Social worker?

Would i have to go to University to be a social worker with an Level 3 NVQ in Health and Social Care.?

Social worker?
Social Workers help to provide care and support for the more vulnerable members of society. There are 26,000 Social workers employed throughout Britain and there are the chances for qualified social workers to move up the scale and gain promotion.





To become a social worker you have to have the Diploma in Social work (DipSW), which is the recognised qualification for this type of employment. This is often linked with a BA/MA or BSc/MSc degree. This would then be awarded by The Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW). (If you would like more information on this please visit GSCC or www.topss.org.uk)





To be able to do this degree, if you are under 21 you need to have 3 GCSE’s and 2 A-Level’s or equivalent. Colleges/University’s also look for work experience, either voluntary or paid. This is quite vital in most cases. If, however, you are over 21 you may be accepted without any formal qualifications, depending, of course, on your level of experience. If at this point you are wondering where can you get this experience here is one person’s account of how they went about it:





"I applied for jobs in care and at the point of graduating it was about the only thing I was confident in being qualified to do. After graduation I found work in a day centre for people with dementia. The DipSW involves a lot of written course work and two practice placements. It’s important to get a variety of experience with different client groups and in different settings; it helps you to get to know what you want from your career."





Otherwise to gain experience an idea might be to contact your local hospital, hospice, Samaritans, citizens advice bureau, local social services office and any voluntary organisations in your area.





The DipSW course lasts for two years, if you are attending full time. If you are already a graduate there are two year postgraduate programmes available. These combine a DipSW with a MA/MSc or a postgraduate diploma.





There are also NVQ’s which can be achieved. The level’s 2, 3 and 4 are available in care and childcare. Also at Level 3 Diagnostic and Therapeutic support, and Criminal Justice is also awarded at Level’s 3 and 4.





When you become qualified as a social worker you might have to have a driving licence, especially if you are interested in the field aspect.





The most important thing you should remember when thinking about becoming a social worker you must have the ability to communicate with and have an interest in, people from all walks of life!
Reply:I have no idea but I am sure your careers officer or someone similar would be able to help.
Reply:I'm not sure but have you considered what being a social worker really means ?





my daughter is a very caring person and was intending to become a social worker until i discussed it with her .





when social workers intervene it means there are problems ,





my daughter felt that she would be helping people but i asked her how she would feel when her job demanded that she take a desolate mothers child and put it into care against the wishes of both mother and child ?





such things happen for good reason but the misery and heartache caused cannot be denied .





a social worker deals constantly in the misery of others and even when they act in every bodies best interest they are often seen as the cause of problems .





it takes a hard strong willed even callous person to live such a life without taking some of the misery home .





i don't mean to dissuade you but i just hope you follow your chosen career with your eyes wide open .





good luck .
Reply:yes...you need at least 4-6 years university to be accepted as a social worker in health care...i am not sure for your part of the world...but i know in the USA you have to have it and i have applied to positions in london which require it as well...