Profession polarised by proposal to increase entry requirements for social work degree

Almost half (43%) of the social workers, students and academics responding to our snap poll disagreed with government adviser David Croisdale-Appleby’s proposal to up the number of UCAS points required to study the undergraduate degree from 240 to 300.

Under the proposal, students in England would have to gain the equivalent of three Bs at A level, rather than three Cs as they do now.

However, this was the only one of eight questions in our poll that appeared to polarise the 129 respondents. The other questions, including whether people would support the recommendation to introduce a probationary year and licence to practise system for graduating social workers, were supported by the majority.

Nine out of 10 respondents (93%) agreed that the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) should be extended to all newly-qualified social workers in England.

A similar number agreed that there was a “pressing need” for a national framework for continuing professional development.

And roughly three quarters (77%) thought knowledge about the capabilities and perspectives of related professions, such as medicine, should be introduced into the social work curriculum.

Of the 129 respondents to our snap poll, 68 identified themselves as social workers, 35 as students, 13 as academics and 10 as “other”.