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Social Work and Social Welfare

Get connected

Learn from industry professionals, passionate about their subject’

Work placements

Gain vital professional experience in the right setting for you

Forward your career

Employability skills embedded into every aspect of our courses

Make a difference to individuals, families, and communities’ lives with a qualification in social work or health and social care.

You'll gain the knowledge and skills to turn your passion for social justice into impact. You'll learn to work with a wide range of groups such as older people, people with disabilities, people experiencing domestic violence, or people with debt, benefit, immigration, housing, substance misuse or consumer issues. 

The Social Work BA (Hons) course prepares you for a career in the personal social services or more general health and social care welfare settings. Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), successful completion of the course enables you to apply for registration with the HCPC and use the legally protected title 'social worker'. 

The BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care course will develop the knowledge relevant to a productive future in the health and social care sectors. Employability skills are embedded throughout the course, with a clear focus on how studies can be applied within the workplace.

Annette Mann - Health and Social Care

Annette Mann - Health and Social Care

Video

Community Support Worker Annette talks about studying for a degree helped develop her career.

Courses

Health and Social Care BSc (Hons)

Study options
Full-time
Foundation year

Social Work BA (Hons)

Study options
Full-time

Working with Children, Young People and Families BA (Hons)

Study options
Full-time, blended learning

Taught courses

Human Factors for Patient Safety MSc/ PgCert

Study options
Part-time, blended learning
Part-time, distance learning

Facilities

Community House (Stoke)

A fully furnished house used for simulated, scenario-based training. It includes audio and video facilities to record simulated exercises and allow detailed tutor and peer feedback.

Clinical Simulation Suite

These state-of-the-art labs allow a number of clinical procedures to be simulated on mannequins, enabling students to reach a level of confidence and proficiency before carrying out procedures on real patients.

Libraries

We have Libraries and Service desks at both sites in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. All have experienced and friendly staff who can answer your IT queries, help you to access resources, show you how to research for your assignments and even help with referencing.

Some libraries are open 24/7 at key times in the academic year and we have a 24 hour help line too.

Work experience and careers

Whatever you choose to study at Staffordshire University you will have the opportunity of a work-placement, where you’ll gain experience and connections to give you an edge in your future career.

This work experience may be closely linked to your course, or it could offer a broader experience designed to develop your employability skills. Our commitment gives students the best possible mix of knowledge and experience.

Undertaking work experience is an important aspect that sits perfectly along your studies and helps you to…

  • build a network of industry connections
  • put your academic knowledge into frontline practice
  • enhance your skills with hands-on experience

Throughout this process, students develop partnership working with service users and carers and explore how they can work effectively and creatively with them. This is a very important and we expect all our students to positively welcome, and work in partnership with, members of our Service Users and Carers Group who are involved in the teaching on the programme.

Our graduates have secured careers across the state, private and independent organisations. 

Employability is built into the very core of these degree programmes with practical experience on the job is just as important as the academic theory that underpins the knowledge you will gain.  

Some of our graduates choose to continue their studies at a postgraduate level or to work in campaigning, fundraising or social policy roles. 

Employment opportunities

  • Support worker 
  • Student guidance advisor 
  • CAB cases specialist 
  • Welfare rights officer 
  • Family support worker 
  • Involvement officer 
  • Welfare and engagement advisor 
  • Heath and social care assessor
  • Social Worker
  • Local Government
  • Civil Service Officers

We offer a dedicated careers service with advisors who have specialist sector knowledge who can help you grow your career development skills.

Our students

I'm glad that I did the course, I never thought that I would achieve a degree and as I think I have already said, I think I'm a better person for it.

Debra Brown

Social Welfare Law, Policy And Advice Practice

Our staff

Julie Tipping

Senior Lecturer

Julie has an extensive experience in advice work practice having worked for over 10 years in welfare rights and welfare benefit appeals. She is an experienced lecturer currently teaching on a number of modules including social welfare law & …

Julie's profile

Matthew Rutter

Course Director

Matt was a Youth Justice Practitioner and is researching current Youth Justice Board strategic priority; trauma informed practice with children and young people who offend. Matt also holds national and international positions with awarding bodie…

Matthew's profile

Professor Elizabeth Boath

Professor Of Health And Wellbeing (Tef)

Liz is a Coach and Mentor, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Practitioner and teaches Counselling, Public Health and Communication Skills. Liz's research is focussed on perinatal mental health and health and social c…

Elizabeth's profile

Dr Peter Kevern

Professor

Peter's expertise includes dementia studies, ageing and religion and religious communities and their role in health promotion. Peter is a member of the British Association for the Study of Spirituality and is a Trustee of Age Concern (Birmingham…

Peter's profile

Our graduates

Mary Barnard

Social Welfare Law, 2016

Mary entered into higher education later in life thanks to the flexibility of distance learning that allowed her to work and study at the same time.

Mary's story

Patrick Ellis

Social Work, 2014

Patrick’s experiences supporting the recovery of abused young children in a therapeutic residency inspired him to study to become a social worker.

Patrick's story
Top 250 Young University

Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2020

Rated Gold for Teaching Excellence

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold logo
Shortlisted for University of the Year

Times Higher Awards 2020
Top 15 for Teaching Quality

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021

Top 15 for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021

Midlands University of the Year

Midlands Business Awards 2020