BA (Hons) Social Work in Oxford

BA (Hons) Social Work
The BA (Hons) in Social Work is recognised as a professional qualification in Social Work by the General Social Care Council (GSCC) and validated by the Open University.

Ruskin has a sound tradition of providing social work education and training for mature, non-traditional students. It works in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, Oxfordshire Practice Learning Centre, Essex County Council and Unison.

Applicants for the BA Social Work should:

• demonstrate a commitment to pursuing a career in social work;
• possess the appropriate personal qualities and aptitude to be a social worker;
• have work, voluntary, trade union or personal experience relevant to social work;
• must demonstrate clearly a motivation to 'return to study' and the potential for handling the academic and intellectual demands of the programme and for meeting the required academic standard by the end of the programme. Evidence of undertaking return to study programmes is one way of demonstrating this.

Overall Course Aims
Ruskin College has a sound tradition of providing social work education and training. This began in the early 1960s when a one-year residential childcare course was offered. In 1973 this changed to a two year Certificate of Qualification in Social Work for non-graduate students. In 1989 when the recognised qualification for professional social work changed to the Diploma in Social Work, Ruskin's programme also changed. This programme was amended in 1995 in line with the requirements of the then awarding body, the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work.
The BA (Honours) Social Work is now the professional qualification for social workers. Ruskin College has been approved by the General Social Care Council to offer the programme and validated by the Open University in May 2004. Ruskin College, in partnership with UNISON and Essex County Council, also offers an employment based degree programme in social work.
Ruskin has traditionally been concerned to encourage prospective social workers to consider issues of social justice and equality and the implications of these for social work practice. The programme has also had a strong commitment to community development approaches to social work and to voluntary organisations that provide social work services.
Since 1998 the department has been responsible for running the Oxfordshire Practice Learning Centre, which provides practice-learning opportunities in the voluntary sector and co-ordinates the Oxfordshire Voluntary Consortium for Practice Learning. Two of our staff act as practice assessors for the Oxfordshire Practice Learning Centre.
Embedded in our social work programmes is a strong commitment to social justice and the empowerment of individuals and communities and the contribution that social work can make to this through anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice, listening to and respecting the voices of the users of social work services and active implementation of the values of social work. We are committed to ensuring that social workers who successfully complete Ruskin programmes are reflective practitioners who will deliver high quality and effective services in a professional and compassionate way.

Learning Methods and Strategies
The Social Work course deploys a range of teaching and learning methods. For example:
* formal input
* group work
* debates
* case studies
* service user input
* experiential learning (role play, simulation)
* observation placement
* student presentations
* tutorials (in pairs)
* IT workshops