Graduate Stories
Successful completion of our social work courses make you eligible to apply for registration as a social worker with Social Work England. Many of our graduates work as social worker for councils but others work in related health or social care fields.
Versha Bali, MA Social Work (2024)
Versha is originally from India but after studying at the University of Nottingham she’s stayed in the UK and now works for Sheffield City Council.
I pursued a master’s in social work because I am passionate about helping individuals and families improve their well-being. I wanted to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to advocate for social justice, support vulnerable populations, and create meaningful change in society.
I am an Indian citizen and when I decided to pursue social work in the UK, I did my research and found out UoN is one of the best universities to study MA Social Work. Even before I enrolled university was very responsive to any queries I had.
The best thing I enjoyed about the course is practical aspect. For example, skills days where we would role play the real-life cases and could practice the skills of working with vulnerable people and families. Moreover, my cohort was diverse so we had people from different parts of the world. Everyone had different skill sets and there were so many learning opportunities.
I am now a children’s social worker, working within the fieldwork team. My work involves supporting families and children who are the risk of significant harm. The job is challenging but at the end of the day when a child says “you are the best social worker I ever had” it makes everything worthwhile. You get a sense of fulfilment, feel like you have got a purpose to your life and it’s the best feeling in the world.
Katelyn Hall, BA Social Work (2023)
Katelyn works in adult social care for Derbyshire County Council.
I originally wanted to work as a children's social worker but the university helped me to explore all my options and I fell in love with adult social work which I never expected.
I do a bit of everything in my role. I work with people from the age of 16 onwards who have or experience, a physical or learning disability, mental health conditions, health conditions, substance misuse, or homelessness as well as carers. The main part of my job involves finding out what type of care and support a person needs by completing an assessment and getting the support in place.
It sounds really cheesy but there was something about Nottingham that got me. I loved the campuses at Nottingham and all the green spaces. The atmosphere on campus during my interview day was so positive and helpful. Everyone on campus would help you if you asked.
I really enjoyed getting to explore so many things on the course, not just legislation and theories but health conditions and the impact they have, challenges and barriers people face for different reasons, even things about benefits that I never knew.
Being able to work with and learn from people with lived experience during my degree really developed my practise and help me explore the areas I was interested in.
Megan Wright, BA Social Work (2021)
After graduation, Megan worked in child protection as a social worker. Recently she has changed careers and is now a primary school teacher working with year one.
I chose to study social work at the University of Nottingham because I was drawn to its strong reputation and the fact that its programme is accredited by Social Work England. I wanted to ensure that I was getting a quality education that would prepare me for a successful career in social work. The university's curriculum appealed to me because it combined both theory and practical experience, giving me a well-rounded understanding of the field.
What I enjoyed most about the degree was the hands-on experience. The placements allowed me to apply the knowledge I was gaining in real-world situations and seeing the direct impact of my work on individuals and communities was incredibly fulfilling.
The knowledge and skills I gained from my social work degree have been incredibly useful in my current role as a primary school teacher. First and foremost, the strong understanding of child development and psychology that I learned during my degree has helped me to better support my students’ emotional and social needs.
Oliver Wilkinson-Dale, MA Social Work (2017)
Oliver works as a public health manager for Nottingham City Council.
For my MA dissertation I wrote about social work responses to homelessness. After qualifying, I worked as a specialist social worker supporting people sleeping rough with the highest level of needs in Nottingham. I went on to manage a small team of specialist social workers. With the knowledge and experiences gained from social work I moved to work in public health with a wider focus on influencing larger scale change for vulnerable populations.
In my current role, I oversee public health work in suicide prevention and have other roles supporting vulnerable populations in Nottingham. Our team uses data and evidence, partnership working and evidence-based interventions to try and reduce health inequalities in Nottingham.
Zoe Dean, MA Social Work (2017)
Zoe works as an Independent Reviewing Officer for Nottinghamshire County Council.
My undergraduate degree was in health and social care but I couldn’t progress with just that. A social work qualification enabled me to move into management and my current role. My employer paid for the course, but it meant I had to work alongside studying. This was challenging but the university was very supportive.
As an Independent Reviewing Officer, I review care plans for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. I make decisions for better outcomes and ensure all care needs are met.
My advice to new students is to enjoy Nottingham. It’s an amazing place. And make the most of the beautiful campus and grounds. I still go for the occasional walk there as it’s a beautiful place.
Annaeka Fayaz, BA Social Work (2017)
Annaeka has been working as a social worker since she graduated. She currently works for Derby City Council.
I have been a qualified social worker for a while now and I have worked in a number of teams which has meant I’ve gained lots of experience. I am currently in the family and friends team, working in post adoption support which I’m enjoying a lot.
I studied social work because I have always wanted to help families, especially children. The degree has supported me to do this.
I enjoyed my time at the University of Nottingham and the placements that were part of the course.
My advice to new students is to enjoy your time at Nottingham. It’s a lovely campus and I enjoyed studying in the library.
Tamara Carter, MA Social Work (2006)
Tamara works as a Senior Social Worker in adult social care for Cambridgeshire County Council.
I'm currently in a management role with Cambridgeshire County Council's Adult Continuing Healthcare team. I work closely with the local Integrated Care Board in assessing adults’ eligibility for Continuing Healthcare.
I knew I wanted a career in social work since I was a social work assistant for a nonprofit in Washington DC. University staff were really helpful when I was studying and I would encourage all students to approach them if they have any questions or require support.