1COMPILATION OF PAST SOCIAL WORK INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
University of Wolverhampton
I think all interviews (from written tasks to group tasks to individual interviews) are
centred around a Clear definition, Principles, qualities and ethics of social work.. then the
ability to talk about your motivation for wanting to study social work... and then some
case scenarios will be presented to you; then you narrow your analysis down to social
work... also know the modules, why Wolverhampton? In a nutshell, that’s what it’s
about. Also, know the qualities you're bringing in and the ones you hope to develop.
It went well.
Study your sop
Study the case study.
And general social work knowledge.
Social work REGULATIONS
There are about 3 cases of child abuse that occurred. In those cases, social services failed
to protect those children. I can easily remember the cases of Baby P and Victoria Climbie
If you have time, pls, do your research about them
Those cases challenged the social work profession and a lot of people were sacked for not
performing their duties.
11111
NOTTINGHAM
Hi, I just got done with my Ottingham interview a few hours ago. The lecture was really
sweet and the service user was also very kind so don't worry about it. The lecturer said
they ask everybody the same questions, there will be 5. This is what I was asked:
1. What is social work? What are its values and ethics?
2. Why do you want to be a social worker?
3. What strengths or skills do you have about social work and what do you want to work
upon?
4. Some people are likely to be discriminated against whilst receiving social care. Who
are these people and what impact do these discriminatory practices have on them?
5. Social workers often deal with difficult situations. Personally or professionally, can
you describe a difficult situation you've been in? What did you do? What could you have
done better?
DE Montfort
What are the qualities and attributes of a social worker
What are the core standards of the profession?
What experience do you have in the field,
Why do you want to become a social worker?
What have you read in preparation for the course? Etc
Uni Hull
Why do you want to study SW?
What experiences informed your decision?
What module are you looking forward to? How would you handle a service user for the
first time? Which group of service users find it difficult to communicate with social
workers? Why did you choose Hull? How would you know you’ve communicated
effectively with a service user?
Barriers that social workers face in dealing with service users, the effect of a pandemic on
social work practice
What makes multi-agency working important in social work...
You’d be asked to write in one of them
Why social work?
Why master in social work?
Why did you choose the school?
Skills
Values and Theories
Personal experience and which of the theories did you use and why?
Written exercise
What books did you read or which site do you read from?
Social worker solutions to racism
I was scheduled for a group interview in the morning
Then later they scheduled me for an individual interview
I was told to give a 5minutez presentation on contemporary issues in Uk social work
2222222
My Questions:
1. Why did you choose Social work as a course ✅
2. What is Social Work and Values ✅
3. What is your strength and what will you like to change or add✅
4. As a social worker how would you handle the case (Case Study)✅
5. Tell us about an experience you have hard-working as a team and what you would
have done better ✅
6. Your weakness ✅
I had my interview for Social work with Uni Essex on the 1st and got an unconditional
offer within 24hrs. I hope this helps.
ANSWER
1. Why did you choose Social work as a course ✅ (I am a childminder, and I do this as a
part-time job, I take care of kids and aged people, and this gave me the zeal to want to
learn more about social work as a field of study)
2. What is Social Work and Values ✅ (Social work is a caring profession that enhances
the well-being of man, and basic needs and it also focuses on human rights and advocacy.
B. values of social work are Service, Dignity and worth, the importance of relationships,
competence, integrity, and social justice)
3. What is your strength and what will you like to change or add ✅ (I am friendly, and I
love to understand why a person is a way he is without being judgemental, I value
long-term relationships, and I do not wish to change my strength, But I wish to add more.
4. As a social worker how would you handle the case (Case Study) ✅ (they gave us a
case study, so this question determines the case study your given)
5. Tell us about an experience you have ad working as a team and what you would have
done better ✅ (I love being a team leader, one time my group came up with ideas for a
particular project. But we didn’t get to be the head of the said project, I was furious and it
affected my work badly, I was called up by our boss and immediately I noticed I was
doing too much just because I was not given the role of a team leader, then I adjusted)
6. Your weakness ✅ (my strength most times can also be my weakness, people take
advantage of the fact that I am too friendly. Always want to lead, but once that chance is
taken from me it slows my commitment.
3
University of Bradford(MSW) interview:
1. What are the skills you've been able to develop as a social worker
2. What aspect of social work do you want to specialize in and why?
3. Describe a situation where you handled a case alone
4. Describe a situation where your team handled a case of oppression.
ANSWER
My Answer:
1. Time mgt skill
Empathy
Patience
Active Listening
Communication skill
2. Adult Welfare
3. A case of domestic violence between a friend of mine and her husband which I was
able to apply my knowledge as a social worker
4. A case of rape which resulted in pregnancy between an uneducated 16-year-old girl
and the son of a chief at Omi Adio Village in Ibadan which we handled as a team
My Questions:
1. Why did you choose Social work as a course ✅
2. What is Social Work and Values ✅
3. What is your strength and what will you like to change or add✅
4. As a social worker how would you handle the case (Case Study)✅
5. Tell us about an experience you have hard-working as a team and what you would
have done better ✅
6. Your weakness ✅
This is for the University of Essex Social Work Interview
Problems of Social Work Today
Lack of funds and manpower
Government Policies
Cultural and Religious beliefs
Problems/Challenges for Social Work
Close the health gap
End homelessness
Stop family violence
End homelessness
End social isolation
Achieve equal opportunity and justice
Challenges of Social Work
You will face stress and burnout as you come in contact with service users of different
kinds and face challenges such as child abuse, adult abuse, homelessness, depression and
poverty to mention just a few, especially in your practice place
From my own Naija experience. Social policies major issue, burn out u are hardly able to
take off your own needs, working within professional limitations understanding you can't
solve all problems, and being culturally competent some people will say being objective
helps with this but I am not too sure some tribe and things u hear concerning them
sometimes go jus make the working tire you.
Negative experience with colleagues
Lack of security or safety of social worker: u dealing with vulnerable people who could
lash out at you n u need to protect yourself as much as still protect your patient from
causing self-harm
Greenwich
Social work journal
https://journals.uis.no/index.php/JCSW/article/view/314/273
https://t.me/+1w_HTTBkNNpiODlk
They will share a link to an article with you (to be read before the interview)
For the interview, I was told to write basically about the article that was shared.
Centred around, what social work is, the challenges of social work and skills required by
a social worker
For CULTURAL SENSITIVITY; Being culturally sensitive implies that social workers
are not only aware of differences, but they are respectful and accepting of the difference.
They do not judge differences as good or bad. They strive to understand differences from
an emic, within-culture, perspective. Accordingly, if I am working with a woman who
wears a hijab or headscarf, I strive to consider the meaning of the hijab or headscarf from
my client’s cultural and individual perspectives, rather than from an outsider’s
perspective.
Non-judgemental, Respectfulness are some of the qualities of a social worker with
cultural sensitivity
For CULTURAL HUMILITY: this implies that as a social worker, one shouldn't view
him or herself as an expert. Or view their culture as superior because that is the truth. I
too know the name sabi is everything in other people’s cultures but one should be humble
and behave as a learner. By doing so, you are showing respect to your client of different
cultures. By acknowledging that you do not know everything about another person’s
culture, it shows that you showing respect and you are opening your heart and mind to
learning.
his*
So in this case, you need qualities such as Openness, humility and meekness,
teachability, Respectfulness, patience, compassion, professionalism and so on
UNIVERSITY of BRIGHTON
Written task: Answer 2 questions not less than 300words on a case scenario (YouTube
video) 40mins
Written task: Answer 2 questions not less than 300words on a case scenario (YouTube
video) 40mins
Main interview:
1. why do u want to study social work
b? why now?
2. Challenges of social work
b. How to solve them
3. Research you have done on social work
4. What is teamwork
b. Reflect on a situation where u have done a teamwork
5. Reflect on a situation where u have shown empathy
6. what are u bringing to social work
7. What is discrimination explain your personal experience
8. What do you stand to gain when you eventually become a social worker?
I answered all but my answers were too short and I wasn't confident enough.
Na just 6 questions but each question has part b.
UNIVERSITY of BRIGHTON
School of Humanities and Social Science
MSc (PG Dip) and BSc (Hons) Social Work
Written Task – video option D
You have 40 minutes to complete this task which involves watching a short video and
answering the two questions outlined below. Please read this page in full before you start
and ensure that you state your full name on your answer paper. You should write a
minimum of 300 words across the two questions.
Watch this short video on the theme of mental health:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHpHP4HFRT4&feature=youtu.be
Question 1:
What feelings did this provoke for you and how do these feelings relate to key social
work values (please identify which values you are referring to in your answer and explain
why these are important to you)?
Question 2:
Name two main points that stood out for you and describe why you feel they are
important for social work practice.
SCOTLAND
The attached link is the material the University of West Scotland sent to me to read in
preparation for their interview/group discussion.
The material is on social work values and professional accountability as well as
familiarise yourselves with the Independent Care Review in Scotland:
Title: THE PROMISE
https://www.carereview.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-Promise.pdf.
Placement Questions
1. For the placements can one choose an aspect of social work for the 2 placements
2. Is the placements individual or in groups
https://www.studential.com/university/applying/UCAS-application-guide/interviews/soci
al-work-questions
https://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/international-students/visas-and-immigration/new
-students/credibility-interviews
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/apply-social-work/preparing-for-soc
ial-work-interview
University of Sunderland
MA Social Work – Literacy Skills
Guidance for Candidates
This task is designed to assess your ability to write clearly and coherently in the English
language as well as your ability to make sense of and reflect upon the information
presented.
You will also need to open up a Word document to complete this task.
You must submit your Word document before 11.30 am.
Your work will be assessed about the presentation as well as the content. You should pay
attention to the clarity of expression, write in full sentences and avoid the use of bullet
points.
Please number each answer sheet and write your name at the top of each sheet.
When you have completed the task, save your Word document and email it to
[email protected]
Assessment Criteria
You will be marked on:
Your ability to reflect and put forward your views
The quality of your writing
¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶
Task
Read the case study given.
Discuss what you feel would be the key SKILLS NEEDED in BUILDING EFFECTIVE
PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS with SERVICE USERS and CARERS described in
the case study below.
Discuss any COMMUNICATION BARRIERS you can identify and how you might
overcome these.
Reflect on how you feel you have demonstrated some of these skills in your interactions
with people
Case Study
Name: Anne Woolsey
Gender: Female
Age: 92
Ethnicity: White British
First language: English
Religion: Christian faith (Anglican Church)
Anne is married to Arthur, 94. They have been married for over 70 years and live in their
bungalow in a village. Anne and Arthur have two daughters, five grandchildren and eight
great-grandchildren. The family are quite dispersed across the country. Their nearest
daughter Carol, who lives 40 miles away, visits twice a month. Daughter Jean visits every
other month. Both daughters phone regularly. Their neighbour Betty calls in most days.
Arthur has end-stage Chronic Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and is nearing the end of his
life. Arthur is currently housebound, using oxygen at home. He has support from a
Community COPD nurse. Anne has provided care for Arthur for eight years, and the
support that he needs is increasing. The COPD affects Arthur’s mobility and he is unable
to get to the toilet in time at night. Most mornings he awakens with soiled sheets which
distresses him. Anne continues to look after the home and has started to manage the
finances, which previously Arthur did. Anne and Arthur find it difficult to talk with each
other about Arthur’s death. They would both like Arthur to die at home, with his wife and
daughters.
Anne’s health is generally good, though she has mild arthritis and takes tablets for stable
angina. However, she is becoming less strong and more tired. Anne has some hearing
impairment and finds it difficult to read the small print. Anne devotes her time to caring
for Arthur and no longer goes to church. Both were previously active in the community
and attended a local lunch club. Anne is determined to be there for Arthur and does not
like to leave him, even with someone else. Her main concern is that she will not be able
to support Arthur till the end. Anne is beginning to find it difficult to look after the home
and garden and to feel quite isolated. She is not confident in managing the family
finances and is not sure how she will manage when Arthur is gone.
Just came across this, for those who have upcoming Social Work Interviews, this could
help with what to expect.
https://www.studential.com/university/applying/UCAS-application-guide/interviews/soci
al-work-questions
Good evening house, please I need input from y'all for my article.1) write an aspect of
social work that particularly interests you and tell us how you have explored it.
2)Tell us what you think is your greatest strength and weakness, for each explains why
you have chosen them and how you think they affect your relationship with others
3) How do you deal with stress and how do you think it will affect you as a potential
social work student?
Please I know it hovers around personal experiences but I want to be sure am on the right
track. Please send in your input 🙏🙏🙏
(1) Written test
Please use a table to highlight the Social Work England Professional Standards. Under
each of the individual standards give explicit examples of how your experience and
knowledge from life/education/training/reading/learning are meeting each of the
individual professional standards. You also want to tell us what you think you need to
develop. We recognise that you are not yet on a Social Work Course and may not have
specific Social Care experience.
Please ensure that you reference if you are using sources.
https://www.socialworkengland.org.uk/standards/professional-standards/
Hello,
Thank you for your application for a place in our MA Social Work programme. We are
pleased to invite you to a pre-selection online test. Please, read the following instructions
carefully
Good evening guys pls who can help to break down and treat a case study challenge for
the youth work interview? Question below:
You are youth and community development workers working as part of a youth club team
and you have met a group of young women in the south of Liverpool. There are 14 young
women in the group and they are aged between 14 – 17 years old. Some of the young
people identify as white British, others as black British, and none of the group members
has talked about a having disability.
They are lively, chatty and interested in working with you and are happy to meet at a
local youth centre. You have met the group three times so far and have started to make
some plans about what you are going to do together – they are interested in women’s
issues and rights, music, celebrities, sports and social media, and rarely are they without
their phones in their hands!
They hang out as a group, although they have their moments of tension and disagreement
and often talk about their weekend adventures of drinking and parties. One young woman
wants to rent an apartment in town for her forthcoming 15th birthday.
A few of the group have mentioned boyfriends although it is not clear how serious these
relationships are. The young people have talked about their families – all have siblings,
some are living with one parent or grandparents, and some with both parents.
All of the young people are in education; either school or Sixth Form College, a few are
studying sports and some are studying hair and beauty although they often talk about
missing lessons and say they are behind with their work.
Where might you start, how would you work with this group and what sessions could you
plan?
My question was based on an article protecting our foster kids based on a documentary.
Here's the link to the article. They outlined the negative impact of filming social care for
both the caregivers, the service users and the viewers
https://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2015/jun/26/protecting-our-foster-kids
-bbc-tv-people-share-loss-pain-on-camera
My social work seniors
Biko helps our younger one…
Betty is a 79-year-old white Scottish woman who lives with her husband, James, in a
seaside town. Betty is a retired teacher, and up until the COVID-19 pandemic, spent most
days at the church. Betty has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and has been referred to
social work for an assessment of needs. Betty is nervous to speak with professionals; she
found lockdown hard, in part because she struggled to use Facebook and Zoom to attend
online meetings and congregations.
a) What do you think might be happening here?
b) How might you respond, as a social worker?
c) What are the important issues to consider?
Jasmine, age 17, who identifies as white Scottish non-binary, was involved in a traffic
accident in which they sustained serious head injuries. Jasmine lives with their mother
and 8-year-old brother, Raul. At the time of the accident, Jasmine was attending school,
where they were completing Highers (Scottish assessment). Jasmine led an active social
life, was involved with the LGBTI+ society and enjoyed water sports. Jasmine is having
to learn to speak and walk again and become familiar with new ways of socialising and
learning. Jasmine and their family are struggling with the adjustments.
a) What do you think are the important issues here?
b) How might the social work department be expected to address this situation?
c) Who might you, as a social worker speak to?
No written test...
Just interview
Group interview first
Afterwards individual interview
They will give you a top to discuss the contemporary issues of social work in the UK
I think I saw somewhere that you mentioned you were interviewing for Manchester Met.
Just focus on your experience in your interview
They’ll ask personal questions about that
And ask you to give examples of situations
MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY
Literacy Test Essay Questions: Social Work (BA / PGDip / MA)
September 2022
Please select ONE of the following statements. Please write your response to the
a statement explaining your views and opinions on the subject, as they relate to your
application to study Social Work.
You need to write your answer paying particular attention to grammar, spelling
and sentence construction as these will be assessed in the marking of your work.
You must submit your work. Do not ask a third party to write your answer for you.
We also run similarity checks so do ensure you use your own words and reference, if
appropriate.
Please refer to the ‘resources’ included below before answering one of the
following questions:
1. Demonstrating empathy to service users is an important social work value. How
can social workers use empathy in their daily practice?
2. Please discuss why social workers should have an awareness of the impact of
poverty in society, to practice well.
3. It is important that social workers work in close partnership with service users,
can you explain why this is important for social work practice? Please provide
examples in your answer.
(Social work value: the importance of human relationship)
4. What communication skills are necessary for effective social work practice
and why are these important? Please provide examples in your answer.
5. The Values of Social Worker
6. Safeguarding, Care acts, Mental (Intentional Favor)
Your answer should be at least 600 words.
Resources:
1. ‘What is social work? Children and Families’ SCIE video:
https://www.scie.org.uk/socialcaretv/video-player.asp?guid=21895466-9eeb-4eb9-
bbb2-14ea639d5d8a
2. ‘Personalisation- Making it happen. The Social Worker’s View SCIE video:
https://www.scie.org.uk/personalisation/practice/social-workers/making-it-happen
3. You may also wish to refer to the Professional Capabilities Framework - Point of Entry
to Training:
https://www.basw.co.uk/system/files/resources/pcf-entry.pdf
ORAL INTERVIEW
Your understanding of SW
Values of sw
Skills of a social worker
What knowledge have you gathered in preparation for the course (they would have sent
some materials you can read)
Your understanding of the anti-discriminatory practice
It
Why Greenwich
How do u handle stress
Discuss a time u have had a conflict with a person and what u learnt from d experience
Emperor:
Greenwich is a good University.
As per the interview, you can search through the group by entering keywords like
"Greenwich" "Social Work Interview" "Interview" etc you will get answers to your
question.
Then, try to go through your SoP and digest it because they might ask you questions
about it. Read relevant literature on SW as well.
Good luck.
GREENWICH
Part I: Group Exercise
You and three other social work applicants will be asked to consider a hypothetical social
work scenario or contemporary issue. You will need to draw on your understanding
and/or experience of social work/social care in your response. Where possible you should
try to reach a consensus with your fellow applicants.
Part II: Individual Interview
Verbal Presentation
Please prepare a five-minute verbal presentation about a piece of work you have carried
out with a person with social care needs. Your presentation should analyse and discuss
the following points:
The type of work undertaken
The aims of the piece of work
The key issues at the heart of the work
The success of the aims
Your contribution as a team member within or outside of the organisation
Your strengths and how you demonstrated anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive
practice.
Interview Questions
Interviews for this programme will take place online.
The questions will relate to the requirements of the Professional Capabilities Framework
(PCF) – specifically to the Entry to Qualifying Programmes from the British Association
of Social Workers. These include:
Understanding and knowledge of social work issues
Understanding of anti-discriminatory practice
Diversity and values
How you promote rights and justice with an ability to engage with people with empathy
Critical reflection
Professionalism
An ability to show leadership
Suitability and preparedness to undertake professional social work training.
For more information, please visit the British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
website.
Good morning all,
How can one support a lesbian that's discriminated against
Shabi na UK u want to go tell 14 years in prison? Besides who has arrested Bobrisky and
his colleagues? U think the Nigerian gov't is willing to jail them? Do u know what they
stand to lose from U.S. U.K. and those big countries if they hear they arrested a gay?
Hmmm
ANS:
Nigeria no gets protective laws against the LGBTQ community ooh, nah 14 years dem go
get. Although they did a protest in Abuja, we did not Sabi the outcome. Instead, you
could speak to Psychological interventions and support counselling for them, to build
their resistance and coping mechanisms.
Services for abandoned children plus follow up
Just be very confident. You can ask things like how long it takes for them to get back
from you or when you start placement and where the placements might be. Just ask
reasonable formal questions that are not on their website as a student looking forward to
starting the course. You can ask for start dates etc if they are not specified on their
website.
As for the interview, just be fluent with the reasons why you want to be a social worker,
know the relevant skills, and know some social work books/journals.
Some work experience relevant to social work. They sometimes ask about a scenario etc
Explain the concept of INEQUALITY and ANTI DISCRIMINATION In Social work
Give examples, instances
