"The first time I met a social worker as a child I knew that was what I wanted to do. I had an unstable childhood and, as a result, I left school with hardly any qualifications. I got a job in a chemist and worked my way up in the company undertaking work-based qualifications. After having my two children and getting married, I realised that if I didn’t go to university then, I was never going to. I undertook an Access to Social Sciences course with Plymouth Adult and Community Learning and obtained a diploma that equalled the university requirement of UCAS credits. I'm currently in my third year of study and will graduate in 2015.
The only way to describe the social work course is that it’s hard work, but worth it. The University of Plymouth is a very supportive environment; the whole course is structured to help you become a reflective and ethical practitioner. The lectures are interesting and engaging, with varied guest speakers to enhance the learning experiences.
Placement opportunities are vast and tailored to meet learning needs, which you discuss each year, with your Practice Learning Manager.
I think that if you’re considering social work at Plymouth, then you have to go for it! As a mature student I found that everything worried me about going to university, from funding, to whether I’d ‘fit in’, and juggling my family. While I will never say the course is easy, it is manageable to fit in everything."
