Social Work | University of Northampton

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Course summary

The University of Northampton’s Social Work MA programme has been specifically designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge and approaches needed for 21st century social work, which is characterised by complexity and digitisation. Students are therefore undertake a social work education that allows them to be respond to the challenges through a variety of learning opportunities that include simulation, practice placements, hearing and learning from users by experience and practitioner knowledge.

The Social Work MA programme is built on recognising the unique contribution that social work practitioners make to the lives of individuals. The programme reflects a commitment to social work values and ethics, as well as a commitment to emancipatory practice that puts users by experience at the centre of practice.

This programme ensures that outcomes for you continue to be of a high standard and will prepare you for your professional practice and employment. As such our MA in Social Work reflects these intentions as well as the changing professional landscape and political direction of Social Policy and Social Work.

The MA Social Work academic team continue to ensure that the student experience at the University of Northampton is centred around developing excellent professional practice. This will take place through high quality teaching and the application of theory to practice placement experiences.

The course will provide you with the opportunity to develop and enhance key skills in working with service users, colleagues and professionals from a range of backgrounds.

The practice placement modules will offer you the opportunities to apply your academic learning and develop relevant professional skills, through two five-days-per-week placement experiences opportunities which sit at the core of the programme.

The first placement will cover 70 days with the second one being 100 days. Between the placements you will be in University embedding this learning experience within taught academic sessions. Placements are offered in a variety of settings, all of which meet the Social Work England Standards of Proficiency, Education and Training.

We look forward to welcoming you onto our programme.

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Discover what it's like to study Social Work at University of Northampton: insights on the course, making friends, personal statement tips, uni prep, and recommended books, podcasts, and videos.

Nadeline
University of Northampton
Bsc Accounting & Finance
Hi! My name is Nadeline and I’m from Indonesia. Aside from being an Accounting & Finance student, I love to dance and have been a part of the UON Dance Team since last year. I also enjoy taking a walk in the outdoors, going to museums, and shopping! I look forward to helping new students as a Unibuddy Ambassador, so feel free to ask me anything!
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Grace
University of Northampton
Ba International Relations & Politics
Hi! My name is Grace. I’m 19 and currently in my second year of my Politics and International Relations degree. Outside of my academic interests, I enjoy reading, watching films and television (particularly in the horror genre) and occasionally baking, alongside being a student ambassador. I am originally from the Midlands but have been living in Northampton throughout my studies. If you have any questions about student life or studies in general please feel free to message me!
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Ihtisham Ur
University of Northampton
Msc In International Business Management
With a strong passion for global business strategy and problem-solving, I aspire to become a business consultant and strategist. The University of Northampton has provided me with a dynamic learning environment, modern facilities, and invaluable opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. Whether you're curious about the course, campus life, or career prospects, feel free to reach out, I'm here to help!
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Christa
University of Northampton
Bsc Podiatry
Hi, I’m Christa and I’m currently studying Podiatry. I’ve always been passionate about healthcare and this course has given me the opportunity to explore that passion while making a real difference. Outside of my studies, I play for the university’s Women’s Rugby Union team and love staying active by going to the gym or enjoying walks in the open air. I’m here to help answer any questions you have so feel free to ask!
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Jacqui
University of Northampton
Bsc Psychology
I am 50 years of age, originally from Glasgow in Scotland and left school in 1989, with 8 O' Grades (GCSE’s) and 5 Higher (A Levels). Desperate for a new adventure and to start working and earning, I applied for a job in Television Production in London. I successfully worked for an independent company in Soho, initially as a Production Runner, progressing finally to Production Manager. I returned to Glasgow for a year, to work for BBC Scotland as Production Manager, before taking time out to travel in 1999. I travelled throughout Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and America for 2 years. On return, I moved to Brighton, East Sussex where I worked for American Express, a lifestyle magazine called Venus, and as a volunteer for the Brighton Unemployed Family project, between 2001 and 2012. Brighton is where I met my husband and went on to have two children, a girl, and a boy. Ava who is now 15 years old and Lochlan who is 13. 8 years ago, my Husbands job transferred to their other site near Leamington, bringing the family to the midlands. We now live in the village of Weedon, a half-hour drive, west of Northampton. Since living in Weedon I have completed 7 years working in primary education. I began working in Special Needs as a 1:1 and in my 5th year at Weedon Primary, I completed an HLTA course through Northampton University, qualifying me to teach years 1 to 6 in primary school. I have trained in Autism, Attachment Disorder, Dyslexia, Speech, and language among others. I ran nurture groups and introduced a kinaesthetic approach to a lot of my teaching, after researching its efficacy in primary schools. During my school career, I have been fascinated by how children learn. Some by doing, others by seeing. I have come to love the continual questions from children and the challenge and adventure of not always knowing the answers. Throughout my working life, I have loved interacting with people, obsessing over human behaviour and how the mind works and influences decisions. My favourite literature often tackles aspects of psychology and I find it an extremely exciting and alluring subject. Throughout the lockdown period, it became apparent that I was not fully satisfied with my career and felt I was ready to learn and take on a new challenge. My initial thought was to go into Educational Psychology but with more investigation, I decided it was time to move away from education and start something new. My next thought was counselling, which I am still very much keen on exploring and could see a possible future career. As a volunteer in Brighton Unemployed Centre Family Project, I assisted low-income families and homeless people, realising my ability to listen sensitively and offer solace. Completing a course for the British College of Journalism a few years ago, I gained skills in reporting and analysing as well as fuelling my curiosity in psychology. I wrote articles on social, biological, and cognitive psychology. From a piece on music and memory to another on psychology in pain management. Having completed a year of the single honours psychology course I now feel the career direction I want to go into is counselling psychology. I have recently secured a part-time job locally with the group of Northampton psychiatric hospitals (NHFT) and ideally, would love to complete my master's within the NHS but if not I will probably stay at the University of Northampton to complete my master's in counselling.
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