Social work and social care in Wales

Supporting professional development in social care services in Wales

Are you working in social care and thinking about social care or social work as a career? The Open University has a range of introductory programmes and accredited courses to help you on your way.

Certificate of Higher Education in Social Care Practice (Wales)

The Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 makes provision for recognising and extending social care support roles and ensuring social care practitioners are appropriately equipped and qualified to carry out their role. The OU’s Certificate of Higher Education in Social Care Practice (Wales) is the first qualification selected by Social Care Wales to meet these Social Services Practitioner Requirements.

The Certificate explores ideas about social care and social work – using case studies with children, older people, mental-health communities, children with disabilities and people with learning disabilities to apply learning to practice contexts. You’ll also build key skills in information and communication technologies, digital and information literacy and reflective writing.

Career relevance and employability

A nationally recognised qualification in its own right, this certificate of higher education is also equivalent to the first third of an honours degree. As well as helping you to decide whether this area of work and study is for you, or equipping you for your current role in social care, the certificate can help you progress to further professional or academic study:

BA (Honours) Social Work (Wales) - you must apply and be selected to gain a place on this degree

BA (Honours) Health and Social Care – you can study this degree without going through a selection process

Not quite ready for higher education?

OU Access Programme

If you’re not quite ready to sign up for the Certificate, the OU Access programme can help you take your first steps into OU study. Access modules are primarily intended for people who have no previous experience of higher education. Each module gives students a chance to try out distance learning, build their confidence, develop study skills and provides a taste of a particular subject, and you may be entitled to a bursary to undertake the course for free.

Free OpenLearn Resources

As well as our accredited courses and introductory outreach programmes there are a number of relevant informal courses and study skills units you can access at any time for free. Use the links below to explore our free learning.