Graduate Story

Victoria Veale, BA (Hons) Social Work (Degree Apprenticeship)

When I began my journey with the university, a global pandemic was not on my list of things to watch out for! This meant most of my course was completed online. However, I feel my time at the university was as valid and useful as it will be for those starting their courses this year and in the future. The main strengths for me were the focus on social justice within the social work department. I always felt I was given space to reflect on what this means for me and my practice. 

Since graduating from the University of Suffolk I have been employed by Suffolk County Council as a social worker in Adult and Community Services. I am part of a learning disabilities and autism team that works with adults to get them out of long-term mental health hospital settings and back into the community. I am currently at the newly qualified stage of my career and recently was shortlisted for the Adult Newly Qualified Social Worker of the year in the Social Worker of the Year Awards 

I was part of the first cohort of apprentice social workers employed by Suffolk County Council with the University of Suffolk being the partner university. While I was employed during my degree, I still had to apply for social worker positions the same as anyone else on the course. The social work team at the university supported us all with an employability day and the offer of mock interviews as well.