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Social Care Council Chief Executive writes to every NI school encouraging UCAS applicants to #ChooseSocialWork

20 November 2025
At today’s NISCA Conference, the Social Care Council met with careers teachers from across Northern Ireland, as we launch our letter encouraging students to consider a future in social work. Pictured from left to right: Alison Shaw, Workforce Development Officer, Social Care Council, Tricia Devlin, Interim Co-Head of Workforce Development, Social Care Council, Gerard McWilliams, member of the Social Care Council’s Participation Partnership, Barry McManus, Head of Careers, St Ciaran’s College, Ballygawley, Wendy Botha, Head of Careers, Integrated College, Dungannon and Una McSorley, Head of Careers, Holy Trinity College, Cookstown.

With the UCAS deadline for university choices approaching in January, the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (the Social Care Council) is writing to every careers teacher in Northern Ireland asking them to encourage the students they guide to consider social work as a career of choice.

Circumstances such as poverty, bereavement, disability, addiction, abuse and homelessness, among others, can impact negatively in people’s lives and their ability to cope. Social workers help individuals, families and communities to navigate or overcome such challenges, access services that can support them and live life to its full potential.

This week, Tracy Reid, Chief Executive of the Social Care Council has written to over 230 post-primary schools in Northern Ireland seeking the support of principals and careers teachers to promote the Degree in Social Work as a pathway to finding a fulfilling and rewarding career.

“Now is a good time for people to consider saying #Yes2socialwork and being part of the next social work generation. There are many different and diverse social work roles, each one offering a career path that makes a difference,’ said Ms Reid.

She continued: “Roles include supporting children and families, older people, people with disabilities or health concerns, working in therapeutic settings and working in the education, justice or voluntary and community sectors to enable, empower and protect children and adults in need.”

The Degree is an ideal journey for anyone who hopes to effect social change throughout the course of their career. Social work offers job stability and opportunities for advancement early on – as well as the chance to make a difference.

In the letter Ms Reid explains that the career prospects for a student with the right values are exciting: “If anyone is still unsure what choices to put down on their UCAS application we are asking them to consider social work. This is a valuable degree that includes learning about subjects such as law, sociology and psychology and all graduates are automatically qualified social workers.”

The Degree in Social Work (the Degree) is currently offered at Queen’s University, Ulster University, the South West College and the Belfast Metropolitan College. The Open University also provide the approved Degree – this route requires the sponsorship of a social work employer.

For full information about applying for the Degree in Social Work click here.

Want to know more?

To be a social worker in Northern Ireland (NI) you need to complete the Honours Degree in Social Work. Check out our Interested in becoming a social worker? page for more information or to be inspired check out our ‘Careers in Social Work’ playlist on YouTube. To find out about the role and hear others’ journeys into the profession, you can find stories about social workers in Northern Ireland on our social workers stories page.

Notes to editors:

  1. The Social Care Council is the regulator for social workers and social care practitioners in Northern Ireland. It is a public body established by the Department of Health to support high quality standards of social work and social care.
  2. This is an annual campaign, supported by the Department of Health, to encourage people to consider a career in social work across a mix of communications and media platforms (digital and broadcast media) that started in 2019.
  3. For further information or media queries please email: Rita.mccullagh@niscc.hscni.net.

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