We work with over 400 employers across the UK to provide education and training to develop the social work and social care workforce. Our partners come from the public and independent sector – ranging from Local Authorities and Councils to small independent voluntary organisations and major national charities – and those working in adult and children’s services.
The one thing our partners have in common is the need to develop staff flexibly and cost-effectively to improve services. Employers turn to us and stay with us year after year on account of the benefits OU education brings to:
- recruit and retain staff
- develop the local workforce
- offer high quality professional development without sending staff off-site for training.
Thurrock Council
Thurrock Council has supported employees to train as social workers using the distance learning Open University route over a number of years. We have found it a highly successful method of ‘growing our own’ social workers.
Outstanding accolades for quality
Our social work degree programme is approved by the General Social Care Council (GSCC). In the recent approval process our provision of social work education was described as “outstanding” - the inspection team commended the degree as an excellent model of engagement with all stakeholders.
Student feedback – and student success
The OU is in the top three places for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the UK for student satisfaction, maintaining its position at the forefront of the National Student Survey ratings since they began in 2005.
One of our students was voted Social Work Student of the year in 2011.
Not just social work – whole workforce development
Our social care education and training spans adult and children’s services – introductory courses for support staff; professional programmes in social work and continuing professional development at undergraduate and post qualifying level.
We recognise that reorganisation and budget cuts pose major challenges for employers – more and more is expected of staff as leaders; support staff are doing more to deliver services for adults and children and families including youth justice.
Education and training partnerships encompass learning and development across the whole workforce:
- Access type courses for support workers.
- Certificate and diploma in social care for social work assistants and other support workers.
- CPD modules in leadership, management, mental health, children and families, youth work , long term conditions.
- Continuing Professional Development – honours degree top-up in social work studies.