BA (Hons) Social Work

Commencing Wed 28th September 2011 Course enrolment date to be confirmed Between Thursday 22nd & Sunday 25th Sept)

next steps towards studying social work at LJMU

Faculty of Health and Applied Social Sciences

Ive been made an offer; what do I do next?

There are certain requirements set out by the General Social Care Council which require us to obtain specific information from you before you can start your social work programme. Your offer is subject to the provision of this information and failure to return it will mean that you are unable to start the course.

As there are a number of requirements, we have created this booklet to help make this process as straight forward as possible. Should you have any further enquiries please contact the Admissions Team by calling 0151 231 5829 or emailing health@ljmu.ac.uk Useful contacts referred to in this leaflet can be located on the back page, along with a checklist to help you on your way.

www. ljmu. ac.uk/ health

Providing two satisfactory references

You will have provided one reference on your UCAS application form but we require two satisfactory references. We are currently in the process of setting up a data form in which you will be required to complete full contact details and email address (mandatory) online of your second referee. As soon as the form is completed, we will email you the link to allow you to insert details. As the offer is subject to a satisfactory second reference, it is your responsibility to ensure that we receive the completed form, you will find the form attached if you prefer to forward it directly to your referee . All references will be required back by 31st July 2011 and must be company stamped or be attached to a company letterhead. Please check with your referee that it is returned to us. The reference should preferably be from a manager in an organisation where you have previously undertaken paid or voluntary work. If this is not possible, an academic reference may be provided.

Completion of a health questionnaire

LJMU Occupational Health Department will only accept completed medical forms once students have met academic conditions. If you were made an unconditional offer, you are able to complete and return the Health Questionnaire straightaway and it will be emailed to you within the next few days. Occupational Health will contact you after you have returned it if they require further information. If you have been made a conditional offer, you will not be sent the form until your place has been confirmed via UCAS, after we have received your results.

Suitability to Practice
Attached you will find a form that must be completed and returned by 29th August as a condition of your enrolment. In order to complete the form you must have had at least 3 days work experience or shadowing of a social worker / social care worker within the past two years. Detailed information is provided in the form (you will find the link to the form in your email).

Faculty Procedures to inform us of a Conviction (by 30th June)

Please read the attached form carefully to see if you need to complete it to inform us of any convictions, bind-over orders, current or prior investigations by police or employers, disciplinary sanctions / suspension by an employer or regulatory body (the full list is shown in the attached document). If you have accepted an offer before 30th June and have anything to declare you must send the form to us by that date so that the information you provide can be considered by our Panel.

To apply, you will need to log on to www.direct.gov.uk/ studentfinance. If you have children or other dependants there are also additional grants available to help with the associated costs of being a parent. There is a useful student finance calculator on the website. Students who have attended university previously and received student funding should contact Student Welfare for advice on further funding.

Further advice
LJMU employs a team of staff who are experts in student funding and benefits. Contact details for the Advice Team can be found at the end of this booklet.

Submitting a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) form

All social work students are required to have a satisfactory CRB Enhanced disclosure. You will be required to complete the appropriate paperwork upon commencement and the University are unable to accept Disclosures that students may already have . The Faculty does not meet the cost for this CRB disclosure.

Transfer of Data / Professional Registration

When formally accepting an offer to study Social Work at LJMU, you are also permitting the Faculty to transfer data regarding progress, attendance, placements, discontinuation and withdrawals, to relevant third parties. These parties include the following: GSCC, Placement Providers (other than those mentioned), Department of Health, Quality Assurance Agency, Government Agencies It is a requirement of professional status that data is revealed to these parties, in order to complete a professional award. Additionally, students must also register and be accepted by the GSCC upon commencement. Current registration and membership fees for students is 10 per year.

Fees and Bursaries

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) administers the social work bursary for undergraduate and postgraduate students on behalf of the Department of Health (DH). The social work bursary is available to students ordinarily resident in England studying on an approved social work course. To be eligible for a bursary you must meet certain residence rules defined in the Education (Student Support) regulations 2008. In addition you must have been ordinarily resident in England on the first day of the first academic year of the course. If you have moved to England to do your course you will be considered to be ordinarily resident in the country from which you have moved and not England. This means you will not qualify for the Social Work Bursary. Students must also meet other certain eligibility criteria. The eligibility can be complex and students should check they meet the rules at the following NHSBSA link: http:// www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/835.aspx The bursary for undergraduates is non-income assessed which means that earnings, savings and other sources of income are not taken into consideration when assessing you for the bursary. It includes a basic grant and a fixed contribution towards practice learning opportunity related expenses. The Undergraduate Bursary rates for 2011/12 have not been announced, however in 2010/11 it was 4,575 for a 52 week period and is paid in three installments. You must apply for your bursary via NHSBSA, applications are available from late May for study the following September and must be downloaded at the following link: http:// www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/841.aspx. It is in your best interests to complete the application form at the earliest opportunity.

Accommodation
As soon as you have accepted your offer from LJMU you can complete the accommodation request form on our website at www.ljmu.ac.uk/ accommodation. City centre accommodation is guaranteed for all first year students. Students are advised not to move into their accommodation before Saturday 17th September 2011 and welcome week will commence on this date.

Submitting evidence of qualifications

If you have not already provided the Admissions Dept with evidence of qualifications you have completed, you should forward them at the earliest opportunity. Your place is at risk if you do not do this.

Results Confirmation
If you are currently awaiting results from an Access Diploma, FETAC, Open University or similar programme, you must send them directly to us upon receipt to allow us to confirm your place. Any results for courses which are part of the UCAS Tariff, i.e. A2, BTEC, AVCE are sent directly to us via UCAS. If you meet the qualification conditions of our offer, we will then confirm your place on the programme via UCAS. Students who are additionally waiting for GCSE results that form part of their offer must fax confirmation to us on the day results are released.

Student loans
Degree (or BA) students can also apply for the standard student finance package including Maintenance Grants and Loans.

Next Steps
We will contact you again in August with an enrolment pack and further details.

You may find the below checklists helpful when returning or obtaining information. Please ensure that all correspondence clearly states the course you are applying for on it.
Items to be returned / checked Where to return Date Required Complete (Insert )

Second Referenceonline form completed with referee details or reference returned directly. Students must be aware receipt of this reference by 31st July is their responsibility.

Admissions Team

31st July (for completed reference)

Medical Form (you will only receive this when you Occupational Health Team N/A become Unconditional Firm) Qualifications held & Qualifications currently studying (unless they are sent directly from UCAS, please follow guidance). Admissions Team 31st July

Convictions etc. form completed and returned to Faculty CRB Co-ordinator the Faculty IF you have anything to declare.

30th June

Suitability to Practice Form

Social Work Administrator

29th August

Items to be obtained Student Loan (if desired) Bursary Application Form

Where to be obtained from Student Finance Service (website) NHSBSA website (link on Page 3)

Complete (Insert )

Contacts you may need:

Addresses:
Faculty Admissions Team Faculty of Health and Applied Social Sciences Liverpool John Moores University 79 Tithebarn Street Liverpool L2 2ER Telephone Numbers: LJMU Student Welfare Office: LJMU Accommodation Office: Faculty Admissions Team: Social Work Admin Team Web Addresses: Criminal Records Bureau NHS Business Services Authority (Bursary) General Social Care Council Faculty of Health and Applied Social Sciences Student Grants / Loans The Occupational Health Unit Liverpool John Moores University 68 Mount Pleasant Liverpool L3 5UX

0151 904 6056 / 6057 0151 231 4166 0151 231 5829 0151 231 8181

www.crb.gov.uk www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/835.aspx www.gscc.org.uk www.ljmu.ac.uk/health www.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk