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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:
Career guidance (in and outside Ireland)

  1. What is Social Work?
    Social workers work in partnership with individuals, families and groups experiencing marginalisation, disadvantage, social, and or emotional difficulties. The aim of social work is to help people achieve change and make decisions, which will improve their quality of life. It is also a function of social work to identify options and support steps to advance social policy and service delivery. In carrying out their work, social workers are guided by the Irish Association of Social Workers' code of ethics.
  2. What do social workers do?
    Social workers work with individuals and groups experiencing social and emotional difficulties. People who may use a social work service include : ethnic groups, young and adult offenders, children, families, travellers, older people, people with mental and physical illness and disability, homeless people, unemployed people, those with drug and alcohol problems. Some of the activities social workers engage in on a daily basis could include some or all of the following:

    • Using a range of skills with people who use their service- e.g. counselling

    • Using a range of preventative supports to help people who use their service - e.g. family support services, family centres and neighbourhood youth projects

    • Intervening in crisis situations - e.g. neglect, abuse

    • Protecting children in "at-risk" situations

    • Promote good anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice

    • Helping people deal with practical issues - e.g. investigating entitlements to services

    • Liaising with other professionals, such as psychologists, doctors, childcare workers, gardaí

    • Helping to facilitate support groups and working within the community - e.g. drop-in centres

    • Talking to solicitors, preparing evidence and attending court, in relation to people who are using their service

    • Providing training to social work students and other professionals

    • Researching into social work and social policy

    • Empowering people who use the service to effect positive change in their own lives

  3. What professional qualification do I need?
    The professional qualification in social work is the National Qualification in Social Work (NQSW). Awarded since 1993 it is a widely recognised qualification allowing Irish social workers to work in many different countries. It is an integrated academic and professional training, with a substantial part of the training based on practice placements.

  4. What course options are available in Ireland and how can I apply?
    Postgraduate courses: Entry to postgraduate professional courses requires a 3-year Social Science degree or its equivalent and this route can take five years in total.
    - University College Cork: Master of Social Work/Higher Diploma in Social Work Studies.
    - University College Dublin: Masters of Social Science (Social Work)/Higher Diploma in Applied Social Studies.
    - Trinity College Dublin: Masters in Social Work.
    - University College Galway: Master in Social Work

    How to apply: There are two routes to postgraduate study:
    - Holders of a Bachelor of Social Science degree may apply to the social work departments of the individual colleges. Applicants must undergo an interview, and relevant experience is essential or advantageous.
    - Holders of a degree in another subject may do a diploma in social policy or a compensatory learning package/ assignment may be offered in order to be eligible for a postgraduate course. Applicants must undergo an interview, and experience in the caring profession is preferred or essential.

    Undergraduate courses: Combine an academic social science degree with professional social work training and are 4 years+ full-time.
    - Trinity College Dublin: Bachelor in Social Studies with Honours. This course is open to school leavers and mature students.
    - University College Cork: Bachelor of Social Work. This course is open to mature students only.

    How to apply: There are three routes to undergraduate study.
    - School leavers must apply through the CAO form.
    - Mature students (23+ years) with no third level qualifications must apply both through the CAO form and through individual application forms to the individual colleges. They must also undergo an interview, and relevant experience is essential or advantageous. Application forms and information may be obtained from the admissions offices of the relevant colleges, and from the CAO office.
    Applicants with relevant third level qualifications and practice experience may be eligible to enter the undergraduate courses at the second or third year. Eligibility for exemptions is dependent on availability of places on courses, on applicants' qualifications and on the outcome of interviews. Information may be obtained from the admissions offices and the relevant college departments.

    Further course information available from:
    TCD:     School of Social Work and Social Policy.
    T: 01 896 2001 / Website: www.socialwork-socialpolicy.tcd.ie/
    UCC: Dept. of Applied Social Studies.
    - T: 021 4902 228 - Website: http://www.ucc.ie/en/appsoc/
    UCD: School of Applied Social Science.
    T: 01 716 8511 / Website: www.ucd.ie/appsocsc/
    NUIG: School of Political Science and Sociology.
    - T: 091 492290 - Website: http://www.nuigalway.ie/soc/

  5. I am thinking of a doing a social work training course in the UK. Will I be recognised to practise in Ireland?
    This will depend on what type of course you opt for and what your previous qualifications are. You should make sure that you will meet all the criteria for accreditation in terms of length and level of training, curriculum content and recognition in country of qualification. If you would like more specific advice, please contact the NSWQB in writing and include in your letter an outline of the course that you are considering and the qualifications that you already hold, if any. The Board cannot give you accreditation in advance, but you will be able to get an indication as to whether the route is likely to meet the accreditation criteria.
  6. I already have some qualifications and some work experience from areas related to Social Work. Now I would like to gain a recognised social work qualification. Will I have to start from scratch on the social work courses?
    In the case of undergraduate courses, you may get exemptions based on previous qualifications or experience. The amount of time you can get exempted depends on what type of qualifications you have and also on availability of places on the course.
  7. I have an Irish NQSW and would like to work as a professional social worker abroad. How can I go about this?
    The first step will be to find out whether social work is regulated or not in the country to which you are planning to go. In some countries there is an agency equivalent to the NSWQB which accredits holders of non-national qualifications for professional practice e.g.
    Australia - Australian Association of Social Workers, www.aasw.asn.au
    Canada - Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE): http://www.caswe-acfts.ca/en/20/items/1.html
    South Africa – South African Council for Social Service Profession, http://www.sacssp.co.za/
    UK - General Social Care Council, www.gscc.org.uk
    USA - Council on Social Work Education (USA), www.cswe.org

    In each of the countries of the EU, there is a co-ordinator that deals with the issues of qualifications and mobility. In some countries, social work is not regulated, though most usually a nationally agreed standard applies.
  8. I am completing my social work training in another country. Can the NSWQB help me get a placement in Ireland?
    The NSWQB is not in a position to help with finding placements as the area falls outside its area of remit. Social Work placements are organised by the college social work departments for students registered on their college course. Requests otherwise cannot be undertaken. The Fieldwork Organiser/Co-ordinator in each college is in charge of placement allocation and with matching students and agencies.

    The recognised Irish colleges do have arrangements with some colleges in other countries regarding the provision of placements. It may be helpful to check if your own college has an arrangement with one of the Irish colleges. If so, it may be possible for your college to organise a placement within this arrangement.

    As an individual, you may be able to organise your own placement by direct contact with some of the voluntary organisations. Various directories of Irish Voluntary Organisations, are available online:
    - Activelink
    - Citizens Information Board
    - The Wheel
  9. Once qualified as a professional social worker, how about continuing professional development?
    The National Qualification in Social Work (NQSW) is the professional qualification for social work in Ireland.  As the initial education and training for social work, it “must be part of an ongoing process including lifelong learning and opportunities for advanced education” (Council of Europe recommendation. Rec. (2001)1).

    While continuing professional development has traditionally been undertaken by social workers, there is as yet no one universal approach in Ireland. It is anticipated that the Social Work Registration Board will set out criteria in the future, when the first register of social workers has been established.

    In the meantime, it is recommended that social workers log, or continue to log, their participation in activities relevant to their on-going professional development. Such activities could include: courses relevant to their work, attendance at seminars, conferences, journal clubs, contribution of articles, participation in or undertaking research and/or policy initiatives. The Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) provides one useful system of documenting continuing professional development. The most important thing is that social workers develop the routine of logging the CPD activities they undertake.
  10. Supervision – an essential component of social work?
    The NSWQB policy on Supervision:


    Supervision is an essential and lifelong component of professional social work. For the protection of the public and promotion of quality service, social workers require access to formal supervision that is regular, consistent and of high quality.

 

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