The Increasing Importance of UK Social Workers

In 2023, the government has committed to increasing the number of social workers in the country by 25% due to the increasing number of families and individuals who need assistance. The UK government has also pledged to invest £1.3 billion in social work over the next five years; which is planned to be used to improve the training quality and support for social workers, as well as to increase salaries and create more job opportunities.  

This blog will explore the reasons behind the government's decision to invest in social work and will outline the benefits that this increase in funding will bring and how an MA Social Work degree can support your career ambitions in a rewarding sector.  

First though, there are several reasons why the UK has decided to increase their investment in social work: 

It Supports Vulnerable Members of Society  

Certain life circumstances can be challenging, and in event of this, it can be easier to deal with if you have someone to talk to. Social workers act as this nurturing support network. They work with people of all ages, from children, families, and individuals, all of which could be dealing with difficult situations such as mental illness or addiction, for example. Social workers are essential to the future of society and play a key part in putting smiles back on people’s faces; which with the current living conditions caused by the lasting effects of Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, is a vital piece of support to have in the community! 

Social Work plays a Major Role in the UK Health and Social Care System  

Social work and health and social care can be commonly inter-twinned. In recent years, social work has played a big role in aspects such as focusing on preventative care and early intervention of illnesses. Now, you might be wondering how this benefits the UK health and social care system? Well, in the long run, if social workers are helping towards the early diagnosis of illnesses, it can help to reduce healthcare costs associated with treatments further down the line.  

Diversity and Inclusion 

The UK is one of the world’s most multicultural countries, so diversity and inclusion are vital to today’s society. It is also something that has come under a lot of media scrutiny. Particularly in the football world with many players falling victim to racist abuse. Although there are already movements in place to fight against this, such as the ‘fight against racism’ campaign which sees players take the knee before kick-off, there is still a long way to go before we reach full equality. This is where social workers come in. They often play an active role in promoting equality and helping to meet the needs of all members of society, regardless of their background or circumstances. Let’s have a look at some ways of embracing diversity in social work: 

- Developing cultural competence  

- Keep learning so they are knowledgeable about the history, traditions, values, family systems, and artistic expressions of different cultural groups  

- They defend justice by becoming social advocates. This means they support legislation that preserves civil freedoms  

 MA Social Work Course Highlights 

If you are an ambitious graduate with a caring personality, you could be a perfect candidate for a top social worker; and there’s no better way to earn your social work degree than at one of the UK’s most multicultural universities, with over 60 different nationalities on-campus! 

The MA Social Work course at the University of Bolton is designed to offer students the skills they need to excel in a successful career supporting people in complex and challenging situations. We do this by combining university learning with work-based practice placements and ongoing professional skills development using a teaching-intensive, research-informed approach. Let's see how our master’s degree in social work stands out:   

- We offer 200 days of practice-based learning opportunities; arranging two work placements that total 170 days, with an additional 30 skills development days that take place on-campus  

- You will benefit from guest lectures from social work specialists; including key allied health and social care practitioners, senior managers, and policymakers   

- You will receive support from our dedicated lecturers who will guide you as you develop your critical thinking and research skills, and apply these to your independent postgraduate projects   

- We will support you in learning strategies and techniques that will help you build your professional and emotional resilience; skills that will help you successfully manage any difficult situation you will face  

If you want to find out more about studying MA Social Work at the University of Bolton, click here to see our full course details.   

You can also contact us at enquiries@bolton.ac.uk or call us on 01204 903807 to get all your questions answered; our team are here to help. 

Come and experience our teaching-intensive, research-informed approach to supporting all our postgraduate students in gaining the best possible master’s degree.