I'm about to choose my GCSE options. I'm eager to become a social worker (child & family) when I leave school - I believe that I have the skills and dedication required for social work. However, I don't fully understand the steps I need to take to get there. I'm a fluent Welsh-speaker and live in Wales.
My questions:
- What subjects could I take for GCSE that would help me get into social work?
- I've been ill a lot recently, so my attendance is pretty low - will this affect my chances of getting into college/uni?
- How many GSCE passes do I need, and in what subjects?
- I've suffered with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder for a couple of years, and am still getting over it - could this affect my suitability to become a social worker?
- Where do I go when I leave school (I'll be almost 16 when I do my GSCEs)?
Thanks. :)
I think basically at your age is essential to concentrate on getting a good general education in terms of your GCSE choices, then decide on your A levels according to what you find you enjoy most at GCSE level etc. I'd say the same to anyone at school, no matter what they thought they might like to do in years to come! Nowadays people often go through three or four or more career choices ina lifetime, so restricting your options too early can cause you real problems later on.
If you still think you want to pursue social work, then choose more social science based A level, or diploma or whatever the choice is then. And get as much as experience as you can too, through various tyopes of voluntary work, as this will help you decide on your career, or may help you decide that actually social work is not for you at all!
And then eventually, if you still want to do it, apply to universities for a social work degree. You might do this straight from college, or you may decide to go out and work for a while first. But the route to social work is always through a uni somehow, as to qualify now you have to have the degree.
Regarding your OCD- concentrate on recovering as best as you can, as the course is stressful and could potentially aggravate symptoms.The earliest you coudl begin your degree is at age 18 anyway, so you have a few more years to go to improve your condition or get stable. And get advice from your medical practitioners, and the unis you are thinking of applying to at the time too.
Good luck with your GCSEs etc- I hope when the time comes, you still want to be a social worker!
Agree with everything queenb says. Some more thoughts.
Lucy: - What subjects could I take for GCSE that would help me get into social work?
To quote queenb you need a good all round education but especially make sure your maths and english are up to scratch. History might be relevant as it shows us how we got to where we are today. Sociology and Psychology are the basics of social work and will give you useful basis for later study. Even if they are both available options for you I wouldn't recommend doing both at GCSE though, you need more variety at this stage. Law will also be useful if it's available at GCSE level in your school.
Lucy: - I've been ill a lot recently, so my attendance is pretty low - will this affect my chances of getting into college/uni? - I've suffered with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder for a couple of years, and am still getting over it - could this affect my suitability to become a social worker?
Attendance - under equal opportunities it shouldn't stop you getting into uni but hopefully your attendance will improve over the next four years. A history of OCD should not stop you practicing as a social worker. But you do need to look after your own health and as said above SW is a stressful job that will make the OCD worse if you don't take care of your emotional and mental health.
Lucy: - How many GSCE passes do I need, and in what subjects? - Where do I go when I leave school (I'll be almost 16 when I do my GSCEs)?
Enough GCSE's to get a place in sixth form, sixth form college, local college, to study A levels (or whatever they or their equivalents are called by then), which you will need to get into uni when you are 18. What you study for A level will be more important in getting into uni than what you study for GCSE but for now try and include at least one of the more academic 'arts' subjects (eg history, languages, religion, sociology, english literature).
And choose at least one subject you love just because you love it. First rule of social work - it's not all about work.
Good luck.
Thanks so much guys!
I have one more question, and I know it's going to sound very odd, but I have a good reason for asking...
Over the course of the years I'd be studying (to become a social worker), would I at any point need to do human biology, as in learning about human anatomy and that?...thanks
yes it does sound an odd question !!
however I think you will be fairly safe in assuming you don't need to study human biology
Thanks :) That's actually what sets off my OCD the most, for some reason...
Are you getting any help with the OCD? Via your GP perhaps?
I'm seeing a psychiatrist.
OK. Just wanted to check you weren't battling this on your own.
Nope, fortunately I'm in good hands. :)