BA (Hons) Social Work

This is a three-year fulltime, or four-year part time undergraduate course.

The BA (Hons) in Social Work is recognised as a professional qualification in Social Work by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), endorsed by the College of Social Work (TCSW) and validated by the Open University.

It consists of academic study and practice learning in a social work agency, the latter in two periods, 70 and 100 days, in a variety of social work settings. Ruskin has a sound tradition of providing social work education and training for mature, non-traditional students. It operates in partnership with other local social work programmes and local authority partners, in particular Oxfordshire County Council, principally via our Practice Learning Centre. Support for students is provided throughout the programme, including supervision while on placement.

National Student Survey

Our small class sizes mean our results often do not register officially on the National Student Survey. However, in 2011, when compared with the 88 other institutions that offer a degree in Social Work, Ruskin was extremely pleased to be placed 1st nationally for ‘Teaching on the Programme’, with 99% of students agreeing it was good or very good.

CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS AND SUITABILITY

All applicants for the Social Work course are asked to disclose any previous criminal convictions (including cautions, warnings and reprimands) however long ago they may have occurred and whether as a juvenile or an adult. In addition, students will be required to undergo an enhanced criminal records check and will need to receive clearance before undertaking social work placements. Where a student has a previous conviction, caution, warning or reprimand this may not be an automatic bar to entry on the programme, but it will be given full consideration and may be subject to a risk assessment.

Students selected for this programme will be subject to the BA Social Work Suitability Procedure. Although it is not a requirement for students to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the registering body for social work, they are expected to abide by the ‘Guidance on Conduct and Ethics for Students’. Once the degree has been successfully completed, students can apply to be registered with the HCPC. Registration is needed to work as a ‘Social Worker’, as this is a protected title

WHAT WILL I STUDY ON THIS COURSE?

Ruskin has traditionally encouraged 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. 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, effective services in a professional and compassionate manner.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

S

Applicants for the BA (Hons) Social Work should:

• demonstrate a commitment to pursuing a career in social work or possess the appropriate personal qualities and aptitude to be a social worker
• have work, voluntary, trade union or personal experience relevant to social work
• 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. One way to achieve this is by undertaking an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Social Science, available at Ruskin College.
• have GCSE Grade C or above in both Maths and English on application
• have an IELTS score of Level 6.5 for nonUK students

COURSE AND APPLICATION DATES

This course starts in September. Applications close 15th August. Please note: This course fills its places quickly so early application is advised.

CAREERS

We expect the majority of our graduates to gain social work positions relatively soon after completing the programme. Out of the cohort who graduated in 2013, 83% had found jobs by February 2014. Students often find that employment opportunities arise out of their final placement. All of the above students were successful in finding jobs local to their home area.

Tuition Fees 2015/16

Access to HE Programmes, Level 3, Full Time: £3,358

Why study at Ruskin?

Individuals like you who want to make positive changes to their lives and have the determination to secure the education, qualifications and opportunities that we offer.

As a Further Education College based in Oxford, Ruskin offers educational opportunities, to adults with few or no formal qualifications in an informal setting. Our curriculum starts with the students, their enthusiasm, needs, ambitions and skills and we offer our applicants potential progression routes from foundation courses, through to Access to Higher Education, Degree Programmes up to Masters level.

Whether you are about achieving qualifications, pursuing a forgotten enthusiasm or simply learning to enjoy education. Our friendly residential college attracts students from our local communities, across the UK and the world to help each other learn.

We’ll help you find a level of study that suits your skills and experience.

Ruskin College has a proud history of supporting individuals to realise their potential. We’re a small college, with big ideas – and the programmes we offer mean your learning can also make positive changes to the lives of others. Ruskin welcomes students who not only want to develop themselves but want also to put something back into society.

All of our courses feature the same high-quality teaching and support and there is a range of options for you to explore, from short courses through degrees to masters programmes.

What’s special about Ruskin?

• Academic excellence - Ruskin offers highly qualified staff who provide a supportive and enriching learning experience
• A supportive environment - with our help you can realise your potential and overcome your own personal barriers to learning. Your tutor will help you to find the skills you need and handle the challenges you face
• A like-minded community - you’ll be joining a community of like-minded people, and studying alongside other adults like you who have chosen to make a positive change in their lives
• Clear progression - your learning journey is tailored to your ability and aspirations and that can mean direct access to a degree programme (subject to interview)
• An eye to the future - what you can achieve depends on the skills you have developed during your studies. Our longer courses can lead you directly into professional careers or on to further higher education.

Our story began 115 years ago, rooted in educating working-class adults. Today, we continue to offer opportunities and support to students who often face challenging circumstances. Students come to us from all walks of life, of all ages, some with family or caring commitments, many who are familiar with unemployment or part-time, low paid jobs, and many who have been denied education, qualifications and chances earlier on in their lives.

Why not make Ruskin College the next chapter in your story?

Accommodation at Ruskin

Ruskin College is located in Old Headington, an area just three miles from the centre of Oxford and rich in history. Ex-residents of Headington include CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, Sir Isaiah Berlin and Elizabeth Bowen amongst others.

From Headington, there are regular and frequent bus services to the city centre and a regular coach service to London.

Once offered a place, full-time students can apply for a single study bedroom for the entire academic year (40 weeks). Accommodation for students on site is of a high standard, recently-refurbished and offering study/bedrooms in small blocks on the peaceful, semi-rural campus.

There is a choice of standard rooms with shared bathrooms or shower and toilet facilities or en-suite rooms at a higher cost, and subject to availability. All have shared kitchens, and there are three common rooms for use in the evenings.

The College occupies a beautiful site with lawned areas to the front, featuring specimen trees and an avenue of elms, a walled garden behind with opportunities to become involved, an orchard, a small wood and meadowland beyond. Above all, this provides a calm and tranquil environment in which to study.

Life on Campus

The College attracts students from all over Britain and many parts of the world. Within its residential community, students socialise, study and help each other learn in a friendly, supportive environment.

Up-to-date computer facilities are available throughout the week, including weekends, and the modern, purpose-built Callaghan library is well-stocked with over 40,000 volumes.

There is an active Students Union, called the Ruskin College Student Union (RCSU), which promotes and supports the interests of Ruskin students, co-ordinates activities and sponsors groups and societies within the College.

Students are also eligible to join the Oxford Union, and University of Oxford clubs and societies, which offer a wealth of sporting, theatrical, musical and political activities.

Ruskin College is one of the liveliest venues for literary and political meetings in Oxford. We have visiting speakers, music evenings and creative writing and poetry readings, in addition to hosting a variety of Platform events in theatre, law, gender and history.

Life in Oxford

The City of Oxford offers a wide range of cultural and leisure opportunities.

The Ashmolean was the world’s first public museum and houses collections from classical sculpture to impressionist paintings. The Museum of Modern Art offers the best of contemporary work. Within Oxford colleges, many fine collections of art are available for public viewing.

The Bodleian Library, the main research library of the University of Oxford, counts among the most prestigious in the world, and Oxford’s Blackwell's bookshop is the flagship for one of the UK’s largest academic booksellers.

The Oxford Playhouse and the New Theatre showcase the best in touring performance – from classic drama, through opera and dance, to stand up and big name bands and singers. A variety of other smaller scale performance spaces cater for all tastes, many offering opportunities to participate.

A vibrant music scene also exists in Oxford’s pubs and clubs right across the city, from folk to funk, rock to reggae.

There are great sports and leisure facilities within Oxford. The University Sports Centre has squash courts and a gymnasium, and there are opportunities galore for individual and team participation. The city itself also offers an ice rink and a variety of sports centres and facilities.

University Access

Many of the facilities of the University of Oxford, its libraries, social life, and events, are open to Ruskin students through the College’s links. Students studying for the Foundation Degree in Business and Social Enterprise are able to access facilities offered by Oxford Brookes University, including the library, careers service and sports facilities.

Ruskin College also has established links with Universities to provide progression into higher education for those completing one of the Access to Higher Education Diploma courses or the first (CertHE) or second (Foundation degree) courses.