Social Work

Social work is about empowering children, families and adults. It’s a complex job that demands a lot of soft skills, such as communication and partnership working.

As a student at ARU, you’ll learn how to assess people’s circumstances and needs; measure risk; and set up activities with individuals, families, groups and communities.

Working alongside other care professionals, you’ll plan, provide, review and evaluate services and interventions. You’ll become skilled in problem-solving and communication, and gain a thorough understanding of your legal powers and duties.

We work closely with our SUCI Group– Supporting Social Work Education with Lived Experience, so that you can learn directly from people with a lived experience of accessing services. There is ample opportunity to learn on the job too, with 170 days out on placement during your studies. 

All of our students do two practice placements. You’ll do 70 days in Year 2, and 100 days in Year 3. One of your placements will involve statutory tasks, including legal interventions. Both placements are an invaluable opportunity to learn in the workplace and you’ll cover a range of topics such as engagement, assessment, interpersonal skills, interventions, safeguarding and the appropriate use of authority.

• If you study in Chelmsford, your placements could be anywhere in Essex, including Thurrock and Southend authorities.
• If you're joining us in Cambridge, your placements could be anywhere in Cambridgeshire.
• Peterborough students go on placement in and around Peterborough and Cambridgeshire.

We’ll make sure that you get a range of settings to best support your training. It’s likely that you’ll have to travel as part of your placement, so you’ll need your own transport to visit people accessing services in the community, where public transport may not be available.

Our Social Work degree course is validated by Social Work England so when you graduate, you’ll be eligible to apply to register as a social worker.