Applied Social Studies in Social Care?

english4490

anyone doing this course, my sister has it down as number 1 on the cao, but she does not seem to know a whole lot about it, the website is not hugely helpful, so any comments advice would be helpful!

susita06

Hiya,

brilliant course, I would recommend it to anyone! There is a good bit of work and study involved but it is brilliant..

english4490

susita06 wrote: »

Hiya,

brilliant course, I would recommend it to anyone! There is a good bit of work and study involved but it is brilliant..

heya, could you give me a quick idea as to what you do on the course?? what you hoping to do when you graduate?

dizzyniki

english4490 wrote: »

heya, could you give me a quick idea as to what you do on the course?? what you hoping to do when you graduate?

Subjects covered on the course include social policy, psychology, sociology, personal and professional development and law.....it involves work experience and a lot of research....this is definitely not a mickey mouse course. It involves an awful lot of work academically and at a personal level it can really test patience and ability to work on ones innerself so as to help others in a variety of communities.

When qualified it opens the possibility of work in childcare, social care and further education....

note that a social studies degree at the end of the day enables one to practice as a social care worker......not a social worker and at least two more years at a masters level is required to progress to such a level. The money for social care workers is still quite fantastic, way above nursing and teaching. However it is quite a competitive field of work and often people concentrate on the youth work and child protection policies when there are plenty of other areas which can be considered.....eg. elderly care, disability and childcare.

Hope this helps.

english4490

dizzyniki wrote: »

Subjects covered on the course include social policy, psychology, sociology, personal and professional development and law.....it involves work experience and a lot of research....this is definitely not a mickey mouse course. It involves an awful lot of work academically and at a personal level it can really test patience and ability to work on ones innerself so as to help others in a variety of communities.

When qualified it opens the possibility of work in childcare, social care and further education....

note that a social studies degree at the end of the day enables one to practice as a social care worker......not a social worker and at least two more years at a masters level is required to progress to such a level. The money for social care workers is still quite fantastic, way above nursing and teaching. However it is quite a competitive field of work and often people concentrate on the youth work and child protection policies when there are plenty of other areas which can be considered.....eg. elderly care, disability and childcare.

Hope this helps.

thats great thanks very much! do many people progress on to do a masters or do people go strait into working/??

dizzyniki

english4490 wrote: »

thats great thanks very much! do many people progress on to do a masters or do people go strait into working/??

The majority of people work straight after their degree. Although an awful lot of jobs in this area are difficult to obtain if you have no relevant work experience in that specific area. The college is very accommodating when organising placements for students. Students nearly always get their first preference in specialist areas. I know many students who worked for organisations and services and obtained a part time job and further work experience in those areas. this is great when trying to get a job when qualified as there is stiff competition and experience is neccessary in most areas. A lot of people have misconceptions that this degree will automatically make them a social worker in the community like you hear about on the television. Postgraduate courses are so difficult to get into, there aren't many places and you will have to travel out of Limerick. I know people that have taken other routes in further education....psychology is a core subject and it is generally accepted that with a social care degree and experience that you can study psychology and related subjects at masters level. Occupational therapy is another area that lots of people I know have taken. It only takes another 18months to become an occupational therapist and also to be a nurse. At the end of the day there are lots of options to take when the degree is finished....and it's becoming widely recognised in other countries especially Australia.

english4490

dizzyniki wrote: »

The majority of people work straight after their degree. Although an awful lot of jobs in this area are difficult to obtain if you have no relevant work experience in that specific area. The college is very accommodating when organising placements for students. Students nearly always get their first preference in specialist areas. I know many students who worked for organisations and services and obtained a part time job and further work experience in those areas. this is great when trying to get a job when qualified as there is stiff competition and experience is neccessary in most areas. A lot of people have misconceptions that this degree will automatically make them a social worker in the community like you hear about on the television. Postgraduate courses are so difficult to get into, there aren't many places and you will have to travel out of Limerick. I know people that have taken other routes in further education....psychology is a core subject and it is generally accepted that with a social care degree and experience that you can study psychology and related subjects at masters level. Occupational therapy is another area that lots of people I know have taken. It only takes another 18months to become an occupational therapist and also to be a nurse. At the end of the day there are lots of options to take when the degree is finished....and it's becoming widely recognised in other countries especially Australia.

thats sound very interesting, thanks very much!!!

Pushtrak

Have an interview for this course tomorrow morning now. Will have to write a 300 word piece on a general topic relating to social care, apparently.

irish_girl

It is a very disorganised course! I am currently on the course and I have known people not to get their choice of placement and are still looking for placement while exams are on. A lot of pressure is put on students when they are in their work placement years.

dizzyniki

irish_girl wrote: »

It is a very disorganised course! I am currently on the course and I have known people not to get their choice of placement and are still looking for placement while exams are on. A lot of pressure is put on students when they are in their work placement years.

one of the main reasons that people dont get their first choice placement in this course is due to the fact that so many people on the course want to work in the same area which is generally with youths in community schemes or a company which can only facilitate a small number of students due to the confidential nature of the company and to protect service users. it is also clearly stated that some students will unfortunately be disappointed because it is often not feasible for numerous reasons to facilitate a placement. i finished the course two years ago and i know that people encountered problems when opting to work in the community and youth areas. not everyone is disappointed at the end of the day and sometimes people find that they are happier with other placements as was a friend of mine who ended up loving the disability area of social care and is currently employed in a service. the course has changed now however with multiple placements. fingers crossed that maybe next year you'll be luckier!

kay1967

I started this course last year in IT Carlow on a part time basis two nights a week, cost of course 2100 per year . Have worked 24 years in admin/office management and lost my job earlier this year.

Because of the course I have been doing volunteer work in Moore Abbey in Monasterevin and this volunteer work and the fact I am doing the course has got me 3 interviews.

I have not had one interview for office work in the five months I have been unemployed and yesterday I was offered relief work from one of my interviews, its only relief but its a start and a foot in the door I am delighted.


Its a great course and the choice you have at the end of it is great, you can work with children, teenagers, disabled or the elderly.

millyvanilli

My daughter is starting in 2nd year in September in Applied Social Studies on a transfer from another college, she has a baby as well, so all advise appreciated and anything else anyone can think of:)
I know it will be difficult for her
Many thanks
mv

susita06

millyvanilli wrote: »

My daughter is starting in 2nd year in September in Applied Social Studies on a transfer from another college, she has a baby as well, so all advise appreciated and anything else anyone can think of:)
I know it will be difficult for her
Many thanks
mv

Wow it must be tough transferring but genuinely she could not (in my opinion) have picked a more supportive college and course to go to ! There is a big workload but in fairness to the lecturers they are very helpful.... Approximately 40 % of my classmates have children so I would imagine the second year class would be fairly similar!! The only real advise I can give is keep on top of the workload as it tends to be on top of you all of a sudden after christmas when you are faced with exams in February due to work placement but in saying that you generally get quite a lot of notice with regards to topics etc ..... Second year is a tough year but very do-able!! Other advice is to make good use of the support systems in place at LIT ..... the access office, doctor etc are all fantastic.Hope this is of some help best of luck

nessie911

millyvanilli wrote: »

My daughter is starting in 2nd year in September in Applied Social Studies on a transfer from another college, she has a baby as well, so all advise appreciated and anything else anyone can think of:)
I know it will be difficult for her
Many thanks
mv

Im going in to 2nd year this year, love the course but i do find that there is alot of work involved. Cant wait to go back to college as all the people in our year are lovely. The are a good few in the course who do have children so it should not be a problem for her. Is she from limerick or moving hear?

millyvanilli

Thanks to you both for replying . She may not now be going to Limerick as she was told by phone last Friday that she has got Sligo as well (nothing written yet) and as we are from Mayo she will be able to live at home for a while anyhow .handier with the baby, too hope Sligo is as good as your course sounds,Many thanks again
MV

irishvamp90

Im not doing the course myself but ive talked to people at different stages of it and they feel alot of people see it as a easy job option.Basically its 50/50 some people really into it,geniune love for it while alot of the others see it has a handy job "shur social work,handy goverment job"My cousin was older student so maybe the young ones give that view i dont know
Why do people only want to work with certainyouth communitys schemes and certain companies?surely if your a social worker you accept all types of work

nessie911

irishvamp90 wrote: »

Im not doing the course myself but ive talked to people at different stages of it and they feel alot of people see it as a easy job option.Basically its 50/50 some people really into it,geniune love for it while alot of the others see it has a handy job "shur social work,handy goverment job"My cousin was older student so maybe the young ones give that view i dont know
Why do people only want to work with certainyouth communitys schemes and certain companies?surely if your a social worker you accept all types of work

I am in the course and i don't no any one that see it as an easy handy job, Its not, it is very difficult, as you have to be able to deal with alot of different types of people. Also you don't just get jobs with the government the majority of jobs are with organisations like the sisters of charity etc.

People only want to work with particular areas of society because thats the area they are best in. Its like nurses can train in different areas, so can doctors, and so can social care staff, you need different skills in different areas.

rinty

its a lie the whole course. Do not do this course..i did it for the 4 yrs only to find out that the vast majority in the area are not qualified and all the organizations continue to employ the unqualified. You might as well study a phonebook,
its a scam course....
sorry the truth hurts.

nessie911

rinty wrote: »

its a lie the whole course. Do not do this course..i did it for the 4 yrs only to find out that the vast majority in the area are not qualified and all the organizations continue to employ the unqualified. You might as well study a phonebook,
its a scam course....
sorry the truth hurts.

I have to wonder if you got a good degree like a 1st or a 2.1, because i know people who came out of this course and with in a few weeks had a full time job earning 30 to 40 a year. I think its all about how you apply your self. I plan on doing a masters in social work when i finish anyway.

rinty

I know several people who walked of the street and into a full time jobs in social care(pull) and earn 30 - 40 a yr, the same as i with my honors(distinction) degree. I dont like this fact but denial is a weakness.
Scam culture. Dont study social studies in the banana republic . Maybe the future will enforce the qualifications but at the moment stick to the phonebook.

kats4ever

im a qualified teacher but dont have any desire to teach anymore! I want to change courses..........was thinkin of doing social care in L.I.T.i have lots of experience working with people with disabilities and feel I would be suited to this kind of work. is it a waste of my time and money doing this course?.I feel at 30 yrs old id want to be settling at something! what ye think ?

rinty

dont waste your time going to college to study a course, that qualifies you to work in an area were 75% of the staff are unqualified. Even the interviewers for social care jobs are either unqualified or nurses. It is a waste of time.

Kate369k

rinty..if u did this course for four years, with an honors degree , and only discovered then info about those working in the field, then you might want to go back and read your social books again as the fact that most people in this field are unqualified is taught to u in 1st yr.

Kat it's a great course, very interesting and opens up a lot of avenues for u to pick from when u graduate . I would suggest that u sign up now for volunteer work and gain as much experience as possible. I was 33 going back to collage, and haven't regretted it a day since.

rinty

Kate369k wrote: »

rinty..if u did this course for four years, with an honors degree , and only discovered then info about those working in the field, then you might want to go back and read your social books again as the fact that most people in this field are unqualified is taught to u in 1st yr.

Kat it's a great course, very interesting and opens up a lot of avenues for u to pick from when u graduate . I would suggest that u sign up now for volunteer work and gain as much experience as possible. I was 33 going back to collage, and haven't regretted it a day since.

Students in first year were told that huge changes were happening in relation to recognition of qualifications.Students left the course in blind optimism and now half of them are in Supermacs flipping burgers.. 10 yrs later and nothing. Kat,would you agree and if so why advise people to study then course. The couse is interesting but has no job prospects.

angeldaisy

I'm considering doing this course next year. I'm a mature student with a young family and was wondering what the hours are like?

liv26

This course it was about twenty hours a wk, however when i did this course the majority of the hours were over two days than an hour or two on the other days

rinty

i repeat..its a lie the whole course. Do not do this course..i did it for the 4 yrs (honours degrees.distinction) only to find out that the vast majority in the area are not qualified and all the organizations continue to employ the unqualified. You might as well study a phonebook,
its a scam course....
sorry the truth hurts.
Do social studies with NUIG distant learning. one day a month in college and hand in a few SA.s.. Its a mickey mouse course with no exams but will get you the same job at the end of the day. Don't waste 4 years in college like so many people who are emigrating to see if some other country recognizes their S S qualification.

RoyalMarine

rinty wrote: »

i repeat..its a lie the whole course. Do not do this course..i did it for the 4 yrs (honours degrees.distinction) only to find out that the vast majority in the area are not qualified and all the organizations continue to employ the unqualified. You might as well study a phonebook,
its a scam course....
sorry the truth hurts.
Do social studies with NUIG distant learning. one day a month in college and hand in a few SA.s.. Its a mickey mouse course with no exams but will get you the same job at the end of the day. Don't waste 4 years in college like so many people who are emigrating to see if some other country recognizes their S S qualification.

rinty, youv'e been ranting on about this for a while, can you come up with some proof, or is it all just your own opinion?
i want to keep this place friendly as possible, and these type of posts tend to bring un-wanted attention to the forum.

angeldaisy

thanks liv26 hope the hours stay the same it sounds manageable.

Royalmarinecomm - thanks for stating what I was thinking. I prefer not to hear unfounded negativity

rinty

sorry im a democrat..

Sapna

Social studeis is really a nice subject. It explores all the history of a country.