Volunteering & Entry into Studying the Social work Degree

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Newboy Posted: 18 Feb 2009 10:39 PM

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Hi,

I'm interested in changing careers to become a Social worker.  (currently in I.T and supporting a young family.)

I have been a befriender for local Mind charity for past 8 months and really enjoying it.  Client is a Paranoid Schizoprhenic, and I can already see the difference the few hours a week I talk  / spend time with him has done by boosting his confidence.

Anyway main questions are

*  How many hours of volunteering should I have to have under my belt prior to undertaking the SW degree ?

*  Can I train / study in just this one area of "Mental Health" or do I have to have other volunteering experience.

Thanks

Newboy (actual age is twenty nineteen)

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aitch replied on 19 Feb 2009 3:24 PM

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previous experience is not essential but it helps - unis seem to vary in what they expect - life experience is invaluable

degree is still 'generic' but you can express an interest in mental health and hope to get a mental health placement during your training which will help you with job hunting later on

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Stuart Sorensen replied on 19 Feb 2009 5:06 PM

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Or you could try mental health nursing. Just a thought.

Cheers,

Stuart (mental health nurse)

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CarlyStockport replied on 16 Mar 2009 12:45 PM

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Hi Newboy

I am currently in the same kind of hurdle in life as yourself! 

As for your volunteering question i'm afraid what I have found is it is a big help if you research the universities websites, entry requirements to the H&Social Care courses give you an insight to what is expected.  Different univerisites organisations may ask different criteria.  I have found most require at least 6 months voluntary work within the care sector.

As for your second question, you may not just encounter one certain area/issue regarding mental health, you should know that things are not always as straight forward as they may seem.  I think it would help to try and gain experience in different things in life, it all helps.  Yet for clarification once again I suggest researching hard.

I hope you get to where you want to be.

I have just posted a new item in the Non Professional section, please if you feel you would be able to help, send me a message.

 Thanks

Carly Stockport

:O)