Mental Health Social Worker

You could do a degree in social work approved by Social Work England.

You could also do a postgraduate degree in social work, if you have a degree in another subject. A postgraduate degree normally takes 2 years.

You might also be able to get a social work bursary.

Some universities offer a combined master's degree in nursing and social work (MNSW). You can check Social Work England to find information about approved courses.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You could apply to do a Social Worker Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

This takes around 3 years to complete and is a mix of work placements and academic study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You'll need experience of working with vulnerable groups or children to apply for most courses or jobs.

To get skills and experience, you could:

• apply to be a social work assistant or family support worker
• work in the community through a charity
• find volunteering opportunities through the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Do IT

Graduate training scheme

You could do an intensive, work-based training programme to gain a master's degree or postgraduate diploma in social work. To apply you'll need at least a 2:2 (second class) degree.

Current programmes to support children and families include:

• Approach Social Work
• Step Up to Social Work

Registration

• you'll need to register with Social Work England

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) for professional development opportunities and to build up your network of contacts in the profession.

Further information

Get more detailed advice on the ways to qualify as a social worker. This can be useful to compare which route might be best for you.

You can also find out more about working in social work from:

• British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
• Think Care Careers