About this course
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).
-
NTU is rated the top-rated University provider of higher and degree apprenticeships in the UK (RateMyApprenticeship, 2024)
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.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
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.
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.
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)
Careers and employability
If you’d like to know more about NTU’s groundbreaking Employability Promise, and the support you’ll receive both during and after your course, visit our Careers and Employability page.
Campus and facilities
You’ll mainly be studying in the Chaucer and Newton buildings, at the centre of our vibrant City Campus. As well as a range of classrooms and lecture theatres, our facilities include a mock courtroom — where you can practise your report-writing and presentation skills with a panel of experts — and an on-site residential simulation, where you’ll get the full experience of knocking on a door, gaining entry to a property, and managing a potentially volatile situation.
NTU’s City Campus has everything you’ll need to stay busy between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s our stylish Students’ Union building and two-storey, 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars, restaurants and food outlets for every taste; our much-loved Global Lounge; performance and rehearsal spaces for musicians; and much, much more!
Take a few steps off campus and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. It’s stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure. Enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.
Take our virtual tour to get a real feel for the campus.
Entry requirements
UK students
Standard offer: 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.
Additional requirements for UK students
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.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
We will review your identity documents / immigration status to verify your residency eligibility in line with the apprenticeship funding rules, at the application stage.
Additional requirements for international students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
