Welcome to your Social Work course - University of Staffordshire

A warm welcome and thank you for choosing the MA in Social Work. The whole teaching team is excited to meet and support you over the next two years. We understand that starting a new course can feel daunting. Therefore, the MA has been designed with this in mind. Your first module introduces you back to the world of academia but also the world of social work. Giving you the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and values required to work as a social worker and register with Social Work England.

Throughout your time with us, you will be taught by a team of qualified social work academics with practice experience in all fields of social work, both nationally and internationally. You will also work alongside members of our service user and carer community. They will share their expertise and experience with you as part of the teaching alongside contributing to assessments. Module content will be reviewed and updated annually to ensure that the course remains reflective of the context and developments in contemporary social work practice.

Your staff team

We want to make sure you know some of our team before you arrive. Hopefully this will help you recognise us and ensure you know who you can contact if you need any additional help and guidance.

Jacob Finney

Senior Lecturer

Jake is a Senior Lecturer and Masters course lead in Social Work at Staffordshire University. Jake has also worked as a qualified Social Worker, Practice Educator and Team Manager in both London and Stoke-On-Trent.

Jacob's profile

Rebecca Ford

Course Director And Social Work Lead

I am a qualified social worker and practice educator, with 15 years experience in practice with children and their families in statutory settings. Working with and safeguarding older children, has been a driving factor throughout my career.

Rebecca's profile

Robert Chigangaidze

Lecturer

Robert is a versatile Humanistic Social Worker with special interest on the intersection of the International Social Work, African philosophy of Ubuntu, Environmental Social Work and Clinical Social Work.

Robert's profile

Dr Sharon Mallon

Senior Lecturer

First activity

Your first module, commencing on 20th January 2025, is Core Skills for social work practice. This module will provide you with the academic skills required for study at level 7. We will review and then develop skills such as referencing, essay structuring and critical analysis.

We will help you in locating and utilising information from academic sources - including using libraries and technology to enhance learning. You will be introduced to the use of our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) as this will form a key part of your learning on the postgraduate programme.

You will also be introduced to the main areas of social work practice and hear from people who have experienced social care. This provides a valuable and powerful insight into being someone who draws on social care services.

Before you start

Before you begin your time with us here, we invite you to meet the course leader and potentially some of your fellow students. We appreciate that there are many reasons you might feel anxious or apprehensive before beginning your course, or you may just want to ask about practical issues like timetables. Therefore, we have our first offer holder event taking place at the university on June 12^th 10-12pm and then further events from then until December 2024. We will also offer online events for our international students to attend.

Your first two days on campus will be during your welcome week on 13^th and 14^th January – 10.00am until 3pm. You will receive sessions on support services, meeting the staff team and an overview of the academic year with guests from within and outside of the university.

Course delivery

Most teaching will be classroom based i.e. on campus. This face-to-face contact is crucial in developing your communications skills but, equally it enables a cohesive and robust learning environment. However, there may be times when some learning may be conducted online.

We will also be using our new immersive simulation suites to provide opportunities to develop and hone your newly developed social work skills.

Progression

The course is designed to ensure that you progress from module to module. This is monitored closely by the team, and you will receive feedback and support throughout the course. You can book in one-to-one tutorials with your own dedicated academic mentor or the module lead for the subject you are studying at that time. We can help guide on matters relating from academic skills to wellbeing and disability support via our different support mechanisms from inside and outside of the department.

Academic skills

Whether you're joining us from school or college, or you're returning to education after some time away, everyone can benefit from the Academic Study Skills resources provided by the University library.

The Academic Skills team is here to support you throughout your academic journey and to help you gain the skills you need to reach your full potential. They can assist with academic reading and writing skills, give advice on how best to plan assignments, and help improve your time management.

The library's Academic Skills Guides offer the key information to make studying easier and give a comprehensive guide to the learning resources and services we offer.

Staffs CampusConnect

Staffs CampusConnect is our student-led community app for new students. Connect with other people from your course, hometown or country, and even those with similar interests.

To register, please ensure you use your Applicant ID (Student Number) that you received in your offer letter, and the email address you used in your application to us.

Register for CampusConnect

Welcome website

Our welcome website will provide you the link to your new student life. It's all about how you find your place at university, including everything from how to meet friends, feel confident in doing your academic work, being a member of your Student Union and getting involved in Union Societies, Academic Societies, Sports, Volunteering or representing your peers in your School.

Part of this Welcome Week - we have an exciting program of University and course level activities planned for you for your first week in September. We are also building an extended program for you to join a series of events throughout the first half of the autumn term. Further details will be shared with you via the Welcome website and Students' Union pages over the coming weeks.

Welcome website

Campus map

Use our campus map to familiarise yourself with our campus before you arrive.

Campus map (PDF)

Check your email

Please make sure you check your personal email account regularly over the next few weeks. We will be sending you lots of information about Welcome Week.

We look forward to meeting you in January.

For further details please contact Jacob Finney e: jacob.finney@staffs.ac.uk