Social Work and Social Care
Social work is a rapidly changing profession and at Sussex we have led innovation and change. We offer attractive opportunities in a department noted for its strength in professional education and its research contribution to professional knowledge and practice. We are among the leading institutions in the UK for the quality of our research. Equally we are proud of our tradition of providing rewarding opportunities for study, whether at qualifying, post-qualifying or doctoral levels.
The UK Government's personalisation agenda is changing the pattern of service provision, and inter-professional practice is developing fast, bringing new and exciting prospects. At Sussex we are building on our strong track record of interdisciplinarity to develop new approaches to inter-professional learning and research, which recognise both the distinctiveness and the interconnected nature of our discipline and profession.
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Teaching in the Department of Social Work and Social Care
We have a long tradition of offering both qualifying and post-qualifying social work programmes, and our priority in learning and teaching is to provide opportunities for students to develop greater personal, as well as professional, knowledge in a stimulating yet highly supportive environment. Our programmes are developed through our productive partnerships with social welfare agencies in both the statutory and voluntary sector, ensuring the strength of our contribution to workforce development needs. Our graduates are sought after and highly regarded by employers.
In addition to our qualifying degrees we provide a range of programmes continuing professional development. These are offered within a flexible modular framework, providing learning opportunities in practice with children and young people, leadership and management (within integrated children's services), and practice teaching/education (within any sector). For social workers, they provide routes to Specialist, Higher Specialist and Advanced Post-qualifying Awards approved by the General Social Care Council.
Research in the Department of Social Work and Social Care
The results of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) confirm our exceptionally strong research trajectory, with research organised within three themes: the pedagogy of professional education, professional knowledge and methodologies, and innovation and change in policy and practice across the life-course. Social Work and Social Care at Sussex was ranked as one of the top 14 departments in the UK for research, with 95 per cent of our research activity graded as recognised internationally or higher, and 15 per cent as world leading. We have a research culture in which ambitious goals are pursued and achieved, and our RAE result gives us the best possible foundation for continuing to expand our vision and performance as a centre of social work research excellence.
In postgraduate research, the MSc in Social Research Methods (Social Work) offers ESRC-recognised training in social science and social work research methods. Our thriving Professional Doctorate in Social Work (DSW), together with full- and part-time DPhil programmes, provide excellent opportunities for doctoral-level study.
Head of Department
Professor Imogen Taylor