Program Overview

Social Worker Degree Apprenticeship

The Social Worker Degree Apprenticeship is a rigorous and fast-track route to developing registered social workers, preparing apprentices for the challenging, complex, and rewarding world of social work. This programme is available in both undergraduate and postgraduate pathways.

Programme Overview

The apprenticeship explores the role of social workers within the context of people, society, and ethics, to develop confident social work professionals. It builds resilience, encourages problem-solving, and embeds a collaborative approach to improving people's lives. Apprentices will learn professional best practice as well as fresh academic perspectives, helping to drive social change and improve the lives of service users and carers.

Employers and Apprentices Information

Employers

• Fast and rigorous route to developing registered social workers, backed by Social Work England
• Equip staff already making a real difference with the skills and qualifications needed to take on greater challenges as registered social workers
• Build resilience, encourage problem-solving, and embed a collaborative approach to improving people's lives

Apprentices

• Develop a deeper understanding of how society functions and the opportunities for improving the lives of some of the most vulnerable people
• Gain the skills and understanding needed to successfully advocate for the vulnerable and stand up for social justice
• Programme is taught from the Faculty of Health and Education in the state-of-the-art £139m Brooks building

Programme Content

BA (Hons) (30 months)

Apprentices will quickly develop the fundamental skills, knowledge, and behaviours to register as a practicing social worker.

• Year one:
  • Social Work, Social Justice and Lived Experiences
  • Social Work Practice Across the Life Course
  • Society, Welfare and Global Inequalities
  • Ethical Practice for Professional Social Work
• Year two:
  • Law, Rights and Safeguarding
  • Aspire 1: Knowledge and Skills in Practice
  • Contemporary Issues in Social Work Practice
  • Theory, Skills and Methods for Professional Social Work Practice
• Year three:
  • Applied Social Research and Evaluation for Practice
  • Critical and International Perspectives in Social Work
  • Aspire 2: Applying Law, Safeguarding and Inter-Disciplinary Approaches in Practice
  • End-Point Assessment

PgDip (18 months)

Apprentices will quickly develop the fundamental skills, knowledge, and behaviours to register as a practising social worker.

• Unit one: Professional Social Work Practice
• Unit two: Assessment, Complexity and Risk
• Unit three: Law, Rights and Safeguarding
• Unit four: Evidence-Informed Practice

Programme Length and Approach

The programme is taught part-time at the campus in central Manchester. Delivered over either 18 months for the PgDip or 30 months for the BA (Hons). Apprentices will be on campus a day a week in term-time for lectures, seminars, and simulated practice.

Qualifications Awarded

All successful graduates are awarded a BA (Hons) or PgDip Social Work degree from Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as a Level 6 apprenticeship qualification approved by Social Work England. Graduates can apply to become a registered social worker.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must be employed by a statutory or non-statutory agency that can provide the experience and support needed to train a fully qualified social worker. They must:

• be 18 or older
• have the right of abode and right to work in the UK to qualify for funding
• meet programme entry requirements

All applicants are individually assessed for suitability.

Funding

Degree apprenticeships are paid for by employers, not apprentices. Employers with a payroll of more than £3 million can use their apprenticeship levy contributions to pay for places on apprenticeship programmes. Any business with a payroll below £3 million is eligible for government funding that will cover at least 95% of the cost of an apprenticeship programme. Additional incentives are also available to employers who recruit new apprentices into their business.