What are the nessecary qualifications to become a social worker?
Asked by northukstudent
My little sister is about to chose her GCSE choices, she wants to become a social worker. I know you have to have a degree or diploma in social work at the end. But what GCSEs/Alevels would be useful to get into the career?

Best Answer:
As far as A-levels go you need to have either Psycohology or Sociology, plus 2 others at high grades. And you need a Degree in Social Work. Some local councils, support/agree to take on a few people who are doing Social Work Degrees.
I spent 7 years (5 of those in the Post Room) working for the Social Services and Health Department of a Local Council
Answered by k

You have to be a heartless Bi&^%$
Answered by billyandgaby

no diploma any more, just a degree, MA or post grad cert. A levels are tricky, any old thing would do that is humanitites based. A btec or NVQ would be better. What matters most is experience, your sis needs to volunteer in some sector of social care, the one in which she is most interested would be best. On her application she may have maths, english and physics A-level, but as long as she has at LEAST 12 months experience the uni will look favourabley on her application
Answered by sam

Doesn't anyone in the school know? isn't there a careers person?, if there isn't anyone at her school that can advise her, then I suggest most strongly, that she changes schools.. I wish her all the luck.
Answered by vantet

speak to careers adviser at school they will have all info for her,otherwise ring collages/unis. having been associated with social workers for the last 12 years i would advise anyone to really think about this choice of career, reasons being no matter what you think as a SW you will find that you will be very restricted as to what you can do, usually down to financial restrictions or political pressure.
Answered by TONY B

Normally you have to have left your own kids at birth and then tell everybody else how to look after theirs, bad judgment is an absolute must, be leftwing and totally inefficient, I think this covers the "qualifications". Good Luck
Answered by MSMORTGAGE

The open university have courses in Social care and I am sure Social work is covered so aswell as normal uni's consider the OU later on but anything to do with Psychology, child care, paid childminding / babysitting all comes into it.
Answered by Richard B

Tell her to take the basics in college---math, science, psychology, etc... After so many hours of credit, then she can get into the social work program and they will tell her all of the courses that she needs to take. She won't really need too much preparatory work now.
Answered by penelope