Social Work

The first two years of this degree concentrate on learning the basis of social work theory as well as looking at subjects such as law and sociology. For their final year, students can choose to specialise in adults or children and families to help focus their career path upon graduation.

You’ll complete two significant periods of work experience in either local authorities or voluntary, private and independent organisations in the region. We have partnership arrangements for practice learning placements with four local authorities (Southampton City, Hampshire, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight), as well as many other social care organisations.

The course team’s strong links with local employers, service users and carers within the industry have allowed previous students the opportunity to practice the theory they’ve learnt in work placements, enabling them to build their skills and confidence as a social worker and develop their professional network.

These established links with the industry have also allowed past students to attend regular guest lectures where they have benefitted from talks delivered by social work professionals such as Chief Social Worker for Adults, Lyn Romeo, giving valuable insight into the industry and the career opportunities available. The culmination of your degree will be at our annual wellbeing conference where you can showcase your final major project to industry practitioners.

We have partnership arrangements for practice learning placements with four local authorities (Southampton City, Hampshire, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight), as well as many other social care organisations." Add: These include social care settings for children and families, social care settings for adults, residential care for people with disabilities, community mental health teams, hospital social work departments, voluntary organisations working with both children and adults, advocacy agencies, drug and alcohol treatment centres, homelessness projects.

The course also provides opportunities for optional international placement experience through the Turing Scheme.

Both an academic qualification and, importantly, a professional qualification, this course is approved by Social Work England – this means that you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a social worker on successful completion of your degree.

If you’re looking to study our social work degree but don’t have the relevant qualifications or experience, the social sciences foundation year will help you develop the core skills and knowledge to progress. Find out more about the social sciences foundation year.

Course Modules

YEAR 1 - CORE MODULES
The Professional Social Worker
Interpersonal Skills in Social Work
Sociological Perspectives in Contemporary Society
Legislative Frameworks for Social Work
Psychological Perspectives across the Life Span
Community and Culture

YEAR 2 - CORE MODULES
Applied and Informed Practice
Social Work Assessment, Theory and Models
Working in Partnership and in Organisations
Developing Professional Capabilities in Practice

YEAR 3 - CORE MODULES
Managing Risk and Safeguarding Practices
Independent Research Study
Extending Professional Capabilities in Practice

YEAR 3 - OPTIONS (please note that not all options are guaranteed to run each academic year)
Intervention and Critical Analysis whilst working with Children, their Families and Carers in Social Work
Intervention and Critical Analysis whilst working with Adults, their Families and Carers in Social Work

• Essays

• Individual presentations

• Group presentations

• Case studies

• Project work

• Portfolios

Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.