Social Work

Social work is the profession that sits at the intersection of compassion and structural analysis, working with individuals, families, and communities to address some of the most complex and challenging situations in human life. Social workers are advocates for human rights and social justice, working with diverse groups across all ages and circumstances, from children in need of protection to older people facing isolation, from individuals experiencing mental health crises to communities affected by poverty and disadvantage. The work is demanding but deeply meaningful, and it requires both the practical skills to intervene effectively and the critical awareness to understand the structural forces that produce the situations you encounter.

At Keele this three-year full-time social work BA prepares you to become an autonomous professional in your chosen field of practice. You will study relevant social theory, law, social policy, psychology, and the ethics of professional practice, developing both the conceptual tools and the practical skills that social work demands. Keele's flexible approach to learning supports you to develop your own professional identity within the social work framework, and the programme includes substantial supervised practice placements that give you direct experience of working with service users, families, and multidisciplinary teams in real settings.

Graduates register with Social Work England as qualified social workers and go on to work in local authority children's and adult services, the NHS, the criminal justice system, voluntary organisations, and international contexts. Social work is a profession that offers real scope for personal and professional growth, with paths into senior practitioner, leadership, management, and specialist roles. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in social work, social policy, or related fields, developing expertise in areas such as mental health, safeguarding, or systemic practice.