Qualification Overview

Qualification Title Bachelor of Social Services
Qualification Type Bachelor Degree
Level 7
Credits 360
Subject Area
  • Society and Culture » Human Welfare Studies and Services » Social Work
Strategic Purpose Statement
The Bachelor of Social Services is designed to prepare graduates who can work across a
range of social service settings, by applying models of practice that are informed by theory
and research, in accordance with professional standards and expectations in an area of
specialty practice. Graduates are prepared for employment opportunities across the social
services sector both nationally and internationally.
Graduate profile
Graduates of the Bachelor of Social Services will demonstrate the integration of competent and ethical practice using models of practice which are recognised by the appropriate professional organisation for their chosen specialty, and applicable to the context of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Graduates will have a high level of self-awareness and communication skills to engage in interactions with people, which are intentional and appropriate. Graduates will provide professional and competent practice within the community through meeting professional standards and demonstrating social responsibility. They will be able to work in a global community with cultural awareness and appropriate cultural communication so as to adapt their practice according to the needs of the people with whom they are working.

All graduates and Social Service specialty graduates will have the ability to:
* Critically reflect on self, to provide mana enhancing professional practice.
* Apply communication skills, critical reflection, creative thinking, and leadership skills to work with others effectively in social service settings.
* Demonstrate bicultural competency and culturally responsive practice, applying the provisions of the articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in an Aotearoa NZ context.
* Incorporate professional standards, industry needs, legislation, policies, codes of ethics and/or relevant frameworks into professional practice.
* Engage in ongoing professional and personal development and autonomous learning to enhance research-informed practice
* Act sustainably, within social service professional practice, considering implications on self, community, environment, culture and economics.

In addition, Career Practice graduates will have the ability to:
* Critically analyse and articulate an intentional, informed and integrated model of practice appropriate for career practice.
* Facilitate processes of transition and change within a career practice role.

In addition, Counselling graduates will have the ability to:
* Critically analyse and articulate an intentional, informed and integrated model of practice appropriate for counselling consistent with NZAC Education standards.
* Facilitate processes of change within professional counselling practice.

In addition, Health and Wellbeing Practice graduates will have the ability to:
* Critically analyse and articulate an intentional, informed and integrated model of practice appropriate for health and wellbeing practice.
* Facilitate processes of change which reflect recovery principles within health and wellbeing practice.
Education pathways
Graduates may return to complete another major which would require completion of the courses relating to the relevant area of specialisation. It is expected that graduates can gain entry into post graduate level qualifications at other institutions (dependant on meeting specialisation-relevant entry criteria of these institutions). Possible programmes could include the Masters in Counselling at Massey University, the University of Auckland, the University of Canterbury and the University of Waikato; postgraduate programmes in advanced psychotherapy at Auckland University of Technology, the Master in Career Development at Auckland University of Technology, and Applied Masters in Social Work at the Universities of Otago, Canterbury and Massey University.
Employment pathways
Graduates of this programme can expect to gain employment at competent practitioner level within a professional organisational setting. This may include government or non-government social services or health settings. Students will be trained broadly as social service practitioners in addition to specialising in their chosen field of practice, including counselling, career practice, mental health, and disabilities.
Underpinning the specific professional knowledge and skills is a broad based foundation in social services. Graduates will also meet the professional standards required to be eligible to apply for 'Applicant/Provisional Status' of a Professional Association that guides, protects and ensures competency within their the area of their major.To find out more about employment opportunities click on the CareersNZ logo, then the provider who offers this qualification.
Entry Requirements
Applicants who meet the entry criteria become eligible for selection.
Applicants will be selected into the programme on the basis of the following criteria:
* University Entrance:
* NCEA Level 3 including:
* 14 credits at Level 3 or above in three NZQA approved subjects, and
* Literacy - 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of
o 5 credits in reading and
o 5 credits in writing,
and
* Numeracy - 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of
o specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects OR
o package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627- all three required)

* Demonstrated good health and good character via referee reports, a health declaration and a Police Check sufficient for safe and effective practice in social services.

Applicants must submit references and a health declaration, declare any criminal convictions and give permission for a Police Check (to demonstrate good health and good character sufficient for safe and effective practice in social services).

International ākonga
* International ākonga must meet the same entry criteria as those listed above and those for whom English is not their first language must also meet the language requirements listed below.
New Zealand University Entrance OR
Overall Academic IELTS 6.5 with no individual band score lower than 6.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS

Experienced ākonga
Those ākonga who may already have completed prior qualifications in social service or related fields and can provide evidence of having met particular learning outcomes for certain courses, can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Alternatively, ākonga
who have extensive work experience and knowledge in social services can apply to the College of Work Based Learning to complete either the BSS or GDSS via the Independent Learning Pathway. Centre for Assessment of Prior Learning (CAPL) Work Based Learning
as per relevant policies.academic policies AP501 and AP900 (Assessment). Please note: this pathway is only applicable to Bachelor of Social Services (Social Services), (Career Practice), or (Health and Wellbeing Practice) specialties and the GDSS (specialty)
programme.

An Independent Learning Pathway for the Counselling specialty is managed from within the taught on-campus BSS team. Entry criteria for the Counselling specialty are:
* a two-year NZQA Level 6 Diploma in Counselling, and
* extensive experience (7+ years) working in a professional capacity as a Counsellor.
Education Organisation Te Pukenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
Developed By Te Pukenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
Quality Assured By New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Number OT5025
Status Current
Created 2010-07-19 00:00:00.0
Last Reviewed 2024-03-05 09:28:45.0
Next Review 2027-12-31 00:00:00.0
Content
Personal and Academic Effectiveness
Te Tiriti o Waitangi,
Ethics and Law
Applied Communication 1
Theories of Human Behaviour
Diversity
Careers, Specialties and Pathways
Negotiated Study
Safe and Ethical Practitioner
Research for Social Services
Theory for Practice A
Integrated Practice
Wānaka
Addictions and Co-Existing Problems
Applied Communication 2
Negotiated Study
Communicating with Whānau and Communities
Practitioner Inquiry
Theory for Practice B
Integrated Practice B
Applied Social Issues and Social Policy
Socially Responsible Leadership
Negotiated Study - Elective
Negotiated Study - Elective

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