Why choose the School of Society, Community and Health
This course is mapped against the Professional Capabilities Framework for social workers (BASW, 2018).
Designed for professional social workers, building on their existing knowledge and practice.
In the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2025, our social sciences courses rank in the top 10 in their subject field for teaching (3rd); organisation and feedback (6th); and student engagement (6th).
About the course
This specialised MSc pathway caters to certified social workers, providing a flexible, streamlined path to enhancing your knowledge and practice. It equips you to undertake supervisory and leadership roles, supporting team members to work on issues related to risk and safeguarding. You enrol in individual units, progressing towards the full Master’s degree at your own pace. The pathway units aim to build on your existing professional knowledge while covering practice education; leadership and management; and the development of specialisms.
Below is a guide to possible unit pathways, depending on your specialist interests or career direction.
Facilities and specialist equipment
Access to the Faculty’s range of fully immersive simulation units, moot court, and police custody suite and interview room, preparing you to respond to and manage a range of scenarios.
Your student experience
The course is benchmarked against QAA and BASW frameworks and standards.
The blended learning approach combines traditional face-to-face teaching methods with online learning resources to create a flexible and dynamic learning experience.
Build your skills in originality, leadership and self-reflection so you are confident applying new solutions to complex situations.
Deepen your understanding of legislation, policy, theoretical perspectives, concepts and interventions in social care and social work.
Develop your critical awareness of contemporary issues in social work practice.
Enhance your education methods by utilising research, theoretical frameworks, case studies and practical exercises from real-world examples.
Suggested for practice educator training*
Practice educator training: stage 1 30 credits
Practice educator training: stage 1 30 credits
*You must meet the entry-level requirements set out in the PEPs 2022.
Suggested for post-ASYE to experienced social worker as well as those looking to develop specialisms outside of management pathways
- Safeguarding young people: contextual safeguarding and other approaches to extra-familial harm 15 credits
- A trauma-informed approach to relationship-based practice 15 credits
- Complex assessments, decision making, analysis and risks 15 credits
- Sexual abuse and exploitation 30 credits
- Adult exploitation and safeguarding 30 credits
Suggested for experienced social workers to strategic social worker level
- Mentoring and coaching in health and social care 30 credits
- Leadership and management in health and social care 30 credits
- Reflective supervision for health and social care 30 credits
Additional units needed for a Master’s in Advanced Social Work Practice
- Applied research 30 credits
- Dissertation 60 credits
You need to achieve 180 credit points to gain a full Master’s degree.
This course features two core modules:
Applied research skills in social work – Understand the methodological research approaches used to investigate and improve social work practice; be able to apply your knowledge to conduct your own research-evidenced dissertation.
Dissertation for social workers – Undertake individual, practice-based research into a relevant topic, conducting primary and/or secondary (literature-based) research.
Other modules are options that you choose according to your field of interest/specialism or career-development path.
Optional modules are:
- Mentoring and coaching in social work
- Leading and managing in social work
- Practice educator training: stage 1
- Practice educator training: stage 2
- Adult exploitation and safeguarding
- Sexual abuse and exploitation
- A trauma-informed approach to relationship-based social work
- Complex assessments, decision making, analysis and risk
- Safeguarding young people: contextual safeguarding and other approaches to extra-familial harm
- Reflective supervision for health and social care professionals
For an at-a-glance list of modules for this course, download the course specification.
Each unit is designed to help you to develop your social work related skills in ways which are directly relevant to your interests or workplace. The overarching course assessment strategy is designed to assist you in identifying reflecting on and meeting your own learning needs. Furthermore where appropriate the unit assessments provide the flexibility for you to choose to investigate a contemporary issue.
Through the use of a variety of assessment methods students will be able to showcase their knowledge and skills in different ways catering to individual learning styles and promoting autonomous learning.
A range of assessment methods will be used throughout the course including e-portfolios observations reflective assessments case studies presentations vivas and poster presentations. This variety ensures that students are tested in all the areas necessary for competent practice as an experienced social work practitioner as well as in the academic disciplines underpinning this practice.
Each of these assessments will enable you to demonstrate the ability to critically understand and evaluate complex issues relevant to the social work profession and communicate these effectively to a range of audiences. This strategy informs the assessment methods for each individual unit within the course and is based on Masters level descriptors and course learning outcomes.
By using different assessment methods students will be able to develop a wide range of key skills including critical thinking analysis and evaluation. This will be helpful preparation for the research and dissertation units as well as building towards the final stage of study which encourages more self-directed study and autonomous learning.
The initial formative assessment early in the course delivery will provide students with constructive and developmental feedback on their academic skills. Reflection on evidence drawn from practice in the workplace underpins many of the assessment activities providing students with a clear understanding of their areas for development.
Portfolios and presentation skills will also be developed and encouraged along with wide reading across all the units to develop skills in analysing and evaluating data from relevant studies. For those students studying Practice Education Training their practice competence will also be assessed by a professionally qualified and experienced Stage 2 Practice Educator mentor who has been approved by the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ for this purpose.
Overall assessment plays a crucial role in promoting autonomous learning and developing the key skills necessary for competent practice as an experienced social work practitioner. The use of a variety of assessment methods ensures that students can showcase their understanding and skills in different ways catering to individual learning styles and promoting academic and practice competence.
Careers
The units on this course are designed to help you develop your career or change direction within social work. You can use the specialist expertise you gain to take on a leading role in practice development within your workplace. You can also seek leadership or management opportunities in social work or social care as the course proceeds or upon graduation.
You may also like to continue your development by progressing to a Professional Doctorate programme.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email [email protected]
International
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £16,900
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email [email protected]
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email [email protected]
International
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £16,900
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email [email protected]
