Social workers could be trained on-island in a new degree course

Saturday 25 March 2017

Students could have the option to study a new three-year degree course in social work in the Island from as early as September next year.

Jersey’s Probation and Aftercare Service (JPACS) began work last year on a fully-accredited university course at University College Jersey (Highlands) in conjunction with Plymouth University.

The project, the JPACS say, is the natural continuation of their trainee Probation Officer scheme, which has run since the 1980s and was the starting point for three out of the four senior management team’s careers.

While the course had traditionally seen trainees sent away or use distance learning, the new course would bring the learning back to the Island, with the modules including social care and child protection, as well as two 180-day placements. The whole degree would be accredited by the Health Care and Professions Council, meaning that it would be recognised both in Jersey and in the UK.

“It’s important it’s a quality product, and it will be as good as anywhere else. The framework will be laid down rigidly,” Brian Heath, Chief Probation Officer told Express.

He said that the degree course would not only address the increasing need for more higher education options for Jersey students, but remedy the, “…shortage of social workers throughout the British Isles.”

“There’s clearly a need… It would help some of the recruitment problems that social services are suffering at the moment, [as are] the majority of social services across the UK,” he commented.

Being based on-island would also be a significant advantage to those seeking a change in career.

Mr Heath added: “There is a lot of talent on the island. People are always knocking on my door, but a lot of these are people who are often more mature individuals who have been successful in other careers who are looking for a change… They find it difficult to go to the UK to do it, so having provision within the islands would help with that.”

All that remains is for the University of Plymouth to give the proposed programme – sent for review earlier this month – their stamp of approval. If successful, a new generation of social workers could be in Highlands’ classrooms in September 2018.