SAVE AN EXTRA 5% NOW
Enter this code at checkout to get an extra 5% off of your course fee!
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Work)
Social Workers provide an essential service to at risk individuals who are struggling to maintain their independence or access services to improve their physical or mental health.
As a social worker you could support older people, children and families, at risk adults, individuals with mental health issues or those with physical or learning disabilities.
Your role will be to help them live the life they choose by helping them link with other services and other key stakeholders.
An Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Work) will give you the knowledge and qualification you need to study social work at degree level. Access to Higher Education Diplomas are widely accepted alternatives to A Levels allowing you to progress to degree-level study if you don’t have relevant qualifications.
This Access to HE Diploma (Health and Social Care) is available to study online which means you can enrol and start your studies the same day. You’ll be provided with all the course materials via our online portal. You will also get an Individual Learning Plan that will give you submission deadlines and to help keep you on track throughout your studies.
An Access to Higher Education Diploma can usually be completed within two years, however, most students complete their course within 12 months.
Enrol today for
just £9.99
100% online learning and assessment
Self-paced study
Study around other commitments
24/7 access to online learning
100% online learning and assessment
Self-paced study
Enrol today for
just £9.99
Study around other commitments
24/7 access to online learning
The Access to HE Diploma (Social Work) has been designed for people who want to study Social Work at an undergraduate level, but lack the relevant A Levels.
Recognised across the UK as a suitable alternative to traditional qualifications, most universities will offer you a place with an Access to Higher Education Diploma.
This course combines the essential concepts of Sociology, Psychology and Social Policy with Social Work methods, assessments and opportunities for change to give you a solid foundation upon which you can build in the future. It is one of the best qualifications to prepare you for a career in supporting and transforming the lives of the most vulnerable in society.
Access to Higher Education Diplomas equip you with the essentials for academic study and independent learning, to ensure your success in higher education. These skills will ease you into the process of academic study and help you in your future career as a Social Worker also.
Unit 1: Preparing to Study
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand how study is organised and planned
• Understand how to apply theories of learning in relation to personal approaches to learning
• Understand a range of constraints upon study
• Understand the importance of assessment feedback
Unit 2: Academic Writing Skills
On completion of this unit you will:
• Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task
• Know how to interpret and discuss ideas and issues in reponding to a set, academic writing task
• Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information or central ideas
Unit 3: Preparing a Written Assignment
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand how to use key information sources
• Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced
• Understand a range of reading strategies
• Understand note-making methods
• Understand how to plan, draft and produce a written assignment
Unit 4: Introduction to Psychology
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand the importance of research in psychology
• Understand the main approaches in psychology
• Understand ethical issues in psychological research
Unit 5: Understanding Crime and Deviance
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand explanations of crime and deviance
• Understand theories of crime and deviance
• Understand perceptions of crime and deviance
Unit 6: Introduction to Social Work
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand the historical development of social work
• Understand the role of the social worker
• Understand how social work services are organised in the statutory, voluntary and independent sector
• Understand the main purposes and values of social work
Unit 7: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand research in an area of cognitive psychology
• Understand how the findings of research into cognitive processes can be applied to real-life issues
Unit 8: Sociology of the Family
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand changes in family structure
• Understand sociological explanations of the family to include Functionalist, Marxist, feminist and interactionist views
Unit 9: Combating Prejudice and Discrimination
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand theoretical explanations for prejudice and discrimination
• Understand legislative responses to discrimination and prejudice
• Understand community initiatives in combating discrimination and prejudice
Unit 10: Contemporary Issues in Social Policy
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand current issues in social policy
• Understand current legislation in relation to current issues in social policy
• Understand the economic context of a contemporary issue
Unit 11: Morals and Ethics in Social Work
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand ethics and ethical issues in social work practice
• Understand moral dilemmas and social work practice
Unit 12: Sociology of Health
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand concepts and models of health
• Understand the social construction of health and ill health
• Understand alternative approaches to health
Unit 13: Social Work Methods
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand the concept of planned intervention
• Understand the purpose and principles of social work assessments
• Understand the range of methods used in social work assessments
• Understand social work intervention methods
Unit 14: The Origins of The Welfare State
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand what is meant by the term welfare state
• Know the purpose of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act and its effects on society
• Explain and discuss early twentieth century Liberal Reforms and their effect on society
• Recognise the significance of the Beveridge Report
• Recognise the social problems which the Welfare State attempted to address
Unit 15: Understanding Poverty
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand definitions of poverty
• Understand ways of measuring poverty
• Understand the extent of poverty in contemporary Britain
• Understand explanations of poverty
Unit 16: Abnormal Psychology
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand the difficulties faced by psychologists in the definition and diagnosis of abnormal behaviour
• Understand a psychological disorder
• Understand possible treatments used to treat people with psychological disorders
Unit 17: Equality of Opportunities
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand the main aspects of the legal framework which identify rights and responsibilities about equality of opportunities
• Understand how to promote equality of opportunities, inclusiveness and diversity in the workplace
Unit 18: Sociology of Education
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand the importance of education as a socializing agency
• Understand the roles of education in contemporary society
• Understand the sociological explanations of labelling and the use of stereotypes
• Understand the concept of meritocracy
Unit 19: Personal Social Services
On completion of this unit you will:
• Understand the varying nature of social work provision for children and adults
• Understand the roles of the voluntary and private sector in the provision of welfare
• Understand the welfare needs of various groups
Anyone wishing to continue their education with an Access to Higher Education Diploma, it is necessary they have a GCSE Grade A-C in maths and English (or Functional Skills Level 2 or new GCSE Grade 4-9) with a desire to continue a related degree at university. If you do not hold these qualifications then you must be working towards them whilst completing your Access to HE Diploma.
Our Access to Higher Education Diplomas fulfil entry criteria for a broad range of university degrees and can be used in conjunction with the standard UCAS application process. In short, Access to HE Diplomas have a track record of helping learners get to the university and degree of their choice. Learners must bear in mind each university has their own set of admission criteria and places are subject to demand. Varying admission criteria can include but are not limited to the following:
1. Number of credits to be attained at merit or distinction level.
2. Successfully passing a face-to-face interview at the University.
3. Passing a University’s proprietary literacy and numeracy assessments.
4. Completion of specified work placements or work experience.
5. GCSE Grade A – C in maths and English (or equivalent Level 2 such as Functional Skills).
Learners must undertake their own research to ensure their Diploma gives them the best possible chance of gaining entry to their university of choice. It is not possible for learndirect to accept any liability if any Access to Higher Education Diploma student fails to secure an offer from a higher education institution.
A range of units makes up this qualification, with an assignment at the end of each. You will submit your work to your tutor for marking and tailored feedback. You must acquire 60 credits in total in order to achieve the Access to HE Diploma (Social Work). Of these credits, 45 will be taken from graded units which focus on the academic subject areas included in the course. The remaining 15 come from ungraded units included helping you to improve your academic writing and study skills.
As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.
On successful completion of the Open College Network West Midlands Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Work) you will receive a QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma at level 3 (QAA ref: (40010466). This course has also been assigned 60 credits.
as £40.85 per month using DEKO
3 year 0% loan
Deposit 5% of course fee
£77.40
36 x instalments
£40.85
Total payable
£1,547.99
ENROL NOW
Choose Your Payment Option
OFFER ENDS
80,000+
Number of students currently trusting us with their education.
Spread the cost
Pay a deposit today and spread the cost of your learning over the duration of your study.Excellent
We maintain a strong “Excellent” on independent review centre, TrustPilot.Frequently Asked Questions
There is a huge range of benefits to studying via distance education:
Flexibility
We believe distance education is all about convenience and flexibility. You can plan your study around your work or lifestyle commitments, so you’re only studying at times convenient for you.
Plus, you can improve your education without having to attend classes at a physical location. What’s more, with learndirect, you can study when and where you like without the stress of deadlines or time limits and complete your course at your own pace.
Affordability
We don’t have the same level of high overhead costs (e.g. classrooms and large campuses) as traditional schools, colleges or universities, so we’re able to pass on these savings to you by reducing our course fees.
Choice
We offer over 650 home study courses for you to choose from, with an unrivalled selection of quality distance education courses accredited by some of the most respected awarding bodies in the UK.
Support
You have access to a dedicated tutor who is an experienced professional in their field of study. Your tutor is totally committed to helping you succeed and is on hand to answer any questions you may have, no matter how big or small.
All of our qualifications have different awarding bodies, and depending on the subject, they will meet different criteria depending on the level of the qualification and its content.
We typically use the OFQUAL register to help us benchmark our courses and ensure the education you receive is up to the relevant industry standards. If you would like to check a specific qualification, please contact one of our helpful advisers by calling 01202 006 464.Many of our courses include one or more of the following hands on aspects to enhance the online learning you will receive.
Many of our RQF courses include a placement, these placements are fantastic opportunities for you to secure a work experience placement in a relevant industry and get real on the job experience while you learn. For example many of our Teaching Assistant courses give you an opportunity to approach and work within a local school.
Time in our state of the art academy's for certain subjects, for example our Foot Health Practitioner courses run multiple hands on class based options in our bespoke learning environments.
Further to this some of our courses include practical kits for you to use while you study and even keep after the course! For example many of our Nail Technician courses include an extensive kit included with the course at no additional charge.
We encourage and welcome international students to join our learning community.
All of our courses are specifically designed to be delivered via distance education and home study, so you can complete your course from anywhere in the world. Some courses relate specifically to UK practice and legislation and in these cases all work must be presented accordingly. There will be no need for you to attend any physical location like a test centre or campus, unless your course has a 'practical' element to it.