Student Social Workers

New Member **Offline** Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Posts: 4

Hi all,
I'm currently doing a year's work experience at university as a student support worker. The student is disabled so I have do pretty much personal care work along with some academic duties. I'm wondering that if this type of experience can used for applying for a masters in social work? If so, would I need to relate my experience to it in my personal statement. I have already got a 1st degree in History but I was looking to convert towards social work. Any help will be appreciated!

thanks, Olly

VIP **Offline** Joined: 28 Apr 2007 Posts: 199

I think that the most important thing is that you can relate the skills you use in your present job to the type of skills you're likely to need as a social worker. Personal care tasks are more likely to be the task for social care worker than the social worker. Social workers are more likely to be involved in tasks such as advocacy, communicating, assessing, empowering, working across teams ... I'm sure you can relate some of these to your current role.

Good luck - where are you applying to?

New Member **Offline** Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Posts: 4

Hi,
I was thinking of applying to uni's where I am currently working as a support worker. Places like Cardiff, Bristol, Norwich however I orginally come from North Yorkshire, so I am considering York, Durham, Sheffield. When I am writing my personal statment, would it help if I structure it by going through my uni, work and childhood experience and making sure I relate it social work or going through the skills needed to be a social worker then relate it to my own experience?

Olly

VIP **Offline** Joined: 28 Apr 2007 Posts: 199

I did a matrix of skills needed one side and roles that I'd held on the other side, and matched them up and then saw which was the most logical way to do it. I think everything you write has to be related to the social work role though. I went for skills needed by a social worker backed up by evidence in the end.

New Member **Offline** Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Posts: 4

Hi there,
I managed a first draft of my personal statement, can you guys check it if it makes sense? Seeing as its only a first draft its not the finished product, just want to know if I am on the right lines! Also with the UCAS application I am having problems with adding my 1st degree on to the education page section. Can't see to find the heading of Bachelor degree in the choices you can have.

cheers,

Olly

Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 4:29 pm

Hey Olly

feel free to pm it over.

Soz cant help with the ucas format thing, as it was yrs ago since i applied and im sure its all changed. Do they have a help line you can call, or to email them to get help with it?

Cass x

New Member **Offline** Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Posts: 4

Yeah, sorted out the UCAS format, I will pm my personal statement on Monday, since I will be redrafting it tomorrow.

cheers,

Olly