Social workers are in demand

The employment scene for professional social workers is excellent. Robbie Gilligan, head of TCD's social work department, says that it's expected to remain buoyant for the next few years. "Promotional opportunities, which were a weakness, are opening up and there are good opportunities abroad," he says. He also points to the attractive starting salary for social workers (see factfile).

The route to becoming a social worker varies. TCD offers the only undergraduate programme open to school-leavers, which qualifies graduates as professional social workers. This four-year course includes a substantial practical element with 220 days of fieldwork.

It's very important to make an informed decision when it to comes to choosing social work as a career, says Gilligan. "If students enjoy voluntary work with people in need, it's likely that they will fit happily into social work." If an interest in current affairs, working with people or social needs has not surfaced by the time it comes to filling out CAO applications, it may not be the course for you. However, an important safeguard is built into the programme - students may be able to switch tracks after a year or two.

TCD also offers related degrees such as sociology and social policy and the Business Economic and Social Studies programme. However, these courses are not a back door into the social work course, where points are usually higher.

Not everyone who studies social work will end up working as a social worker - the degree provides a good general education, says Gilligan. Graduates have been successful in a variety of other fields.

UCC and UCD both offer three-year social science degrees and students must complete a master's programme to gain the professional social work qualification. Professor Gabriel Kiely of UCD explains that students of the three-year bachelor of social science who wish to do the professional qualification (a two-year master's programme) must take social policy and an introduction to social work in their undergraduate programme.

The master's in social science (social work) is a two-year professional training course with 30 firstyear places. The demand for professionally qualified social workers is so high that the number of places was increased from 20, he says.

Students who do not meet the entry requirements may apply for a one-year transition higher diploma in social policy which includes the option to do the introduction to social work. This is open to graduates of all disciplines. "What we tell students is to do whatever undergraduate programme they wish," says Kiely. "There is no preference given to one course over another."

UCC introduced a transition diploma in social policy last year and the level of interest this year is huge, says Fred Powell, professor of applied social studies. There were more than 100 applicants for 35 places on UCC's masters in social studies this year.

Demand is going up all the time, according to Powell. The implementation of the Childcare Act has generated a huge increase in the labour force so demand for graduates is equally intense. "The problem at present," he says, "is that the colleges can't produce enough qualified social workers to meet the demand."

As well as the three-year bachelor of social science programme, UCC offers a four-year bachelor of social work, which is open only to mature applicants. The college also offers a related programme - a master's of social science (youth and community work) which is open to social science graduates and other graduates with a year's relevant experience, says Powell.