Master in Social Work (Hons) (MSocW) Programme Specification 2023-24

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2023-24
3	Revised February 2023
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6	Programme Title			MsocW (Hons) Social Work
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8	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2023, 2022, 2021, 2020		Award type			Integrated Masters - MsocW
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10	What level is this qualification?			Level 7		Length of programme			4 years
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12	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full Time
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14	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Standard semester dates for years 1,2 & 3. Year 4 semester 1 will start two weeks early.		For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			N/A
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16	Awarding institution			University of York		Board of Studies for the programme			School for Business and Society
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18	Lead department			School for Business and Society		Other contributing departments			N/A
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20	Language of study and assessment			English		Language(s) of assessment			English
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22	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			Campus-based
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24	Partner organisations
25	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
26	The University of York is a member of the Yorkshire Urban and Rural Social Work Teaching Partnership that provides us with the placements in years 3 and 4 which include statutory social work experience. In the social work team our Director of Practice Learning works closely with Practice Educator Consultants, Principal Social Workers and members of the respective learning and development departments in our partner local authorities to source and quality assure the placements. She also works with other private, voluntary and independent sector agencies which provide social work placement learning opportunities for our students. Practitioners from our partner organisations contribute to teaching on the programme, particularly skills days. Their contribution has been enhanced by the employment of Lecturer Practitioners via the Teaching Partnership.
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29	Reference points
30	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
31	The programme is designed to meet the requirements of the regulator, Social Work England, specifically the 'Education and Training Standards'. The programme reflects the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) for Social Workers that was developed by the professional body (The College of Social Work) - now defunct - and subsequently adopted by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW). Selection of students for the course is predicated on them having actually reached an agreed PCF level prior to the commencement of the course - the 'Entry' level. Students must then achieve the 'Readiness for Direct Practice' PCF level by the end of Year 2, the 'End of First Placement' level in Year 3 and the 'End of Last Placement' level at graduation. Students are also expected to meet Social Work England 'Education and Training Standards' which the programme has also been mapped against. Social Work England's 'Profesional Standards' are used as a benchmark in our Fitness to Practise procedures. The current programme has been approved by Social Work England and was reviewed in April 2023. The next review will be in 4-5 years. The University of York is a member of a Teaching Partnership with the University of Huddersfield and other local authorities which helps to secure the provision of placements. The final two placements in years 3 and 4 of the programme will both provide experience of statutory social work. We have included Knowledge and Skills Statements developed by the Chief Social Workers (for adults and children and families) in the curriculum of year 4 of the programme. The programme has also been designed in accordance with the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and the Subject Benchmark Statements for Social Work (last updated 2019).
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34	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
35	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
36	No
37	No
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39	Exceptions to Regulations
40	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
41	Stage 3 includes 20 M-level credits to facilitate sharing with MA in Social Work. No compensation allowed for any modules in stages 3 and 4. Individual module components in non-compensatable modules in stage 3 and 4 are non-compensatable and some are also pass/fail (see module information table). In stage 3, the reassessment cap is 120 credits (i.e. students can be reassessed in up 120 credits worth of modules). In stage 4, the reassessment cap is 100 credits (and the research dissertation can be reassessed if a marginal fail at the first attempt under the University's ISM (independent study module) rules). To meet the validation requirements of Social Work England: a) The external examiner for the MA Social Work must be appropriately experienced and qualified and registered as a Social Worker with Social Work England. b) Any aegrotat award is not validated by Social Work England and will not provide eligibility to apply for admission to the Register of Social Workers. At the end of stage 2, students who have decided not to progress with professional social work training or who have not reached the progression threshold will be transferred onto the BA in Social and Public Policy and they will complete their third year following undertaking a 40 credit independent study module and 4 x 20 credit option modules (2 per term).
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44	Internal Transfers
45	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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47		Transfers in:	Transfer into year 2 possible from students within the Faculty of Social Sciences. Transfer into year 3 possible from students within the Faculty of Social Sciences. Any student transferring in needs to meet the progression criteria for each year and successfully interview for a place on the programme - see admissions requirements. No transfers into year 4 of the programme due to core PSRB requirements.			Transfers out:	Students can transfer out of the programme at the beginning of year 2 and 3 onto the BA in Social and Public Policy if they meet the progression requirements for the BA.
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50	Statement of Purpose
51	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
52	The Master in Social Work (Hons) is a unique undergraduate programme leading to a postgraduate professional qualification which entitles you to register as a social worker. The programme will provide you with a strong understanding of social science disciplines – social policy, sociology and psychology – which provide the knowledge base for social work. In addition, the programme incorporates principles of social justice which you will draw upon as you work alongside people in your professional role. Instead of taking five years to gain a postgraduate qualification in social work, which is favoured by many employers, you can achieve this in just four. In addition, the MSocW (Hons) provides more practice learning opportunities than most social work courses. Three practice learning opportunities, including two placements providing statutory social work experience (which is governed by law), will cultivate a wide range of essential practice skills and ensure that you are well-prepared for the realities of social work in different sectors. As a graduate of this programme you will use your professional skills and knowledge to improve the lives of vulnerable individuals, families and groups. You will have the ability to face complex and difficult human situations with confidence, creativity, compassion and integrity. This programme will provide you with strong potential for future leadership in a rapidly changing and fast paced profession.
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63	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
64	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?			Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
65	Exit after completion of Level 4: Certificate of Higher Education.			No	Not accredited with Social Work England.			Any 120 credits (at least 90 credits at C Level).
66	Exit after completion of Level 5: Diploma of Higher Education.			No	Not accredited with Social Work England.			Any 240 credits (including at least 90 credits at I Level).
67	Exit after completion of Level 6: BA in Applied Social Welfare (Hons).			No	Not accredited with Social Work England.			Any 360 credits (including at least 100 H Level credits).
68	Exit after completion of Level 7: BA in Social Work Practice (Hons).			No	Accredited with Social Work England.			All modules except for ISM.
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70	Programme Learning Outcomes
71	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
72	1	Make informed decisions concerning complex problems faced by individuals, families and communities in a wide range of social work contexts, by using appropriate assessments and interventions, analysing information from a range of different sources and incorporating stakeholder and service-user perspectives.
73	2	Critically evaluate, synthesise and apply empirical knowledge and theoretical perspectives from across the breadth of social science disciplines to social work practice.
74	3	Critically analyse local, national and international social policy and its influence on social work practice within the legislative framework.
75	4	Critically engage with concepts of social justice and social change, and apply this understanding to participation in advocacy, and community and service development.
76	5	Develop strong working relationships with service users, colleagues and other professionals, and within social work and interdisciplinary teams, based on high level communication and collaboration skills.
77	6	Work effectively as a professional in multi-layered organisations and social work contexts by understanding and respecting the roles and tasks of others, including non-statutory professionals, and upholding professional values and ethics.
78	7	Reflect systematically on social work practice and engage proactively in supervision processes in order to adapt to new situations, improve practice, build professional resilience and identify professional development opportunities, including the development of leadership skills.
79	8	Design, conduct and critically evaluate challenging social work research projects, informed by a critical understanding of research and evaluation methodologies relevant to the social sciences.
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81	Diverse entry routes
82	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
83	Prior to the course starting, students have access to a 'Preparing to study social work' VLE site, which contains introductory information on the programme, the School and on social work more broadly (including key reading). It also includes a welcome blog for communication between students and staff. Students benefit from a comprehensive induction week, including sessions on the programme, the library/VLE, placements, constructing a safe learning agreement and 'meet the staff' opportunities. Students are encouraged to participate in academic skills sessions run in the School as well as attending digital literacy sessions in semester 1 with our subject librarian. Students are recruited from diverse backgrounds and have diverse life experiences, but are all selected on their basis of meeting the 'entry to social work' criteria of the PCF. Their transition to the programme is facilitated during semester 1 when all students receive support from an academic supervisor with their academic work. This includes guidance on reading, academic writing and study skills, which they can hone in lectures and seminars. They are supported to transition into social work education through the Introduction to Social Work module in semester 1, which provides a broad introduction to the profession and discipline of social work. The programme builds upon learning obtained at each stage through to the placements with statutory learning oppportunities in years 3 and 4 of the programme.
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92	Inclusion
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94	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.
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96	Employability
97	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
98	The programme is specifically designed to support and enhance the student's employability within the social work profession. The modules provide a thorough understanding and practice experience in social work as a foundation for their social work career. The programme provides training in essential skills required for a career in social work, which includes 200 practice learning days (30 days of which are skills days). Statutory practice learning opportunities are provided to enable students to gain employment in similar fields upon graduation. The programme is designed to meet the Education and Training Standards of Social Work England and the approval of the programme by Social Work England enables students to apply to join the Register of Social Workers in England on graduation.
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