Rachel Wallace
I decided to study at the University of Northampton because from the first time I visited, I was in awe – Waterside Campus is stunning. I love being around the water, and the bridges and wildlife that surround the University allow for such a calming environment. I feel like I’m in a movie when I go to uni!
It was important for me to choose a university where I felt comfortable. The University of Northampton offered the right course for me, the teaching is of a high standard, and it has strong academic and pastoral support. Everyone, from the students to the staff, is so friendly and welcoming, and after being a UON student for nearly three years, this has never changed.
UON offers so many extras besides completing a degree. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with the Students’ Union, a wide variety of sports (most of these are free), academic support is always available with the academic librarians, and the pastoral care is amazing too. Also, UON offer free counselling and mental health support, which initially gained my attention and since enrolling I’ve taken advantage of all the support that’s available.
My future aspiration is to have a career where I help and support vulnerable individuals and families. Addiction is a particular interest for me and I’m currently writing my dissertation about the impact of alcohol misuse on family dynamics. Looking into this further has motivated me to want to work with families who’ve been impacted by addiction, as I’ve realised the vast effects of addiction on the individual themselves and their whole family.
My course will help my career or personal development when I graduate, as I’ve studied a wide range of different modules, including addiction, law and social policy, and skills for working in mental health. I think employers will be impressed with the vast array of knowledge I’ve obtained by completing this degree.
Looking at things from every perspective is a skill I’ve gained at university. The course tutors have varying backgrounds, including youth work, social work, counselling and many more, and being able to have an insight into such a variety of professions has enabled me to look at things from different perspectives.
The course is very practical, and I’ve completed two placements, which is invaluable to add to my CV and will help me secure future employment. My first-year placement was at Café Track in Northampton, an organisation which supports adults with Autism into employment. I shadowed the manager when taking service users to interviews and formed relationships with the service users in the café where they volunteer to build on their skills for employment.
I chose my second-year placement independently, by organising to go to my local authority’s children and families’ wellbeing service. I shadowed a key worker on home visits to families who were being supported by the service due to mental health problems, domestic violence, addiction, or offending issues. I also assisted with the ‘stay and play’ children’s groups, which are targeted groups for parents/carers who need extra support in looking after their child. I thoroughly enjoyed this placement and getting to know the team and the families I worked with. It gave me a huge confidence boost, as gaining extensive feedback from the organisations enabled me to critically reflect and improve my skills. It also helped me to build on my teamwork skills.
My tips on applying for or getting the most benefit from your placement would be that even if you don’t have experience in the area you want to do your placement, sell yourself as motivated and willing to learn. You’re not going into a placement as a qualified professional, you’re a student and you’re there to learn. If you give it your all and show willingness to learn, you’ll pick it up as you go along, and this will give you the confidence and experience to go into the field.
Go into any placement with an open mind. It may be in an area you’ve had your heart set on working in, but then you may discover it’s not actually right for you. This isn’t a bad thing, as you’ve had the opportunity to find that out before going into full-time employment and your placements will help you to consolidate what you really want to do when you graduate.
As a mature student, the advice I’d give to undergraduates interested in this career path is to just go for it. It can be daunting returning to education, but it’s honestly been one of the best things I’ve ever done. I love UON, it’s amazing and feels like a home from home.
We no longer offer Social Care and Community Practice BA (Hons), but we offer Health and Social Care Practice BA (Hons).