Placements

We are committed to raising the standards of social work practice.

As part of this, we ensure that all our students are provided with:

• placements in at least two practice settings providing contrasting experiences; and
• a minimum of one placement taking place within a statutory setting, providing experience of sufficient numbers of statutory social work tasks involving high risk decision making and legal interventions.

Statutory placements are those that offer experience in one or more of following areas:

• The Children Act (1989) s.17
• The Children Act (1989) s.47
• The Care Act (2014)
• The Mental Capacity Act (2005)

Your first placement will be 70 days long and your final placement 100 days.

You will be supported throughout your placement by experienced social workers and practice educators, both at your placement agency and at the University.

Skills days

There are 30 skills days spread over the two years of the course, which aim to help you develop your professional social work skills. There are 20 skills days in the first year and 10 skills days in the second year.

Skills days are part of practice placement and focus on developing your communication and assessment skills, as well as your knowledge of different areas of social work practice.

Skills days are interactive and use a range of teaching methods, including workshops, online sessions and simulation suites.

Locations and hours

Placements will be within the Greater Manchester area, though consideration will be given to students who may require a placement outside this area on an individual basis. Placements will be in a variety of local authority, voluntary or private agency settings.

You will normally be on placement from February onwards during the first year and from January onwards during the second year. You will normally be on placement Monday to Thursday, with some skills days held on a Friday.