New social work degree up and running in England

Universities welcomed their first intake for the social work
degree last month.
More than 2,300 students were enrolled at Central Lancashire,
Chichester, Middlesex, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Teeside
universities. More courses will begin in 2004.
A total of 66 universities have been accredited by the General
Social Care Council to offer the new degree. The GSCC has approved
87 social work degree courses, six of which are at postgraduate
level.
The new degree includes 200 days of practice learning. Compared
with the 130 days on the two-year DipSW.
An extra £7m in extra funding has been allocated by government
for the extension in practice learning. Also, the Department  of
Health has established a practice learning task force, hosted by
social care training organisation Topss England, which will liaise
with social care organisations and higher education institutions to
create more practice opportunities.
The government has invested £21m in social work education this
year, which will rise to more then £81m by 2005-6.