issues at all and I have now been qualified two years. On reflection I am able to see that my supervisor expected too much of me from my first placement and that her management style actually equated to bullying. So, please don't give up, go down any and all avenues in order to appeal this and value yourself and the hard work you completed on your placement and I'm sure there will be light at the end of the tunnel. GOOD LUCK
Just to update you all, I received a letter from the uni today asking me to withdraw from the course. I am shocked that my career can be over like this without anyone from the uni even meeting with me and listening to my version of events. The letter did not even advise me that I had the right to appeal. After emailing the head of the course outlining my disappointment and that I would be taking further action, she has invited me to meet with her on Thursday. Can't see the point to be honest, no one is interested, they just want me to go away with the minimum of fuss. I feel really powerless at this moment in time and am really wishing that I hadn't bothered even starting this course
truly sorry to hear what has happened. would anyone from the students union be willing to attend the meeting with the head of uni with you, in a supportive capacity?
Hi, sorry to hear of your problem
I know its short notice if your meeting is Thursday, but you have to find as much 'evidence' as you can to support your side - do you know of any previous students at the placement that could back you up on PT behaviour. If not you need to summarise your time on placement - when supervisions where cancelled and by whom and the reasons given; also stress the lack of written records of supervision.
If your PT suddenly produces records, use the fact that they have not been signed by you to agree them. Take a copy of your university policy/procedures which should be in your placement handbook/guidelines - and highlight relevant facts so that you do not become flustered finding things during the meeting. Also take someone with you as a witness - student advisor/union rep or even just someone in a professional capacity that you may know from past employment
don't have anything to add to the above advice but wanted to say that I hope that the meeting goes well for you and you make some progress with your complaint.
I failed a placement in very similar circumstances. The practice assessment team seemed to close ranks against me, although I was allowed to take a repeat placement. There was no question of malpractice or unprofessionalism but had the practice assessor chosen to go down that route I'm sure she could have made it stick (in retrospect, I'm sure she was the sort of person who would have made an allegation if it had occured to her to do so).
The University were all sweetness and light while things were going well but at the first sign of trouble they just left me to my fate; I was told that the practice assessor's decision was final and the University could not overturn this. The University concluded that my completed portolio was a satisfactory stand-alone piece of work but without a pass recommmendation from the practice assessor it wasn't sufficient.
In my opinion many practice assessors operate too independently and without sufficient accountability to Universities or their students. The training for practice assessors at my University was only 5 days long and my practice assessor freely admitted (at my final review, after telling me - for the first time - that I had failed my placement) that she did not understand the standards by which she was meant to be assessing me. Many students are out on a limb during their placements and feel reluctant to involve their University tutors in problems which they are under pressure to settle 'in-house' at their placement. I was informed afterwards that failing to get along with your practice assessor or manager can be grounds for failing a placement if this has affected your practice.
Practice assessment is a highly subjective and inexact science. I consider that many placements stand or fall on the whims of practice assessors rather than on the actions of students. Universities are short of placements and realise that alienating practice assessors is a costly business; it is far easier to find another student than court and 'train' another assessor so students who fail their placements are often swept aside and forgotten. I had no recourse to an appeals process and was advised to just 'shut up and take the fail' and be grateful thay I could get on with a repeat placement.
I'm sorry to hear that all this has happened to you and that the consequences of failing your placement have been so grave. I hope your meeting on Thursday goes well and that you can claw something back from all this. I've since finished my placements and I'm now completing a research dissertation; I'm writing on Housing but I think a far more interesting research topic would be 'what issues cause social work students to fail placements and how do Universities address this in practice assessment?'
Good luck.
The whole system needs to be looked into because it clearly does not work. I was allowed to submit a written report about what happened on placement. I wrote this in an honest and factual way. I had no way of knowing what was written about me until I spoke with the IPA. I was not allowed to address any of the lies or claims that were made about me even though I had evidence to the contrary of what was being said. The external examiner based his decision on the IPA report. I didn't stand a chance of getting another placement. I have received no support from the uni and have only managed to get a meeting tomorrow because I emailed the head of school and explained that I will not be bullied into going away quietly. The appeals process is a very daunting process which seems similar to attending court, that's if your appeal isn't rejected before you get to that stage.
I knew social work is a tough profession before I started but I in no way imagined anything like this. I feel that I couldn't go back to the uni even if I cleared my name but I'm not sure anywhere else would accept me after this. Even if I did get a place somewhere else, who's to say that this type of thing couldn't happen again? I even feel anxious about what will happen if I apply for a job - do I have to explain what has happened when I get asked what I have been doing for the past year?
I also feel very bitter right now about all the times that I have been too tired or busy to spend quality time with my children after a 100 mile round trip, a full day in uni and assignments to do in the evening. We have all had to make sacrifices, particularly in terms of finances, and this makes me feel angry that it has all been for nothing.
Sorry to hear what's happened to you. Go and see a higher education law solicitor. Students are entitled to legal aid so it would be free even if you just wanted to know what your rights are and not take any action. Sinclairs Solicitors in Penarth South Wales have solicitors who have given advice and represented social work students with matters such as yours around the country. Sounds scary and is stressful but has worked out alright in the end for students I know. If you don't want to use this solicitor find one outside of the area that you go to university in as universities also employ solicitors. If you want to go through BASW use their main office in England (advice and representation dept) even if you live in Wales. The solicitors way seems to be the quickest route to getting things sorted out and when they are involved they will be dealing with the people in the top positions in your university (e.g vice chancellors) who employ the social work tutors and practice teachers so they will be accountable and you will be able to state your case and be listened to. Good luck.
Hi
From my own experience I dont think you need a solicitor- ask for a leave of absence until your case is seen by the Examiner Board. To take time always helps - you need to ask this from you Personal Tutor and make them sign- period of leave due to illness, stress, situation, financial etc?
I never gave up and now I am about to finish my last placement.
I hope this helps
Andrea
Thankyou for your replies. The meeting last Thursday went as well as it could. I finally felt as if someone was listening. It turns out that the IPA didn't even ask to see any supervisions, she just took the PA's word that they actually happened. This shows that she was not basing the report on any factual evidence as she has seen no evidence of any concerns raised, action plans etc. There was no attempt to put an action plan together during the final meeting even though this is the stipulated course of action. I blame that on the fact my Practice Tutor brought her mother and 4 year old son and they arrived back during the meeting. She was in a hurry to leave and the quickest way to do this was to suspend the placement.
The director of the course was very encouraging and agreed that I should appeal. I have an appointment with the student representatives who specialise in helping with the mechanics of this next week. Unfortunately I have to be formally asked to withdraw by the board of examiners who don't meet until the middle of September before I can begin the process. Even if I win my appeal I will have missed a months worth of teaching meaning I will probably have to start the course again in March, putting my graduation back by a year. The financial implications of this mean that it is unlikely I will be able to afford to continue anyway!
I really feel that the system of failed placements needs to be reviewed. Sure you get the chance to submit a written report but if the other people involved make allegations there is no way to dispute these claims. It all goes into the report as if it were proven fact and it is on this report that every other decision about you is then made. I fully intend to make a complaint about this because it is a very unjust process. I hate the thought of anyone else going through this type of situation as it is makes you feel totally powerless.
Hello, im sorry to hear about the break down of your placements. I am due to start a BA course this September and im worried that i will not be giving much support. what uni's were you in? also could some tell me what it is that has to be in your portfolio's? are they time consuming amoungst all of the other essays to do? thanks Kirstie
If you want to be heard and treated impartially then you need to have someone to help you that is not involved with the university. The examination board at my university consisted of 6 of the social work lecturers and only 1 outside visitor (who has now resigned) therefore you are waiting weeks to hopefully have some board treat you fairly who already are the people involved. The independent adjudicators at my university mark our portfolios so how can they be independent when their on the universities payroll. If you have a professional help you go through the complaints procedure you will not feel powerless. They will write on your behalf and support you until it eventually reaches a panel of enquiry held on behalf of the vice chancellor consisting of professionals with no involvement with your department (you can even dismiss these people and have them changed if you think they would not be impatial) The student representatives on my course also just did what the lecturers told them as they merely took the role on just to write it on their c.v's. You also need to find out if withdrawing from your university will make you ineligible to go through their complaints procedure as the students on my course did not withdraw from their courses until after they had gone through the complaints procedure. Students on my course have been found unfit to practice and now struck off their care councils register because they were not fairly represented and listened to because they put their trust in the staff to sort the problems out. These people have now given up on training to be social workers when it wasn't even their fault, but the ones who have gone through the procedure I have described have won their cases and are now at different universities. It is of course up to you and it will be stressful but I know which way I would go with it.
I have to say I agree with Jonny, no way would I withdraw from the course in order to get a hearing it's too risky. Absolutely get independent help, best prob. legal help to ensure I got good defence.
i have consulted a solicitor specialising in education law and they think that I have a good case for procedural unfairness at the very least for the way that I have been treated. I will have to wait for the appeal mid-sept but at least I feel that I will be as prepared as I can be. Thanks once again for all of your support - it has been really appreciated!
Hi Butterfly
That's good news the solicitor thinks you have a case, you have had a rotten time with this but hopefully you'll get it resolved with a good outcome.
I hope your appeal in Sept goes well too.
Hi there,
What an awful situation! I have experience of a placement breaking down. My placement broke down and I had to repeat a placement, but actually was the best thing that could have happended to me because I loved the new placement, and now have a job with them.
Ok, my advice would be complain. I couldn't decide whether to bother or not because you can feel rather hopeless and yes they do all close ranks. But you owe it to yourself and the values of social work to challenge injustice.
What you need is clear evidence of what you did in those first six weeks when you realised you needed to find all your own work. Someone would have noticed if you had been sat there all day!!!! as students are always monitored by eveyone even if a little bit. Even if these are emails that you sent, print them, clients you visited, get the contact notes, or agencies you visited then you can find a way of perhaps asking them to write a letter to confirm you were there.
Next they must have given you more detail of the concerns they have, and systematically go through each and think of a response- not your opinion, but evidence.
My confidence was really hit hard and part of feeling a bit better was complaining because as you say the report is unbalanced - through my uni I had a chance to respond and so should you.
If I didn't complain and win then my grade would be capped at a D and I was heading for a 1st degree! So I went for complaining, at least you have chance to right a wrong. I won my complaint and it was a wonderful feeling!
I know its hard but you should fight and even if you don't win then you will know you tried and we stick up for our su's everyday and encourage them to do the same so go for it.
Do they have evidence for any of these things or facts or are they simply opinion? got anyone that you got on well with even if from another agency?
Hi Lavender,
there were no concerns regarding my practice, certainly no supervisions or action plans. It all went wrong after I sent an email to my practice tutor about the late response of my work based supervisor adding his feedback to my direct obs. She thought it was a good idea to copy him and my practice assessor in to her response, along with my original email. After that I was excluded from team meetings and generally left out of the team. The work based supervisor only spoke to the PA after he failed to attend the midpoint and she could not sign it off without his comments. The fact that he couldn't be bothered to attend even though he apparently had so many concerns hasn't aroused the slightest bit of concern. He then decided to claim that he was having to give me loads of support to perform the simplest of tasks to cover the lack of support and supervision that I had received. It was claimed that I had 8 supervisions which was untrue. The IPA didn't even bother to obtain the supervisions, just stated in the report that this was how many I had received.
I have managed to get 2 statements from other students who were on placement at the same time as me although they were in other departments. They back up what I say so I'm hoping this will be useful. Hopefully my appeal will be heard by someone with some common sense although after the experience that I've had I seriously doubt it!
I'm glad that that your situation worked out for the best - keep your fingers crossed for me!
I failed my second placement, and unfortunately it is true that a practice assessor can make assumptions about a student and their attitude and motivation, and write this in a report as though it is fact. My report was very unbalanced and included outright lies.
Usually the University will side with the practice assessor.
I feel completely powerless.
Louveen I really feel for you right now but try not to give up yet. Have you been refused another opportunity to complete a PLO? If so you need to find out if you have an advice and representative service at your uni that you can access for guidance.
None of the staff at my university have been forthcoming with useful information in regards to my situation. I have now found out that I could still be attending the university for teaching pending my appeal or even continue the course with no placements for a lesser award. You have to be proactive in finding out about your rights because if your uni is anything like mine they will be happy to just let you leave quietly.
At my university there are only 2 reasons for appeal, mitigations or procedural irregularites. Are there any clear breaches of the handbook etc by any of the people involved in your PLO such as failing to follow processes or neglect of their responsibilities? Try and gather as much evidence as possible to support your side of the story eg emails, supervisions etc. It might also be worth contacting a solicitor to establish what your rights are if you do not win your appeal.
I really am sorry for you because I know how devastating being in this situation feels. Try and take care of yourself Louveen because the stress can become unbearable at times especially when it's all you can think about. Remember you will need your all your strength for your appeal if that's what it comes to. If you need any support or just want someone different to vent to feel free to contact me ((hugs))
If you accept my friend invite I'll be able to send you a PM.
Hi Butterfly. I have not been on here for a bit so wondering how it is all going with you. Sorry to read about the other students but can't say I am at all surprised about the problems they have been having. Good luck everyone.
Hi Jonny, I have now been formally withdrawn after my appeal did not meet the criteria for procedural irregularities and was not even processed! That was after the student appeal advisor looked over my form and assured me I had a strong case. I was advised that I can complain which I will be doing with the help of a solicitor.
After taking a long hard look at my options I still really want to be a social worker. In fact after the experience that I have had it's made me more determined. If I can be treated in this way by people in positions of power, how many service users are treated the same but don't have the resources to fight back?
I have spoken with admissions tutors from a couple of other universities who have been somewhat surprised by the details of my case. I have been told that the fact that I have had to withdraw will not have a negative impact on any future applications especially if I can get a reference from my personal tutor. I am going to give it a month to see how I get on with the complaints procedure as this will have a bearing on what I write on the UCAS form and then I'm going to reapply. I will give updates on my progress in the hope that anyone else who has a similar experience will know what to expect.
Sorry I just wanted to butt in and say 'well done' for keeping postive and re-applying to do the course somewhere else! This experience will help you to become a very good social worker who understands personally the issues service users have to face.
I wish you all the best and good luck with getting into another universities, keep us all updated.
"Judgements prevent us from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances."
Hi Butterfly. If you have to go through UCAS again just write that you have had to take a year off. I don't necessarily think you have to tell them about what's happened.If your personal tutor gives you a biased/negative reference then a solicitor will go through the process with you. If there has found to be procedural irregularities on their part I am sure that they would'nt want a solicitor taking them to court. Stick with it . It may take some time to sort out but if you haven't done anything wrong then you shouldn't be blamed and be prevented from doing a career you want to do. Definetly stick with using a solicitor though!. Keep us posted.
I've sent you a message Butterfly
Hi Butterfly,
Sorry to hear about you situation.
Im in a bad situation as well.. I was currently doing the MA in social worK. They wouldnt let me proceed onto the 2nd year, Passed 5 out of 6 modules. I only failed one assignment. They asked me to withdraw. Im tired I dont want to go through the appeal process again. They took 6 months to make a decision and it wasted a year of my life. I didnt apply for mitigating circumstances - Maybe I could have saved myself but I doubt it. The staff were not supportive at all. They were very cold. My appeal was successful after a long battle - but once i returned they treated me like crap.
I then went back and failed an assignment again- We had a death in the family and i gave them a medical note but they still asked me to withdraw. They have let others proceed when failing work.
Feel really hard done by. Im not willing to put myself through all that appeal nonsense again, I dont want to go back. That will mean another year of my life has gone to waste. Ive emailed the university to send me a transcipt of the modules i have passed and the credits they are worth - I believe you can get credits to carry onto other courses/institutions etc. But I also dont want the school to think they have got away with it. I want to sort them out.
How can they just let me leave with nothing? Im still waiting for their response regarding my transcript. No feedback as of yet
Hi all, just thought I would give an update of my situation. I have put my UCAS application through for 2 universities and have already been given a flat refusal from my local university. It's obviously due to my withdrawal as it was for an undergrad course and I meet all of the entrance eligibility criteria having come from the MA course. I didn't even get asked for further information or invited for an interview! Just waiting on one more but I'm not hopeful as it is another MA course and is going to be tougher to get accepted than for the BSc.
My appeal is to be heard a week today but once again I will not be pinning too much hope on winning. My ex uni have actually made substantial changes to the process regarding failing placements, all of which apply directly to the concerns raised by me, which demonstrates that the previous system was not adequate - all too late for me though! I am beginning to think that this is the end of the road for my social worker training which depresses me. Maybe I should consider a career as a campaigner for the fair treatment of student social workers lol.
I will join you as a campaigner for the fair treatment of student social workers lol..
Evil people and they call it a caring profession..
Hi Butterfly, Don't be put off because of the rejection from the BA course. I applied last year to different unis for the BA and the MA, I got offers for the MA and NONE for the BA. It seems like they don't always offer the BA to candidates who are over qualified or experienced for it and it sounds like you are both,
good luck,
I'm currently studying on an access to welfare and looking at doing a social work degree from next year, and am now getting worried as will be going into the course with a criminal record - won't go in to details, so goodness knows what they'll make of me.
I feel very sorry for you and as you say, its supposed to be a caring, equal opps employer but as this shows if your face doesn't fit etc.
More needs to be done, I WILL be joining a union sooner rather than later and a campaigner for student social workers sounds fab - count me in!! x x
In the meantime have you got a solicitor on side as you can apply for legal aid too you know?
JJ, depending on what your conviction is for I think most universities accept that people have a past and do not discriminate on the basis of a criminal record. Definitely sign up for BASW as soon as you join the course - I certainly wish I had! Good luck with your course
sorry butterfly, who is basw, I asked the Childrens Workforce Development council for advice on criminal conviction (benefit overpayment but they call it fraud as it sounds more juicy i guess) on how it would affect my career plans and they told me to contact the relevant university - hmmm !!!
Good luck with everythinjg and please let us know how you get on...