(Hons) Social Work Manchester Metropolitan University

Overview

How do you tell a seven-year-old she’s going to live with another family? How do you build trust with a teenage boy who keeps running away from home? How do you support a 40-year-old woman with schizophrenia?

As a social worker, you’ll often be in complex and challenging situations but you’ll help to improve lives and bring about social change through working in partnership with individuals, families and communities.

Working within health and social care teams, and with partner agencies, from police to housing services, you will help to promote human rights and social justice. It can be difficult to appreciate the difference social workers make until you’ve experienced social work practice in action – and that’s why you’ll complete placements in your second and third years.

Social work can be difficult and challenging at times and, as well as developing your academic knowledge, we aim to develop your resilience and help you learn ways to manage the situations you’re faced with.

Career

From working with homeless teenagers to women experiencing domestic violence to adults with learning disabilities, your career as a social worker could develop in a number of different areas.

You might work in a social services department within a local authority or for an organisation such as the NHS. Or, perhaps you’ll work for a private company, such as in a residential care home, or for a charity. You could also specialise in an area you’re particularly interested in, such as child protection or mental health.

As a graduate of this (Hons) Social Work from Manchester Metropolitan University, you can apply for professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council, and this allows you to practice as a social worker.