Laura McHarrie

A partnership between Dumfries and Galloway Council and the OU helped Laura McHarrie develop her career as a social worker while still working, overcoming her doubts to become a prize-winning graduate and a mentor for new students.

Before beginning her BA (Honours) Social Work studies with the Open University (OU) in her late 20s, Laura McHarrie hadn’t thought that studying at university was something she’d ever do in her life. 

Little did she imagine she’d go on to gain a First-class honours degree and be awarded the Andrew Cornwell Memorial Award for the highest performing graduate in the OU’s social work programme in Scotland. 

“I come from a working-class background and university was never something that was considered necessary within my family in order to gain employment,” she says. “During my school years, I had no specific aspirations in terms of further education or employment.  There was just an expectation that I would find employment.”

Social work studentship programme

After leaving school, Laura developed an interest in law and working with young people, working as a Legal Secretary, local authority Youth Worker, and as a Children’s Worker with Women’s Aid over the next few years.

It was when she begun employment as a Social Work Assistant at Dumfries and Galloway Council that she was supported to develop her career further and decided to study at university for the first time.

I was encouraged by my line manager to develop my knowledge and skills through the OU’s courses, which would ultimately allow me to apply for the council’s social work studentship programme, run in conjunction with the OU.”

Laura adds: “I was encouraged by my line manager to develop my knowledge and skills through the OU’s courses, which would ultimately allow me to apply for the council’s social work studentship programme, run in conjunction with the OU.”

As part of the studentship pathway, she was able to study for the degree part-time across an eight-year period and gain experience across different social work teams during this period.

“Gaining the studentship through Dumfries and Galloway Council was extremely helpful as it allowed me to remain in employment whilst increasing my skills and knowledge, and thereafter being employed as a qualified social worker, where I continue to be employed.”

‘Flexibility really important’

As well as balancing her social work studies with work, Laura had the unexpected challenge of becoming a mother for the first time.

“I started my studies in October 2009, attended my first tutorial and two days later found out I was pregnant with my first child,” she explains. “I sat my first exam three days over my due date. The examiner allowed me to take hospital notes into the exam room in case I needed to leave in a rush! Additional breaks were also permitted during the exam.”

She took a break from study during her first year of motherhood, and when Laura returned to her degree, she was able to gradually reintroduce herself to studying again. She highlights: “I undertook one module at a time for the first three courses before increasing this to two. It allowed me to ascertain whether I was able to manage two courses at once alongside work and family commitments before applying for the studentship in 2015.  

“This was beneficial in making sure that I knew what I was committing to and enabled me to realise the expectations and demands of undertaking a degree.”

‘All the effort was worthwhile’

After eight years of hard work, Laura completed her degree in 2017 and was awarded the Andrew Cornwell Memorial Prize in recognition of her efforts.

Discussing being given the prize, she shares: “I was extremely shocked when I received the email advising that I had been awarded the prize. I had to read the email about five times as I was sure it had been sent to me in error! 

“I doubted my abilities on several occasions, and even in fourth year I questioned whether I was clever enough to pass the course! I had, however, put in a lot of hard work to pass the course and this award made all the effort worthwhile!”

Going through the experience of being an OU student and balancing work, family and studying, I feel this allows me to empathise with the pressures involved.”

Laura has come full circle and now has the role of Practice Educator in her local authority, supporting other social work students during their placements.

“Having studied with the OU and now supporting a 4th year OU student, I am able to understand the processes involved, including the various reports, meetings, expectations and direct observations,” she says. “Going through the experience of being an OU student and balancing work, family and studying, I feel this allows me to empathise with the pressures involved.”

To anyone thinking of studying social work with the OU, Laura says: “Studying with the OU is a great opportunity, as it allows you to balance work and family responsibilities whilst studying to improve future employment opportunities.  

“Prior to undertaking my studies, I questioned whether I had the ability and intelligence to achieve a degree but found that anything is possible with hard work, commitment, motivation and determination!”