Becoming a qualified social worker

Our placements

Our BA Social Work course is designed to provide you with the comprehensive skills and knowledge necessary to become a registered and qualified social worker, as regulated by Social Work England. The programme includes supervised hands-on placement opportunities, which take place in years two and three. Our team at Nottingham will provide you with the necessary resources and guidance to ensure that you are well-equipped to succeed in the programme.

Practice based learning is a key component of our course, where you will have the opportunity to learn and apply various approaches to helping people in a variety of settings and with a diverse range of service users. Over the course of the degree, you will spend a total of 170 days in practice learning, which will be assessed against the requirements of social work qualification training.

We have strong partnerships with a variety of statutory and voluntary agencies in the region, which provide our students with valuable practice learning opportunities. We have a proven track record of providing high-quality placements, and we recognise that this is an essential part of your education.

All placements are full-time and require you to work the same hours as other staff members in that setting. Careful consideration is given when allocating practice learning placements, to match each student's individual learning needs and personal requirements with the opportunities offered within a particular organisation. These placements are typically within the geographical boundaries of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Turning passion into a successful career

Zach Watson, a BA Social Work alumnus, talks about his placement experience studying at the University of Nottingham:

As part of my studies, I completed three placements. In year one, I shadowed a social worker and observed their practice, and in years two and three I spent a total of 170 days in practice during my degree. This was a fantastic opportunity to experience different parts of social work and get a better understanding of what is required of me, and areas I wish to look at further following graduation.

I was supported on the placement by both the university and by having a practice educator during each of my main placements. Due to the right connections and work ethic, I was able to secure employment directly from my final placement.