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What (a) difference a degree makes : the evaluation of the new social work degree in England

journal contribution
posted on 2009-01-01, 00:00 authored by J Orme, G MacIntyre, P Green Lister, K Cavanagh, Beth CrispBeth Crisp, S Hussein, J Manthorpe, J Moriarty, E Sharpe, M Stevens
After many years of debate in the UK about the need for a degree-level qualification in social work, the arguments for a minimum degree-level qualification were accepted. The requirements for the degree in England were developed drawing on work from a number of sources, including a benchmark statement for undergraduate degrees in social work and focus groups with stakeholders. The new degree in England, launched in 2003, involves one extra year’s study; improvements in the qualifying standard for social work; and specific curriculum and entrance requirements. At the time of launching the degree, the government department responsible for funding (Department of Health) commissioned a three-year evaluation of the implementation of the new degree to establish whether the new qualifying level leads to improvements in the qualified workforce. The aim of the evaluation is to describe the experiences of those undertaking the degree, collect the views of the various stakeholders about the effectiveness of the degree and measure the impact of a degree-level qualification on those entering the workforce. This article, written by the team undertaking the evaluation of the England degree, explores the reasons for the methodological approach adopted and the issues that have arisen in setting up the research.

History

Journal

British journal of social work

Volume

39

Issue

1

Pagination

161 - 178

Publisher

Oxford Journals

Location

Oxford, England

ISSN

0045-3102

eISSN

1468-263X

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2007, The Author