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Social Worker Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship BA (Hons)

Start date

  • Level(s) of Study: Practitioner / Professional; Undergraduate
  • Start Date(s): January 2025
  • Duration: 36 months
  • Study Mode(s): Part-time (day)
  • Campus: City Campus
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information
Information for 2024

Introduction:

The Social Work Degree Apprenticeship offers the opportunity for those in paid employment with a social work/care provider to undertake a combination of on-the-job training and degree learning to become a registered social worker. Once qualified, you will be able to engage in a career characterised by working in partnership with adults, as well as children and families to promote positive change in their lives. The role will also see you engage in the vital activity of protecting people from harm, abuse and exploitation.

This degree apprenticeship is an alternative route to qualify as a social worker with a mixture of on and off-the-job training. You will study core modules one day per week supported by the employer, with some additional time for induction at the beginning of each academic year.

The Social Work Degree Apprenticeship is designed to support employers in developing and retaining current staff as well as attracting new talent. Apprentices will study alongside their work and will have the opportunity to put their learning into practice immediately, which will, in turn, positively benefit the organisation and service users.

Upon successful completion of this apprenticeship (including the End-Point Assessment), Apprentices will be able to apply to the register as a Social Worker through the professional regulator Social Work England (SWE).

What you’ll study

This apprenticeship is an alternative route to qualify as a social worker with a mixture of on and off-the-job training.

  • Social Policy and Law
  • Preparation for Professional Social Work and Academic Practice
  • Social Work Theories and Models
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Assessment and Intervention
  • Diversity in Social Work
  • Safeguarding Children and Adults
  • Assessed Work Place Learning (One)
  • Assessed Work Place Learning (Two)
  • Delivering Professional Social Work Practice

Completing your Apprenticeship

To achieve the apprenticeship, all apprentices must complete an End-Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA is an independent assessment that ascertains whether an apprentice is competent in their occupation.

Gateway

Gateway is the period of time between the end of the off-the-job training (practical period) and the beginning of the assessment period when EPA will take place.

At Gateway, the apprentice, employer and training provider will review the apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours to determine whether they are ready to take their EPA. This is normally done at a Gateway review meeting which takes place near the end of the apprenticeship. At this meeting, all three parties will check that the mandatory aspects of the apprenticeship have been completed and that the apprentice is ready to take their final assessment(s).

Apprentices must meet the Gateway requirement set out in the assessment plan before taking their EPA.

End-Point Assessment

This apprenticeship is integrated. This means that the end-point assessment is administered by Nottingham Trent University and is usually linked to the academic award that apprentices study whilst in their off-the-job training period.

Details of the assessment elements can be found in the assessment plan.

The end-point assessment for this apprenticeship standard is the examination board.

Successful completion of this apprenticeship will enable Registration with Social Work England.

How you’re taught

The apprenticeship has been designed into ten modules over a 36-month period. Apprentices will follow a one day release pattern which will consist of:

  • Face-to-face teaching on campus
  • Independent study
  • E-Portfolio
  • Blending learning activities
  • Work-based projects
  • Tutorials
  • Seminars.

The variety of teaching methods used reflects the core subjects, social policy as well as areas of practice that are covered as part of curriculum, meaning that Apprentices are able to combine both academic and practice learning in a way that is relevant, informative and inventive.

Contact hours

  • Year One: 38 days
  • Year Two: 24 days (80 days assessed work place learning)
  • Year Three: Seven days (90 days assessed work place learning)

Case Studies

Chantelle Gibbons

Chantelle Gibbons, 31, wanted to pursue a career in social work for a long time but financial constraints and family commitments were a barrier to her pursuing her aspirations. Chantelle mentions how the apprenticeship has massively increased her confidence in her role and has enabled her to take on more complex cases thanks to what she’s learned in her apprenticeship. Read more to hear about Chantelle’s thoughts and experiences on the Level 6 Social Work Apprenticeship.

Read more

Adam Khalaf

"The apprenticeship was a perfect foundation to allow me to pursue my dreams, further develop my knowledge, skills, and behaviours, and apply what I learned on the apprenticeship to my work. In addition, it allowed me to share what I learned with others in my team to enhance the skills of those around me."

Read more

How you’re assessed

Assessment methods include:

  • Essays
  • Reports
  • Case-study analysis
  • Reflective analysis and logs
  • Self-assessment
  • Presentations (individual and groups)
  • Examinations
  • Academic poster
  • End-Point Assessment

End-Point Assessment

The End-Point Assessment (EPA) confirms that you have passed all assessments from all modules over the 3 years of your course.

The EPA starts with the examination board and finishes when the Approved Education Provider:

  • makes a decision on pass/fail
  • provides a secure pass list to Social Work England which includes required personal details of all apprentices who have received a grade that meets regulatory requirements.

The EPA starts with the examination board and finishes with the Approved Education Provider submits the required documentation to Social Work England. The apprentice is not required to carry out any additional assessments.

The EPA is consideration by the exam board and notice of grade decision to Social Work England.

One awarded a pass grade, apprentices have the option to apply for registration with Social Work England to enable them to practise as a social worker.

Campus and facilities

Entry requirements

All applicants must hold:

  • GCSE English and Maths Grade 4 / C or equivalent, or
  • have been assessed at English and Maths level 1 or 2 and be prepared to achieve Level 2 Maths and English functional skills in order to undertake the End-Point Assessment.
  • To be eligible for enrolment, you must be in paid employment and have a job role (or roles) within an organisation that provides the opportunity for you to gain the required knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the relevant Apprenticeship Standard.
  • All apprentices must be employed in the social work / care sector.

Selection will be undertaken in partnership with employers and all applicants are required to complete a written test and interview.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form

Unfortunately English apprenticeships are not available for EU or international students.

Fees and funding

To undertake an apprenticeship you must be employed - as such, your employer will pay your tuition fees.

If you or your employer have any questions regarding the fees and funding available for this apprenticeship, please see our Apprenticeships pages, contact our Apprenticeships team at apprenticeships@ntu.ac.uk, or call +44 (0)115 848 2589.

Unfortunately English apprenticeships are not available for EU or international students.

How to apply

For more information on how to apply please visit our apprenticeship pages or email us.

The application deadline for January 2025 entry is to be confirmed.

Unfortunately English apprenticeships are not available for EU or international students.