Social work is a challenging yet hugely rewarding career. Social workers play an essential part in supporting vulnerable people through difficult times and circumstances – this includes helping adults with disabilities and health challenges, and safeguarding children. It’s a career that asks a lot of health professionals. It requires empathy, dedication and professional training, but also gives a lot in terms of great career prospects and genuine purpose.
This guide covers everything you need to know about how to become a social worker in the UK, from training routes and qualifications to what the job entails on a day-to-day basis.
Important things to know:
- The social work profession is regulated by the UK care regulators
- You must enrol in and complete an ‘approved’ course to qualify
- Entry requirements can vary across England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales
- Courses can take up to 3 years (full-time) to complete
- The average starting salary for social workers is £30,000
So, how do you become a social worker in the UK?
There are three ways to qualify as a social worker in the UK:
- Completing a university degree
- Completing an apprenticeship
- Completing a graduate training scheme
Going to university
Taking a university course is the most traditional way into social work. If academic learning is your chosen route, you will either need to complete a three-year undergraduate degree or a two-year postgraduate master’s degree in social work. Here’s a bit more information about what’s required to get onto these courses:
For undergraduate degrees
- Typically 2-3 A-levels or equivalent qualifications
- GCSEs in English and Maths at grade C/4 or above
- Some universities accept Access to Higher Education diplomas
- Relevant voluntary or work experience boosts your application significantly
For postgraduate degrees
- A degree in any subject (2:2 or above in most cases)
- Relevant experience is highly valued
- GCSEs in English and Maths
It’s worth noting that all degree courses have to be approved by Social Work England, or the equivalent body in Scotland (The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)), Wales (Social Care Wales) or Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)).
These courses combine academic study with practical work-based training programmes to give you the theory and real-world experience you need to be qualified for social work. Placements will be across different social work settings, and you might work with adults or young people; you’ll complete at least 170 days of supervised practice.
The majority of courses begin in September, and while there are plenty of job opportunities for social workers, competition can be fierce for degree courses. With this in mind, it’s wise to start your application early and make sure you clearly explain why social work is the right career for you.
Apprenticeships
Social worker degree apprenticeships offer another route into this career, and one where you can ‘earn while you learn’. Apprenticeships are therefore popular among people changing careers, as well as those who would struggle to afford full-time study. Here’s some more essential information on social work degree apprenticeships:
Key details
- Apprenticeships take three years to complete
- You work for a local authority or approved organisation while studying
- Your employer covers tuition fees and pays you a salary
- You gain the same qualification as university students
- Courses combine on-the-job training with academic study
Entry requirements
- Similar academic requirements to undergraduate degrees
- Strong emphasis on relevant work experience
- Employers may set their own additional criteria
- Competition is intense as places are limited
If you’re already working in social care or a related role, an apprenticeship route may well be a sensible choice. To pursue this, you’ll need to secure an apprenticeship with an employer. They will then support you through your required training. To find opportunities, it’s worth looking at local authority websites and the government’s apprenticeship service for vacancies.
Graduate training scheme
There are a number of graduate training schemes in the UK, such as Think Ahead (related to mental health work) and Frontline (related to social work with children). These are intensive programmes intended for high-potential graduates who want to fast-track their careers in social work. Here are some more key points you should know:
What to expect
- Condensed training over 12-16 months
- A focus on specific areas of social work
- Combines academic study with practice placements
- Includes leadership development and ongoing support
- Leads to a master’s degree in social work
Entry requirements
- A 2:1 (or higher) degree in any subject
- Passion for the specific field related to the scheme (e.g. children’s services or mental health)
- Strong communication skills and resilience
- A commitment to social justice
- Previous experience working with vulnerable people is advantageous
Like social work degree courses, these schemes are highly competitive, but they offer fantastic career development opportunities. It’s worth noting that on a graduate training scheme, you receive financial support through a bursary or salary, making them financially viable. Courses usually start in the summer, with applications opening the previous autumn.
How long does it take to become a social worker?
The amount of time it takes you to become a social worker depends on which training route you choose, as well as whether you study full-time or part-time.
Undergraduate degree
- Full-time: 3 years
- Part-time: 4-6 years
Postgraduate qualification
- Full-time: 2 years
- Part-time: 3-5 years
Degree apprenticeship
- 3 years
- Part-time: 4-6 years
Step Up to Social Work (graduate training scheme)
- 14 months full-time
- Results in a Postgraduate Diploma (level 7)
- No part-time option available
Approach Social Work (graduate training scheme)
- Up to 3 years full-time
- Year 1 gives you a Postgraduate Diploma (level 7)
- Year 3 completes your master’s degree (level 7)
- No part-time option available
Whichever training route you choose, you can expect substantial practical placements in at least two different settings. This ensures you have adequate exposure to different areas of social work, though of course you never really stop learning in this job. Placements can’t be rushed through as they’re vital in teaching you the skills you need, as well as meeting regulatory requirements.
Once you’ve completed your training, you’ll need to register with Social Work England, or your equivalent national body, before you can practice. Then, once employed, you’ll need to complete an Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) as a newly qualified social worker. During this time, you’ll receive structured support as you transition into your career.
The other skills needed to be a social worker
As well as formal qualifications, you need a fairly specific set of qualities as a person in order to thrive in social work. These include:
- Empathy and compassion – understanding people’s situations without judgement
- Resilience – managing emotionally challenging situations and being able to bounce back from setbacks
- Clear communication – explaining complex information and listening actively to what people tell you
- Problem-solving abilities – thinking creatively about how to best support people
- Organisation skills – managing a caseload and keeping detailed records
- Cultural awareness – respecting diversity and understanding different backgrounds
- Ability to work under pressure – staying calm when making urgent decisions, often in difficult situations
- Team working – collaborating with other professionals
- Boundaries – maintaining professional relationships while being personable
- Commitment to ongoing learning – staying current with legislation and best practice
Daily life in social work
Boredom is not a problem you often face if you’re a social worker. Day-to-day activities vary depending on your specialism. A mental health social worker, for example, has different daily routines than a family social worker focused on child protection. But there are common responsibilities. You spend a lot of your time doing assessments, meeting people and working to understand their needs so you can offer the most appropriate help.
A decent chunk of your day is taken up with writing reports and keeping records of ongoing cases. Here, you document your decisions and the actions you’ve taken on behalf of your clients. This paperwork is absolutely vital – it protects the people you support and yourself as a professional if questions are asked later.
As a social worker, you also regularly attend meetings. These include case conferences and court hearings where you discuss service users. You therefore need to be able to clearly and professionally present your opinion.
Working directly with service users is often the most rewarding part of social work. This can include conducting counselling sessions, developing care plans, teaching independent living skills or helping someone access services they need, such as mental health treatment or housing support.
Crisis management is a key part of social work. This might require you to arrange emergency placements for children, urgent care for a vulnerable adult, or to support someone experiencing a mental health crisis.
The remainder of your time is taken up with supervision meetings with your manager and professional development tasks.
A perk for many people is that most social workers operate fairly autonomously, though with a manager for supervision, as mentioned, and colleagues for consultation on cases.
Professional development opportunities
In social work, your learning doesn’t stop when you qualify, and the field is known to provide plenty of career progression opportunities.
As you progress in your career you can choose to specialise in areas that interest you, such as mental health, learning disabilities, adoption or fostering. Many social workers advance to become team leaders or take other management roles. Some become practice educators who train others, or take on expert roles to help support in complex cases.
It’s good to know that Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is obligatory for all registered social workers, supporting your career progression. Part of this includes attending workshops, conferences and training to stay current with your skills, and many social workers pursue supplementary qualifications and specialist certifications to move their career in the direction that suits them best.
At Elysium, employees have access to a diverse array of career development opportunities. We’re committed to building a skilled workforce that can achieve their career aspirations, and our Learning and Development team provides training opportunities to support your future development, with a primary goal of promoting from within. You can learn more about our approach to supporting staff development on our career development page.
Is a career in social care worth it?
Social work is certainly a challenging career, but it’s also hugely rewarding. There’ll be tough days when you can’t help someone as much as you’d like to. But there will also be days when you see how you’re making a genuine positive difference to people’s lives, and the satisfaction that brings is enormous.
Social work also offers job security, competitive pay and great benefits. And more important than that, it gives you purpose. All your hard work is dedicated to protecting vulnerable people and helping them live better lives. It’s a job with real meaning and one that empowers you to contribute something truly valuable to society.
Ready to start your career in social work?
If the idea of becoming a social worker excites you, the next thing you need to do is research the training routes and find ways to gain relevant experience. Volunteering or finding an interim job in the care sector could help you discover whether this career is right for you, and it will strengthen your application if you find that it is.
And when you’re qualified, you can find a range of social work positions across different specialisms here at Elysium. Explore our current vacancies now to find the ideal role to kick off or continue your career.