Social Work

Embarking on a Social Work degree at ARU Peterborough promises to be a transformative journey where your existing skills
and values meet academia, and your desire to have a positive impact on society becomes a tangible goal. Our Social Work
course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed by social workers, blending theoretical knowledge with
hands-on practice. Successful completion of this degree will enable you to apply to register with Social Work England to use the
legally protected title of social worker.

One of the key elements of this degree is the emphasis on real-world application. You will be supported to prepare for
placements with interactive skills days. We will also provide you with engaging practice placements which will allow you to
develop and apply your skills in two diverse placements, including a statutory social work setting. Our close partnerships with
organisations across the region allow the opportunity for experiences across wide-ranging and interesting areas of social work
practice, as well as providing excellent links for your future employability.

The vibrant learning environment at ARU Peterborough is enriched by passionate lecturers who are not just educators, but also
experienced social work practitioners from a range of specialisms, bringing real-world insights into the classroom. The team are
supported to develop and deliver the programme by both current social work practitioners and people with lived experience of
social work services, embedding authentic perspectives of social work into your learning. You will have regular opportunities to
work with our own established group of people with lived experience of social work services at ARU Peterborough, who provide
this important perspective of social work within our programme through co-developing your learning resources and co-delivering
lectures and workshops.

As you progress through your degree journey you will develop a robust academic foundation in social work and deep sense of
purpose. Many of our previous students describe their social work education as life-changing, and you will find that this degree is
much more than just a qualification. This degree offers you the opportunity to join a professional community committed to
advocacy for social justice, and for you to embark on a career path where you will have the potential to create meaningful and
positive change for both individuals and communities.

Year 1
Principles of Social Work
Social Policy and Social Work
Contemporary Social Work Theory and Evidence-Based Practice
Social Work and the Human Condition
Practice Skills 1 – Communication, Relationships, and the Developing Professional
Into ARU

Year 2
Social Work with Children, Young People, and their Families
Social Work with Adults and Carers
Statutory Social Work
Practice Skills 2 – Assessment and Intervention

Year 3
Risk and Complexity in Social Work
Voices of Lived Experience
Mental Health Practice for Social Workers
Interagency and Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Social Work Undergraduate Dissertation
Practice Skills 3 – Transition to Qualified Practice

Optional
Can we work together to safeguard vulnerable families?
Do we know what it takes to be an Anti-Racist?
What does social justice in the twenty first century mean?
Where Does Slavery Start and End?
How does belief matter?
What does sustainability mean to me?
Rise of the Peterborians - can we create positive change?

Assessments are your opportunity to show the skills and knowledge that you're gaining. We use a number of assessment methods including assignments, presentations, learning journals, portfolios, patchwork texts (short pieces of writing, or ‘patches’), poster design, role play, and placement portfolios. Our assessment methods are varied and are selected to promote both experiential and active learning, enabling you to develop a broad range of transferable skills applicable to social work practice.