Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work

Social workers support and protect some of society’s most deprived and vulnerable people. The Open University’s Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Social Work is a professional social work qualification, combining academic and practice-based learning. The programme is approved as a social work qualifying award in England by Social Work England (SWE) and in Scotland by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

The diploma is a distance learning, work-based route which includes two substantive work-based practice placements. Through completion of this qualification, students will be equipped to engage in critical and reflective professional practice, according to the Standards for Social Work Education and Codes of Practice and Conduct for the nation in which they train.

For employers, the programme provides the opportunity to develop and retain current staff. Because students study alongside work, they will put their learning into practice immediately, for the positive benefit of service users. The diploma may be claimed as a discrete qualification, on its own, or as an embedded qualification within the MA in Social Work programme.  

The Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work is available for study in England and Scotland. It is approved as a social work qualifying award in England by Social Work England (SWE). It has been approved as a social work qualifying award in Scotland by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).  This qualification is not currently available for students working in Wales.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work:

• Allows your employees to become eligible to apply for registration as a qualified social worker in England or Scotland, covering children and families, adults and mental health social work and prepares them to work in a range of settings including local authorities, healthcare providers and the private, voluntary and independent sector.
• Provides a qualification in social work for graduates in your organisation so they can qualify more quickly in Standards for Social Work Education and Codes of Practice and Conduct for the nation in which they train than undertaking an undergraduate social work qualification.
• Helps to increase staff retention by offering career progression opportunities.
• Is delivered flexibly around the demands of your organisation, using our tutor-supported, media-rich online learning methods.
• Learning is accessible 24/7 and can be delivered to various locations using our tried-and-trusted educational technology, providing a consistent programme for multiple staff, regardless of where they are based and when they study.
• Our Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work is based on over 20 years’ successful experience of working in partnership with employers to deliver a practice-based, qualifying social work programme, working with around 300 health and social care employers across the UK and training over 6,000 registered social workers.

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The programme is to develop your employees who already have an honours degree and who have the potential to take on greater challenges and responsibilities as qualified social workers.

It will support the development of social workers across a wide range of settings including local authorities, healthcare providers and the private, voluntary and independent sector.

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The entry requirements in England and Scotland vary. Please visit the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work webpage for prospective students for the full current entry requirements.

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The Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work is a 120-credit programme comprising two modules. The subject matter is interdisciplinary, derived from psychology, sociology, social policy, law and social work studies.

Stage 1 of the programme will enable students to contextualise the experiences of service users and carers and learn about approaches to social work practice, as well as providing opportunities to examine the nature of the organisations that supply social work services. In addition to online learning, this module includes 80 days of practice-based learning. At Stage 2, the second module builds on the previous module and will support student social workers in becoming confident, analytical and reflective practitioners. Students will extend their research skills and explore social work practice with different service user groups. This module includes a further practice placement of 90 days.

The modules must be studied in order and students will be required to attend compulsory practice skills workshops on these modules.

Our tutor-supported, online learning gives you the flexibility to pick the most suitable times, proactively and reactively, to minimise disruption to service provision. This means students are rarely required to be on day release at the same time and frontline services are protected. It also means travel costs and expenses are minimised.

Online module delivery is both varied and interactive, using rich media formats that engage and enthuse learners on their journey. Learning is perfectly suited to staff working shifts, as it can be accessed 24/7 on computers, tablets and mobile devices, and can be immediately applied into working practice. Online forums and discussion groups allow students to learn from others in different service settings and with different backgrounds.

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We are a national provider with a local presence. Our programmes are supported closely by academic and practitioner colleagues who link with employers to provide ongoing management of the programme delivery. The OU has the experience and support in place to help students to succeed and make a positive impact on practice.