Cyngor Gofal Cymru / Care Council for Wales

Improving Professional Status

As students embark on their degree they will be required to register with the Care Council. The Social Care Register is a public record of those workers who have met the requirements for registration and signed up to the Codes of Practice for social care workers.

The Register plays an important role in improving safeguards for people using social care services, and will subsequently improve public confidence in the sector. It is part of the Care Council for Wales’ continuing work to raise the standards of practice and behaviour in the social care sector. Registration of the social care sector has long been argued for by the workforce, and through the Register, the profile of social care services will be brought into line with other regulated professions such as teaching and medicine.

What will the training involve?

Students are required to develop a wide range of knowledge, skills and social work values. As well as college-based learning, the degree will provide an invaluable practical experience as at least 200 days of the training will take place in work settings.

The training will be developed and provided through a partnership of colleges and employers working together to make sure newly qualified staff are ready to practice in the real world. Social work students will need to undertake a 20 day placement in the first stage of the degree, and then two practice learning opportunities of approximately 80 and 100 days, at least one placement of which must be in a Local Authority setting. By the end of the training, students will be required to demonstrate their competence in practice against the 21 units of the National Occupational Standards for Social Work

Degree courses are offering opportunities for Welsh speaking students to undertake many aspects of learning and assessment through the medium of the Welsh language. Degree courses are keen to encourage applications from Welsh speakers, people from ethnic minority groups and men – all of whom are under-represented in Welsh social care.

Some courses offer social work training on a part time basis to take into account people’s commitments and an increasing number of courses offer more flexible learning arrangements using technology.

What are the Entry Requirements?

Applicants, who are under 21, will usually need two A-Levels or equivalent. Those over 21 will also need to demonstrate that they are likely to be able to meet the academic standards of the degree. Courses will also be looking for evidence that applicants have gained relevant experience through paid and/or voluntary work and life experience. All successful applicants will have communication and numeracy skills assessed at Key Stage 2 or equivalent. Entry requirements may vary slightly between courses and applicants need to contact individual programmes to check on the details.

Applicants who already have a degree may wish to consider applying for a place on a Masters Degree in Social Work which can be undertaken on an accelerated rate over two years.

Funding Opportunities

Students who normally reside in Wales can apply for a non means-tested Social Work Bursary, as well as support towards tuition fees and a travel allowance for placement related expenditure. Visit the Social Work Bursary pages for more information and eligibility criteria.

How to Apply for Social Work Training