Social Work

Social work is one of the most demanding and important professions in any society. Social workers support individuals and families at the most difficult points of their lives, whether that means protecting children from harm, supporting adults with mental illness or disability, working with people in crisis or helping communities to build resilience and access services. The discipline draws on sociology, psychology, law and ethics to develop practitioners who can make sound professional judgements in complex, emotionally charged situations while upholding the rights and dignity of the people they work with.

At Queen's University of Belfast, the Bachelor of Social Work is a professional qualification in social work accredited by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, recognised throughout the UK, the Republic of Ireland and beyond. The programme combines academic study with assessed practice learning opportunities, regionally allocated in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Degree in Social Work Partnership and key stakeholders. This means that your theoretical formation and your professional development happen alongside one another from an early stage, so that by the time you graduate you have both the knowledge base and the practical experience that employers and professional registration require.

The three-year full-time structure is intensive, reflecting the seriousness with which the profession approaches preparation for practice.

Qualified social workers are employed across a wide range of statutory, voluntary and independent sector settings. Children's services, adult social care, mental health, hospitals, schools and the criminal justice system all employ social workers in roles where professional registration is required. Many social workers go on to develop specialist expertise in areas such as family assessment, safeguarding, looked-after children or mental health, and experienced practitioners move into management, consultation and training roles.

Postgraduate study in social work, social policy or related fields is also a well-established route for those who wish to develop their knowledge further or to move into research or academic roles.