Message from the Executive Dean

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Message from the Executive Dean

Professor David Humber

Dear Student

Welcome to our new Faculty of Health and Social Care which now combines the strengths of both HSHS and the Institute of Health and Social Care making us the largest health and social care education provider in the East of England and one of the largest in the country. The faculty now has an even greater breadth of academic knowledge and creativity covering the whole range of the health and social care agenda. As part of our continuous process of improving our learning and teaching facilities we have been very active over the summer and we our particularly pleased with the state–of–art clinical training facilities we now have in our new building on the Chelmsford Rivermead Campus in Chelmsford.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for choosing our Faculty as the place to develop your professional education. Advances in technology, the drive towards evidenced-based practice together with the increasing demands for health and social care, has led to major changes in the provision of services and to changes to the roles and scope of practice of many professionals. Today’s practitioners are required to work inter-professionally and as specialists including mentors, researchers, leaders and counsellors. Students’ requirements are therefore diverse and multifaceted and the need to develop our practice and to be innovative has never been greater.

This is the start of an exciting journey and you can be confident that which ever programme you have chosen, you will benefit from a wealth of experience, excellent standards of tuition and the reassurance that staff will be available to support you. Our aim is to ensure that you develop your full potential but you can only achieve this by fully participating in learning and, in particular, sharing and reflecting on experiences with others.

This handbook aims to provide you with essential information concerning your programme structure, teaching and learning, assessment, available resources, monitoring and evaluation of your programme of study. It is designed to complement and clarify the information within the University Undergraduate Student Handbook and should help you to make the best use of the resources available at AngliaRuskinUniversity.

I wish you every success in your studies and hope that you will find your experience with us stimulating, challenging but none the less enjoyable.

Good Luck!

David

Professor David Humber

August 2007

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Table of contents

SectionPage number

Message from the Executive Dean

1.Key Contacts

1.1.Who to contact

2.General Aims, Principles and Philosophy, Confidentiality

2.1.Intergration of academic and professional requirements

2.2.Codes of Practice for Social Work

2.3.General Social Care Council

2.4.CRB and criminal records

2.5.Place of Study – programme delivery sites

2.6.Electronic Communication

2.7.Students Union

2.8.Access to Student Information on file

2.9.Confidentiality

3.Structure of the Pathway

3.1.BA (Hons) Social Work, Full-Time Delivery (Cambridge and Chelmsford)

3.2.BA (Hons) Social Work Part-Time Delivery (Peterborough)

3.3.Service Users and Carers

3.4.Values and Equal Opportunities

3.5.Assessment – Rules and Regulations

3.6.Exams

3.7.Rules and Regulations

3.7.1.Attendance Requirements

3.7.2.Student Absence

3.8.Handing in Assessed Work

3.9.Extensions

3.10.Mitigation

3.11.Marking

3.12.Feedback

3.13.Unratified Results

3.14.Confirmation and Release of Results

3.15.Module Re-assessment

3.16.Progression

3.17.Appeals

3.18.Assessment Offences

3.19.Assessment of IT competence

3.20.Role of student adviser

3.21.Student support services

3.22.Students with Special Needs

4.Learning and Teaching Strategies

4.1.Modules and how they work

4.2.Learning and Teaching Methods on the BA

4.3.Study Skills and Writing Assignments

4.4.Library Resources

4.5.Pathway Specification Forms

4.6.Your academic tutor and other support from within the Social Work Course Team

5.Skills for Practice

5.1.Finding an Assessed Placement

5.2.How Assessed Placements Work

5.3.The Assessment of Practice

5.4.Fitness to Practice

5.5.Whistle Blowing

5.6.Health and Safety

5.7.Accident reporting:

5.8.Anglia Ruskin University’s Safety Management System:

5.9.Occupational Health Services

5.10.What happens if there are difficulties with my placement?

6.A taste of what is to come

6.1.Examples of future study:

6.2.Links to Staff Profiles

7.Frequently asked questions

8.Appendices

Self-declaration form

Fitness for Practice

Fitness to Practice Policy

Pathway specification form BA (Hons) Social Work

Demonstrating Information Technology (IT) Competence

This handbook provides some basic information about the programme for new students on the BA (Hons) in social work pathway (full-time and part-time). It should be read in conjunction with the University Student Handbook which will also be given out at Induction. More detailed guidance will be given over the course of the programme about specific topics such as placements. This handbook does provide some information about university procedures and regulations, but should not be taken as definitive, and you should refer to the documents ‘Rules and Regulations’ and ‘Assessment Regulations’ which you will also receive during your induction.

Section 1

1. Key Contacts

1.1.Who to contact

Dean of Faculty
Prof David Humber / Health & SocialCareBuilding 302
Rivermead Campus, Chelmsford
Tel: 0845 196 4611
Email:
Head of Department
Maire Maisch / Health & SocialCareBuilding
Rivermead Campus, Chelmsford
Tel: 0845 196 4777
Email:
Programme Leader
(Chelmsford)
Andrew Maynard / Health & SocialCareBuilding, 3rd Floor
Rivermead Campus, Chelmsford
Tel: 0845 196 4749
Email:
Programme Leader
(Cambridge and Peterborough)
Bridget McKeigue / Webb Building 115, Cambridge Campus
Tel: 08451962367
Email:
Student Advisor
(Chelmsford)
Sue Wallbank / Health & SocialCareBuilding, 2nd Floor
Rivermead Campus, Chelmsford
Tel: 0845 196 4827
Email:
Student Advisor
(Cambridge and Peterborough) / TBC
Pathway Leader
(Chelmsford)
Jackie Plenty / Health & SocialCareBuilding, 3rd Floor
Rivermead Campus, Chelmsford
Tel: 0845 196 4955
Email:
Pathway Leader
(Cambridge)
Chris Beckett / Webb Building 108, Cambridge Campus
Tel: 0845 196 2531
Email:
Pathway Leader
(Peterborough)
Kathy Kingham / WebbBuilding, Cambridge Campus
Tel:07736 528953
Email:
Students Union
(Chelmsford)
Deborah Philippson / Tindal 110
Rivermead Campus, Chelmsford
Tel: 0845 196 4250
Email:
Students Union
(Cambridge and Peterborough)
Laura Holman / Helmore 125, Cambridge Campus
Tel: 0845 196 2253
Email:
Administrators
(Chelmsford)
Becky Farrow / Health & SocialCareBuilding, 3rd Floor
Rivermead Campus, Chelmsford
Tel: 0845 196 4873
Email:
Administrators
(Cambridge and Peterborough)
Monika Marti / WebbBuilding 001, Cambridge Campus
Tel: 0845 196 2295
Email:
Occupational Health
Mary Harvey / Rivermead Gate, Medical Centre 17
Rivermead Campus
Tel: 0845 196 4651
Email:
Admissions Tutor
Clare Seymour / Health and SocialCareBuilding, 3rd Floor Rivermead Campus, Chelmsford
Tel: 0845 196 4755
Email:
University Contact Centre:
0845 271 3333

Postal addresses:
Faculty of Health and Social Care, Cambridge campus:
WebbBuilding
East Road
Cambridge
CB1 1PT
Faculty of Health and Social Care, Chelmsford campus:
Health and SocialCareBuilding
Chelmsford Rivermead Campus
Chelmsford
CM1 1SQ

Section 2

1. General Aims, Principles and Philosophy, Confidentiality

The aim of the BA (Hons) Social Work is to equip students with the knowledge and practice experience to enable them to meet the professional and academic requirements for qualification in social work.

These requirements are set out in two key documents:

• The Academic Standards (Benchmark statement) for social work (QAAHE 2000)
• The National Occupational Standards for social work: statement of key roles and knowledge and practice requirements for qualification (TOPSS 2002).

Four overall learning outcomes are given in the subject benchmarking statement, as below, and these are the basis for this pathway.

“The expectation that social workers will be able to act effectively in complex circumstances requires that honours degree programmes in social work should be designed to help students learn to be accountable, reflective and self-critical. This involves learning to:

• Think critically about the complex social, economic, political and cultural contexts in which social work practice is located;

• Work in a transparent and responsible way, balancing autonomy with complex, multiple and sometimes contradictory accountabilities (for example, to different service users, employing agencies, professional bodies and the wider society);

• Exercise authority within complex frameworks of accountability and ethical and legal boundaries; and

• Acquire and apply the habits of critical reflection, self-evaluation and consultation, and make appropriate use of research in the evaluation of practice outcomes.”

(QAAHE 2000; p.12)

More details of the programme outcomes are available in the Pathway Specification Form in Appendix C.

2.1.Intergration of academic and professional requirements

Students join the course because they want to become professionally qualified social workers. It will therefore be no surprise to find that academic and professional requirements are integrated throughout the programme. This makes the BA (Hons) Social Work different from a degree in a non-professional subject. For students, the practical relevance should be apparent in all that is done – through scenarios used as a basis for learning, through seminars designed to link theory and practice and through the academic assignments that form part of the assessment of practice. It works both ways round. The academic and practice parts of the course are not separate.

The dual recognition of the course – as a degree and a gateway to professional practice – does make for some other differences, however. There is less choice of subjects, for example, than on many degrees. In addition, we have various checks (such as criminalrecords bureau and occupational health checks) both at admission and later, that you will already have encountered. These are required by the profession.

Particular attention should be paid to the ‘Fitness to Practice’ procedures (see Appendix B) designed to investigate any concerns about your suitability to qualify for professional status. You need to remember that concerns can be raised by your activities outside the course as well as your University work.

In most cases, however, our role is to help you to understand and to integrate the demands of theory and practice, and to see how these inform each other. This is not an easy course as it makes many demands on your time and energy, but we hope that you will find it has been worth it!

2.2.Codes of Practice for Social Work

The Codes of Practice for Social Workers and Employers are an essential point of reference for all of us. They are published by the GSCC (General Social Care Council) in a grey booklet that will be given to you during your induction programme. You can also get them online, via the GSCC website:

2.3.General Social Care Council

The GSCC is the regulatory body for social work and social care. You must register with the GSCC as a student (as you will continue to have to do once you qualify). You are required to comply with GSCC registration requirements for students on social work qualifying programmes, which includes the payment of a registration fee.

2.4.CRB and criminal records

All students will have been asked to submit to an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure prior to joining the course. Placement providers accept these as valid for two years, so you will need to obtain a repeat disclosure during the programme (not having up to date CRB can seriously delay your placements.) The university does not accept CRB disclosures undertaken on behalf of other organisations such as employers.

If you have a criminal record or anything else that is likely to come up on a CRB check you should have told the university about this at the time of interview.

However, in the event that there issues which you think the university may not be aware about, you must draw these to the attention of the programme or pathway leader as early as possible. (Please refer to the self-declaration form which you have to sign before registering, a copy of which is given at Appendix A.)

Having a criminal record does not always preclude students from participating in the course, but any criminal conviction, including motoring offences and cautions will need to be assessed at an interview involving the Director of Studies and Faculty representative. If you have failed to voluntarily disclose any matters which may be relevant to your registration as a student social worker, this too will need to be investigated because of the questions of trust which it raises.

2.5.Place of Study – programme delivery sites

Although your studies are likely to be based on one campus, you will often hear reference to others. Within Anglia Ruskin, the Social Work programme is delivered on three sites: Cambridge, Chelmsford and Peterborough (the latter on a part-time basis in only).

Do not be alarmed if you are referred to a member of staff based on a site other than your own (Cambridge and Peterborough students, for instance, may be referred to the Admissions Tutor who is based at Chelmsford.) You will often be taught by staff based on another site. Library books may be held in another library but can be ordered very quickly to reach you at your own site. There are not many opportunities for students to meet across sites as most teaching is site based for your convenience, but when such opportunities do arise, students usually enjoy them. Module information and guides are common across sites.

2.6.Electronic Communication

Once your have registered as a student you will be given anAngliaRuskinUniversity student e-mail (that is an e-mail address that will take the form ). This, and not your own private e-mail address, is the one that the university will use to communicate with you, so it is important you check your student e-mail regularly. We will work on the basis that you will have read information that is sent by e-mail.

Another crucial form of electronic communicationis ‘e-vision’ ( for which you will obtain a password once you have registered. This is how you find out about your marks and about resubmission dates for your work, so it really is vital that you are familiar with it. There is an introductory tutorial about e-vision at:

A further very important on-line resource is the university library website ( which allows you to find books and journals, reserve books, have books sent to you from other sites, access and print off e-journal articles (via the ‘digital library’), check return dates for books you have on loan, and renew loans.

ANET ( allows you to find e-mail address and phone numbers for staff and university departments and services.

2.7.Students Union

Anglia Ruskin has four separate branches of the Students’ Union including one on each campus at Cambridge and Chelmsford. The four work together to provide services, entertainment and campaigns. In your time at AngliaRuskinUniversity, the chances are that you will benefit from any one if not all of these services. The Students’ Union is oriented towards providing and defending the quality of services on the one hand and campaigning on the other.

The Union is affiliated to the National Union of Students and the area organisations. From them we receive information on student events across the country, advice on legal problems, massive discounts on goods bought for the bar, etc. and a national voice to represent students. Among the many services the Union provides are an alternative canteen, a launderette, a shop, a bar and a minibus service. All are provided at very competitive rates.

Apart from this, the Union is involved in many miscellaneous activities. It has a growing reputation for its ever-expanding entertainment programme whilst its magazine has recently increased its size to accommodate the ever-growing number of contributors. The Union’s clubs and societies now number forty in Cambridge and 30 in Chelmsford - each with at least twenty-five members. These range from sports clubs, language and literary societies, theatre and film societies to the Anglia Ruskin University Latin-American Solidarity Society and the Mature Students’ Association. The union is the main provider of entertainment at AngliaRuskinUniversity and all campuses have regular annual events such as Freshers’ Week. Christmas Parties, Revues, Rag Week, Grange Hill Night and the highly successful Summer Ball. In addition the Union is well represented on various Anglia committees and generally speaking argues the students’ case very well. More information can be found at

2.8.Access to Student Information on file

Information will be kept about you on computer both centrally and departmentally. You have right of access to such information under the Data Protection Act.

All requests for disclosure made by students will be referred to the Assistant Secretary Ext 4234

A student file is kept in the Social Work office and contains materials such as: “notes” on tutorials relating to academic progress: placement reports; student’s run of marks and feedback sheets; tutor advice forms; any information directly pertinent to the student’s academic progress e.g. specific information gained through the student’s application and subsequent interview.

Academic Tutors have access to the files of their students, as does the Pathway Leader, Practice Learning Co-ordinator and Programme Leader. Other relevant academic staff and members of specific examination boards may also have “need-to-know” access to the file. The student will be made aware of all such “need to know” access.

All requests for disclosure made by students should be referred to the Assistant Secretary (commercial) on ext. 4234.

In the context of the BA (Hons) Social Work, the Programme Leader, in consultation with the the Director of Studies and University Secretary (as necessary) will have regard to the following in deciding whether to share confidential information:

• Professional codes of conduct;

• Potential safety of clients;
• Potential safety of the public;
• Potential safety of other professionals;
• Credibility of other professionals
• Credibility of placement agency.

2.9.Confidentiality