Programme details

Our trainees learn to become social workers in mental health through training placements and academic studies.

Placed in either an NHS trust or local authority mental health team, you’ll contribute to adult mental health services from the very start of your training.

The timeline

Year 1

Summer Institute: Preparing for social work practice and academic studies.

Training placements: Supporting adults with mental health needs.

Post-graduate diploma: Qualifying as a social worker.

Year 2

Register with Social Work England: As a newly qualified social worker.

Assessed and supported year in employment: Strengthening your skills and knowledge.

Master’s degree: Finish with a master’s degree in social work practice.

Placement and employment overview

	Year 1	Year 2
Position	Trainee social worker. Student on placement with NHS trust or local authority.	Newly qualified social worker. Employee of NHS trust or local authority.
Commitment	Full-time role.	Full-time role. Minimum contract 12 months.
Responsibilities	Shared responsibility with other trainees in your unit for people’s care.	Working more independently, leading on people’s care.
Actions and requirements	Practice portfolio for your first and second placement. Registration Social Work England once qualified.	A practice portfolio for your “assessed and supported year of employment”.

Academic overview

	Qualifications	General requirements
Summer Institute		– One written assignment – An assessed role play.
Year One	Postgraduate diploma in social work with Middlesex University.	– Three written assignments, usually 2,500 words each – A couple of presentations- Case studies for group discussions with your unit. – One exam.
Year Two	Master’s degree in social work practice with Middlesex University.	Either – A 10,000 word dissertation. – Or a portfolio with three written assignments. Totalling 9,500 words.

Qualifications

General requirements

Summer Institute

– One written assignment

– An assessed role play.

Year One

Postgraduate diploma in social work with Middlesex University.

– Three written assignments, usually 2,500 words each
– A couple of presentations- Case studies for group discussions with your unit.
– One exam.

Year Two

Master’s degree in social work practice with Middlesex University.

Either
– A 10,000 word dissertation.
– Or a portfolio with three written assignments. Totalling 9,500 words.

What you’ll learn

Our curriculum gives you the skills and technical knowledge needed to work with people individually, within their family networks and in their communities.

It also provides a more nuanced understanding of the core social work values, and how you can bring about meaningful change by building trust and collaborating.

You’ll learn about:

Legal and policy frameworks relating to mental health and human rights, including the Mental Health Act, the Mental Health Capacity Act, the Care Act and the Human Rights Act.
How different severe and long-lasting mental health conditions impact people’s lives and appropriate ways to support people living with mental health needs.
Issues that can affect mental health – such as physical illness, childhood trauma, social isolation, relationship difficulties and domestic abuse, financial pressures and poverty, and substance use.

Course requirements

Two-year commitment

This is a fully-funded course requiring your commitment for two years.

Should you decide to leave the programme, you may need to pay back some of your bursary or contribute to your Master’s degree fees.

Full-time engagement

This is a full-time programme, running Monday to Friday.

It is an intensive course, and you will find yourself using some evenings and weekends for your academic studies or to join lectures and events. You will not normally need to work out of hours in your NHS trust or local authority training placement.

Annual leave

First year: 25 days of annual leave (plus Bank Holidays). Some of these are pre-determined dates including: the week immediately after the Summer Institute, after your first placement, and after your second placement.
Second year: your annual leave allowance will be set by your employer, the NHS trust or local authority you are working for.
There will be times when you cannot take any leave: including the Summer Institute and recall days.

The support around you

Placement professionals

A dedicated consultant social worker will lead your first-year training and you’ll have a line manager in your second year. These experienced professionals will provide technical coaching, support and advice.

Middlesex University Tutors

You will be supported by university tutors throughout the programme. They will help guide you through your academic work and supervise your dissertation.

Think Ahead Practice Specialists

Our in-house social workers oversee your training placements, quality assuring your practice-based learning experience. You will have one practice specialist supporting you through the two-year programme.

Fellow trainees and alumni

Peer support is an important benefit of our programme. The working relationships you form with your fellow trainees and our past-trainees will be instrumental to you.

After the programme

You become a member of our Alumni Community, joining an invaluable support network and gaining access to fully-funded continuing professional development trainings and events to reinforce your learning and experience.

You can then follow any career direction you choose. You could:

Become a leading frontline practitioner or move into service leadership.
Further train for senior professional roles such as the approved mental health professional (AMHP) role.
Support learning and development, taking on practice educator roles
Use your experience in a related role such as adult safeguarding.