Social work bursary: Application form and instructions for students on part-time undergraduate courses

Business Services Authority Application pack Academic year 2008-09 Social work bursary: Application form and instructions for students on part-time undergraduate courses If you require the bursary application pack in a different format such as large print or Braille etc, contact the Social Work Bursary department. Contents Where to find out more about funding 2 Eligibility 4 How the bursary works 7 What you can expect from us 9 Financial assistance 10 Change of circumstances 11 Your questions answered 12 Contacts 14 How to complete the application form 15 Introduction The social work bursary is administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) on behalf of the Department of Health, who fund and set policy for the bursary. Although the bursary is administered by the NHSBSA, it is not an NHS bursary. The bursary is administered under the Care Standards Act, which is the legislation authorising the NHSBSA to distribute public funds within the context of the bursary. The bursary scheme also adopts certain elements of the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2008. However, the scheme is not legally bound by these regulations. An application must be submitted each year. The application form follows these instructions. The deadline for bursary applications is 28 February 2009. The Department of Health introduced the bursary as an incentive to train in social work. The bursary package is non-income assessed.* Unlike funding from Student Finance Direct, which is intended to assist with the cost of living, the bursary grant can be used towards study-related expenses and/or for any legal purpose you deem appropriate. *This means we will not take into consideration such things as your (or any other person s) earnings, savings, dependants, mortgage or rent income, disabilities, special needs or any other similar factors Application instructions page 1 of 15

Where to find out more about funding Various care councils in the United Kingdom (UK) offer support to students studying social work. Social care is a policy area devolved to each country. As a result, the NHSBSA does not have policy responsibility for the funding of students from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. You can find contact details for the social care organisations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on page 14. My residence* My higher education institution (HEI) is in The part-time course I am studying is Whom do I contact about possible funding? England England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland Undergraduate NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) Scotland England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland Bursaries are not available to undergraduates Not applicable Wales England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland Undergraduate Care Council for Wales Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Part-time courses are currently not available in Northern Ireland N.B. The five local Education and Library Boards (ELBs) administer the normal statutory education support provision. Please contact your local ELB for funding advice (Table continued on next page) *The country in which you were living before you started any part-time higher education. If you have not yet started a part-time higher education course, it is the country in which you are normally living Application instructions page 2 of 15

My residence* My higher education institution (HEI) is in The part-time course I am studying is Whom do I contact about possible funding? Northern Ireland England, Scotland or Wales The Northern Ireland scheme is not available to any Northern Ireland domiciled student studying on any social work course outside Northern Ireland N.B. The five local Education and Library Boards (ELBs) administer the normal statutory education support provision. Please contact your local ELB for funding advice European Union England Undergraduate (tuition fee support only) Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) All information contained in this funding table was correct at the time of publishing but may change. Please check our website at www.ppa.org.uk/swb for the most current version of this table. *The country in which you were living before you started any part-time higher education. If you have not yet started a part-time higher education course, it is the country in which you are normally living V1 3/07 Application instructions page 3 of 15

Eligibility You must meet both the residency criteria and the other eligibility criteria to be eligible for a bursary. Residency criteria If you are studying on a part-time undergraduate course, you may be eligible to apply for funding from your English local authority (LA). If you choose to apply to your English LA and they award you with a 2008-09 financial notification, you have met the residency criteria for a bursary. If you choose not to accept English LA funding you must meet the following residency eligibility criteria. To be eligible for a bursary, you must be ordinarily resident in England on the first day of the academic year. You must also meet all the residency rules in the UK or one of the residency rules outside the UK. Academic year dates For the purpose of all residency conditions, the academic year starts on: 1 September for a course starting in the autumn term; or 1 January for a course starting in the spring term. Ordinarily resident You must be ordinarily resident in England on the first day of the academic year in which your course first starts. If you have moved to England just to start your part-time course, you will be considered ordinarily resident in the country from where you have moved and not ordinarily resident in England. We cannot award you with a bursary and you should refer back to the table in Where to find out more about funding on page 2. Residency rules in the UK You must meet both rules on the first day of the academic year in which your course first starts. You must have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years immediately before the start of the academic year. You are not treated as living abroad if you are: a member of the armed forces (this also includes your spouse and children); a student taking a gap year; or temporarily employed abroad. If you are temporarily employed abroad, your work contract must state temporary contract. You must have settled status, which means you must be settled in the UK within the meaning of the Immigration Act 1971. (This includes British citizens and applicants with indefinite leave to remain or right of abode.) Residency rules outside the UK You must meet one of the following rules. You, your spouse/civil partner or your parents are UK nationals who have returned from work in another member country of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and have got a job in the UK, and you have been living in the EEA for the three years before the first day of the academic year in which your course first starts. You, your spouse/civil partner or your parents are from an EEA country or Switzerland and you can show that you, your spouse or either of your parents has migrant worker status and you have been living in the EEA or Switzerland for the three years before the first day of the academic year in which your course first starts. Application instructions page 4 of 15

You, your spouse/civil partner or your parents are from Switzerland or an EEA country, work in England and return to a residence in Switzerland or an EEA country at least once a week and you have been living in the EEA or Switzerland for the three years before the first day of the academic year in which your course first starts. You, your spouse/civil partner or your parents are recognised by the British Government as a refugee and have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man since you were informed of your refugee status. You, your spouse/civil partner or your parents have been granted leave to enter or remain in the UK by the Home Office, and you have been living within the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years before the first day of the academic year in which your course first starts. If you are claiming a social work bursary as the spouse or civil partner of someone who has been granted refugee status or leave to enter or remain, you must have been their spouse or civil partner at the the time of their application for asylum. From 1 September 2007, if your Home Office papers confirming your refugee status or leave to enter or remain have an expiry date, your eligibility for support will cease at the end of the academic year in which the relevant status expires, unless further leave is granted. Residency rules for European Union (EU) nationals To be eligible for a bursary EU nationals must have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years immediately before the first day of the academic year in which their course starts, and 51 per cent of those three years must have been in England. If you do not meet any of the other residency rules, you may still be eligible for help with your tuition fees from us or the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). For information on where to find out more about funding, please refer to page 3. Other eligibility criteria You must meet all criteria. You do not already hold a higher education social work qualification, including the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW), awarded by the GSCC, the SSSC, the Care Council for Wales, the NISCC or the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW, the predecessor to the GSCC). You are entering or already studying on a social work course that has been approved by the General Social Care Council (GSCC), the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), the Care Council for Wales or the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC). You can find a list of GSCC-approved degree courses on the GSCC website at www.gscc.org.uk You are studying on a college-based course and you are not receiving any of the following support from an employer: any paid time off to allow you to attend your studies; payment of all or part of your tuition fees; payment from a practice learning provider for undertaking placement duties for them:* funding through the Department of Health s National Training Strategy Grant; and/or any other form of support to assist with your social work training. *With the exception of a contribution from your practice learning provider towards your travel expenses that are incurred as a direct result of undertaking your placement duties for them. V1 3/07 Application instructions page 5 of 15

You are studying on a college-based course and if receiving a retainer, the retainer meets all of the following criteria: the retainer is offered as an incentive to engage in employment with the retainer provider once the recipient qualifies as a social worker, and not as support towards the recipient s social work training; the retainer is a documented contractual agreement between the retainer provider and the recipient. The contractual agreement indicates the recipient s liability for paying back the retainer to the provider if they do not successfully complete their social work training and/or engage in employment with the retainer provider on qualifying as a social worker; the recipient is not and will not be engaged in employment, be contracted to, on a temporary assignment with or seconded to the organisation(s) providing the retainer, throughout the recipient s social work training; and the retainer is not funded from the Department of Health s National Training Strategy Grant. You are studying on a college-based course and you are not receiving funding from a publicly funded body. Note: Funding through Student Finance Direct, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills Access to Learning Fund, government benefit agencies and bursaries from your higher education institution (HEI) is excluded. Employment-based courses You are not eligible for a bursary if you are studying on an employment-based course, including direct Open University courses, regardless of whether your social care employer is supporting you. This applies to all students applying for a bursary for the first time from the 2004-05 academic year. GSCC-approved employment-based degree courses are listed on the GSCC website at www.gscc.org.uk If you are still unsure if you are or will be enrolled on an employment-based course, please confirm directly with your HEI. If you are eligible to apply for a social work bursary or for help with your tuition fees from the NHSBSA, please complete the application form that follows these instructions to have your eligibility assessed. Joint discipline courses If you are studying on a joint discipline course that includes social work, you must apply to the NHS Student Grants Unit for a bursary. For more information visit their website at www.nhsstudentgrants.co.uk Application instructions page 6 of 15

How the bursary works These instructions and the appropriate application form are for students studying on an approved part-time undergraduate social work course. We define you as a part-time student from your course attendance pattern designated by your HEI. If you are following an Accreditation of Prior (Experimental) Learning (AP(E)L) route as an associate, we do not consider you a part-time student and you cannot apply for a bursary. If you are studying on a full-time undergraduate, or part-time postgraduate course, please refer to our website at www.ppa.org.uk/swb to download the correct application pack. You need to complete and post us an application form if you are: a first-time applicant; currently receiving the bursary; or re-applying after having received the bursary (in full or in part) and then interrupted your studies. Step 1 Familiarising yourself with the parttime social work bursary Make sure you have read the instructions and the application form in full before completing the application. Step 2 Meeting the eligibility criteria There are two ways you can meet the residency criteria: If you are studying on a part-time undergraduate course, you can apply to your English LA for funding. They will carry out your residency eligibility assessment. If you do not wish to apply for English LA funding, you must make sure you meet the residency eligibility criteria. Make sure you meet the other eligibility criteria described on pages 5 and 6. Applying to your English LA If you are studying on a part-time undergraduate course, you may be eligible for funding from your English LA. It is not mandatory to apply to your English LA to receive a part-time social work bursary. If you apply for funding from your LA or with Student Finance Direct using their application form, you may be asked to declare any bursary you are applying for or receiving from the NHS or the Department of Health. This question does not relate to the social work bursary and therefore you only need to declare a bursary or award from the NHS and/or the Department of Health if it is not the social work bursary. If you apply for English LA funding, please send your original English LA 2008-09 financial notification to us, either with your bursary application or once you receive it. If you have been assessed as not eligible for English LA funding, send your original assessment letter from your English LA stating this with your application. If you have been assessed as not eligible because you have received English LA support for a previous higher education course, please send your original assessment letter for the previous course with your application. If you do not have a copy, please contact your English LA to request this, which you will need to post with your application. For an explanation of why we need your 2008-09 financial notification refer to the section Your questions answered on page 12. V1 3/07 Application instructions page 7 of 15

Step 3 Completing the application form Fill in the part-time social work bursary application form. Make sure you answer all the questions. Make sure the name you use on the application is the name that you have used to apply to your English LA and your HEI. Different names or formats of names is likely to cause a delay in processing your application and payments. Additional evidence for first-time bursary applicants If this is the first time you are applying for a social work bursary and you are not applying to your English LA for funding, you will need to provide evidence of your residency, such as your birth certificate or passport. If you meet one of the residency rules outside the UK on pages 4 and 5, you may also need to provide original Home Office documentation to support your application. Other evidence for first-time bursary applicants The Social Work Bursary department only accepts original evidence. We do not accept photocopied, faxed or emailed evidence. We highly recommend that you post all original evidence by special delivery and include a self-addressed pre-paid special delivery envelope so that we can return your documents. Posting documents using special delivery will enable you to track your post. We will return all original documentation to you within four weeks. If you do not include a pre-paid special delivery envelope we will return them by normal post. Step 4 Checking your application Check your application for completeness and accuracy using the checklist on the back page of the application form. An incomplete application will delay processing. You may wish to keep a copy of your application form for your own records Please also keep the application instructions. Step 5 Posting your application Post your application to us before the closing date of 28 February 2009. Make sure that you pay the correct postage or your application may not reach us. Post your application as soon as you have completed it in full, even if you have not received your English LA 2008-09 financial notification. Step 6 Notification of application outcome You are not eligible for the bursary until you have received the bursary notification letter. Until the assessment of your application is complete we cannot advise you of your eligibility. We can only advise you of the criteria you must meet. The outcome of your assessment is confirmed only by letter, which we will post to you. For dates of when you can expect to receive your letter, refer to page 9. Step 7 Payment of your bursary For payment dates see page 9. All payments will be made by Banks Automated Clearing System (BACS). You will need a UK-based bank or building society account in your name. Your account must be able to accept direct credits. If you re not sure it does, check with your bank or building society. Application instructions page 8 of 15

What you can expect from us Get your application in early to prevent delays in payment of your bursary. We will send you a letter telling you if you are entitled to a bursary, and the amount you are entitled to. We will normally deal with your application within 20 working days of the date we get your application form. If you have not heard from us after five weeks, please call the Social Work Bursary department. Do not post another application without speaking to us first. If your application is incomplete, we will normally deal with your application within 5 working days of receiving the information or evidence we need. Re-assessment A re-assessment occurs when you have already received a payment and there is a change in your circumstances that alters your eligibility and/or we require additional evidence that may affect your financial entitlement. If we are required to re-assess your application we will write to you with the outcome. We normally deal with re-assessments within 5 working days of receiving the complete information and/or evidence we need. Payments The bursary is paid in three instalments: The first instalment will be paid when your application has been assessed as eligible and no later than 30 working days from the date we receive confirmation of course enrolment and attendance from your HEI, or 30 working days from the date of your bursary notification letter, whichever is the later. The second instalment will normally be paid by 16 January 2009. The third instalment is normally paid in April. V1 3/07 Application instructions page 9 of 15

Financial assistance Basic grant If you started* a part-time undergraduate course before the academic year 2006-07, or your HEI has not moved to the variable tuition fees system, we will offer you the grant rate below, which is paid in three instalments. Students studying part-time at a London-based HEI Up to 1,737.50 for a 52-week period. Students studying part-time at an HEI outside London Up to 1,537.50 for a 52-week period. We will also pay your tuition fees directly to your HEI after 1 December 2008 (1 March 2009 for winter start courses). If you withdraw before this date, we are not responsible for any tuition fee payment. We will pay the balance of tuition fees not covered by your English LA up to 1,255 You do not need to take out the tuition fee loan from the Student Loans Company. If you started* a part-time undergraduate course in the academic year 2006-07 or later, and your HEI has moved to the variable tuition fees system, we will offer you the grant rate below, which is paid in three instalments. Students studying part-time at a London-based HEI Up to 2,487.50 for a 52-week period. Students studying part-time at an HEI outside London Up to 2,287.50 for a 52-week period. You are responsible for paying your tuition fees. You can choose to use the basic grant towards your fees or you may be eligible for tuition fee support from your English LA. Practice learning opportunity (placement) The basic grant includes a fixed contribution of 287.50 towards your placement travel expenses from your term time address to your placement agency, and vice versa. It is expected that the agency offering your placement will contribute towards the travel costs incurred while carrying out your placement duties. A contribution of this nature will not affect your entitlement to the bursary. *As individual circumstances vary, the information on this page is provided as a guide only. The NHSBSA may use its discretion during the assessment of your application to determine which grant rate you will receive Application instructions page 10 of 15

Change of circumstances If your circumstances change at any time after you have submitted your application, you must tell us immediately in writing. This includes but is not limited to: your address and contact details; any change of course, regardless of whether it is at the same HEI; any change of HEI; change of main campus; change of course attendance pattern (full-time or part-time); change of social care employment; withdrawal, suspension, deferral or interruption from your course, regardless of whether you intend to return; being unable to attend your course for any reason where it exceeds 15 calendar days; any change to the account you want your payments made to;* and gaining support from your social care employer or another publicly funded body (excluding Access to Learning Fund, government benefit agencies and bursaries from your HEI). Minimise debt, fees and charges If your circumstances change after you have submitted a bursary application, you must inform us. It is your responsibility, not that of your HEI, to inform us of any changes to your circumstances (although we will verify the details you provide with your HEI). If we do not receive notification in writing from you of your withdrawal, suspension, deferral or interruption from your course (regardless of whether you are planning to return to the course) within 28 calendar days of the withdrawal, suspension, deferral or interruption date (we use the date according to your HEI), in addition to the overpayment itself you will also be required to pay all reasonable fees and charges incurred by the NHSBSA in recovering the overpayment. Fees incurred by the NHSBSA can be up to 35 per cent of the overpayment. By signing the applicant s declaration on the bursary application form, you agree that you will pay any overpayment and, if applicable, all reasonable fees and charges. We cannot take responsibility for delays with an assessment or payment which arise from your failure to notify us of changes. *If you request that payments be made into a different account, do not close the previous account to which payments were made until you receive a bursary payment into the different account. Depending on the timing of your request and bursary payment cycles, it is possible that bursary payments may be paid into your previous account even after you have notified us of the change of account V1 3/07 Application instructions page 11 of 15

Your questions answered Why do you need my original 2008-09 financial notification from my English LA? You can choose to apply to your English LA even if you choose not to take out a student loan. Your English LA will carry out your residency eligibility assessment and confirm your entitlement to tuition fee support. I am not eligible for any funding from my English LA. Am I still eligible for a bursary? You do not have to apply to your English LA for funding to receive a part-time social work bursary. However, it is worth contacting your LA, as their assessment process may have changed. If this is your first time applying for a bursary and you are not applying for LA funding, you will need to supply evidence to prove you meet the residency criteria for a bursary. I am moving to England from another part of the UK to start my course. Am I eligible for a bursary? No, you will not be eligible for a bursary if you have moved to England only to take up your position on a part-time course. Please refer to Where to find out more about funding on pages 2 and 3 for details of your relevant funding organisation. I need to undertake a study year I have already attempted. Am I eligible for funding? The bursary is intended as a one-time incentive for each study year of the established course structure. The bursary is not available to students who undertake all or part of a study year they have already attempted, regardless of whether the study year is undertaken on the same course or another course. Am I eligible for the income-assessed bursary? No, as a student studying on a part-time course, you are not entitled to any other bursary that we offer. Only students studying on an approved postgraduate course are eligible to apply for the income-assessed bursary. I am a student with dependants. Will I receive more money? No, the social work bursary is not incomeassessed. This means we will not take into consideration such things as your earnings, savings, dependants, mortgage or rent payments, disability, special needs or any other similar factors. What is a civil partnership? Civil partners are now treated in line with married couples for student support purposes. Cohabiting same-sex partners who are not in a civil partnership will be treated in the same way as cohabiting opposite-sex partners. Will the social work bursary have an impact on any other benefits? English LAs will take the social work bursary into account when assessing part-time students. The bursary may also affect your entitlement to other benefits and allowances. If you are awarded a bursary, it is your responsibility to inform any appropriate organisations from which you are receiving benefits or allowances. For example, if you are awarded a bursary and you are receiving housing or council tax benefit, you must inform your LA. Application instructions page 12 of 15

Do I have to pay back the bursary? You will not have to pay back the bursary unless you receive an overpayment. This can occur if you experience one of the circumstances listed in section D of the Applicant s declaration on page 13 of the form. It is your responsibility to inform us in writing immediately if you experience one of these circumstances. An overpayment of the bursary* is calculated by dividing the bursary awarded by 365 days. This figure is then multiplied by the number of days you were in attendance. This figure is then subtracted from any bursary payments received. The difference is the overpayment due. If you have an overpayment and you are entitled to further payments of the bursary, these will be used to offset the overpayment. You may still be required to pay back money if any further entitlement does not cover the overpayment. The NHSBSA can only accept payment of an overpayment by cheque or BACS. Otherwise recovery of an overpayment is referred to our debt collection agency. Am I entitled to a payment of the bursary if I stop my studies? You will be entitled to a payment for the days you were in attendance on the course. *If you are assessed against the grant rate of 2,487.50 or 2,287.50 and you receive an overpayment, this will be calculated on the full bursary even if you used all or part of it towards your tuition fees V1 3/07 Application instructions page 13 of 15

Contacts If you have any questions about the bursary that are not answered in these instructions or on our website, contact the Social Work Bursary department: NHS Business Services Authority Social Work Bursary Sandyford House Archbold Terrace Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 1DB Tel: 0845 610 1122 Fax: 0191 203 5507 Email: swb@ppa.nhs.uk Web: www.ppa.org.uk/swb Other helpful contacts Social work careers helpline Tel: 0845 604 6404 Web: www.socialworkcareers.co.uk NHS Student Bursaries Hesketh House, 200-220 Broadway, Fleetwood, Lancashire FY7 8SS Tel: 0845 358 6655 Fax: 01253 774490 Email: Enquiries@nhspa.gov.uk Web: www.nhsstudentgrants.co.uk General Social Care Council Goldings House, 2 Hay s Lane, London SE1 2HB Tel: 020 7397 5100 Fax: 020 7397 5101 Email: info@gscc.org.uk Web: www.gscc.org.uk If you live elsewhere in the UK, contact the social care regulatory council in your country. Scottish Social Services Council Compass House, 11 Riverside Drive, Dundee DD1 4NY Tel: 0845 60 30 891 Fax: 01382 207215 Email: enquiries@sssc.uk.com Web: www.sssc.uk.com Care Council for Wales Student Funding Team South Gate House, Wood Street, Cardiff CF10 1EW Tel: 0845 070 0249 Fax: 029 2078 0674 Minicom: 029 2078 0680 Email: studentfunding@ccwales.org.uk Web: www.ccwales.org.uk Northern Ireland Social Care Council (social work course enquiries) Seventh Floor, Millennium House, 19-25 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7AQ Tel: 028 9041 7600 Fax: 028 9041 7601 Email: info@niscc.n-i.nhs.uk Web: www.niscc.info Social Services Inspectorate (Northern Ireland) (funding enquiries) Student Supporting Scheme, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SQ Tel: 028 9052 0500 Web: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk Department for Education and Skills European Team PO Box 89, Darlington DL1 9AZ Tel: 0141 243 3570 Email: EU_Team@slc.co.uk Web: www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport Application instructions page 14 of 15

How to complete the application form Important note The application form is for the social work bursary only. To apply for registration onto the English Social Care Register, you will need to contact the General Social Care Council. Their contact details can be found at page 14 or by visiting www.gscc.org.uk Completing the form read the application instructions before completing the form. Use blue or black ink and write clearly in CAPITAL LETTERS. Do not use pencil. Answer all questions in full, even if you have previously supplied the details. Use the space in section 8 if you need to continue any of your answers. If your application is incomplete or does not include the evidence we request, processing will be delayed and payments may be delayed. If you need help If you need help or have any questions about completing the form, you can phone our enquiry line on 0845 610 1122 V1 3/07 Application instructions page 15 of 15

Social work bursary: Academic year 2008-09 Application form for students on part-time undergraduate courses 1 Your details 1.1 About you Are you currently receiving or have you ever received a bursary (in full or part) from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), General Social Care Council (GSCC) or the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW)? No Yes Give details Your bursary reference number 2 Your bursary reference number begins with a 2. It is not your GSCC registration number. Surname or family name First name Other names Use your legal name, which you should also use when applying to your higher education institution (HEI) and local authority (LA). Previous names Date of birth DD / MM / YYYY This will help us to locate your file if you have changed your name since you last applied. Residential address All correspondence will be sent to the address you give here. Town/city Postcode Daytime phone number ( ) Mobile phone number Email This helps us contact you more quickly and may prevent processing delays. Title Mr Mrs Other Ms Miss Marital status Single Married Widowed Divorced Civil partnership Separated Cohabiting Date of marriage/registration of civil partnership DD / MM / YYYY Refer to page 12 of the application instructions for the definition of civil partnership. Application form page 1 of 15

1 Your details continued 1.2 Qualifications Do you have any degrees, diplomas or other qualifications at higher education level? No Yes Give details below Name of qualification Subject Date awarded HEI / / Do not include your A-Level qualifications. / / / / / / Application form page 2 of 15

2 About your part-time undergraduate course 2.1 Course details Full name of social work course Is the course employment-based or college-based? College-based Employment-based Is the course full-time or part-time? Part-time Full-time Download and complete the full-time application pack. If you are unsure, check with your HEI admissions department. Placements are an essential component of your study and do not necessarily mean you are on an employment-based course. If you are unsure about what type of course you are studying, refer to page 6 of the application instructions. Type of qualification you will gain BA BSc Other Give details 2.2 HEI details where you will be or are studying Name of your HEI Address This is your teaching institution. Town/city Postcode 2.3 Study details Date you intend to start or first started your course MM / YYYY When do you expect to complete your course? MM / YYYY Year of course you are studying in the academic year 2008-09 1st year 2nd year 3rd year 4th year Other Give details 2.4 Repeat study Will you need to complete any social work modules from a previous year in the academic year 2008-09? No Go to to section 3 Don t know Inform us in writing of details when you know go to section 3 Yes Go to section 3 - we may need to contact you about this Application form page 3 of 15

3 Payment method All payments are made by Banks Automated Clearing System (BACS). You must provide your account details by completing the BACS form below. We will not make payments to an account that is not in your name. The account must be in the UK, able to accept payments by direct credit and in the name of the bursary applicant. If you are unsure of these details, please check with your bank or building society. Payments by BACS mean you receive your money faster, provided that you supply the correct information. Please take time to complete this section carefully and write neatly, otherwise it may delay or prevent payments. Name account held in Account details Bank/building society name Branch address Town/city If you are unsure about any of these details, check with your bank or building society. If you miss out any details, your payments may be delayed. Postcode Bank/building society sort code Account number Roll or reference number Building society accounts only This is not your credit or debit card number and may include symbols and letters. Application form page 4 of 15

4 Applying to your English local authority 4.1 LA funding Have you applied or do you intend to apply for support through your English LA? No Go to section 5 Yes Give details at question 4.2 4.2 About your application to your English LA What is the status of your application to your English LA? Tick one of the options below I have applied and have received an English LA 2008-09 financial notification. Send your original English LA 2008-09 financial notification with your bursary application. Go to question 4.3 OR I have applied and I am waiting for the English LA s decision. Give details below. However, do not wait for your English LA assessment decision before posting your bursary application. Send your English LA 2008-09 assessment letter or 2008-09 financial notification, when you receive it. Name of English LA you applied to Date you applied DD / MM / YYYY Go to question 4.3 OR I have applied and I am not eligible for support. If you have been assessed as not eligible for English LA funding, send your original assessment letter from the English LA stating this with your application. If you have been assessed as not eligible because you have received LA support for a previous higher education course, send your original LA assessment letter for the previous course. If you do not have this, contact your LA to request a copy to send to us with your application. Go to question 4.3 OR I have not yet applied to my English LA. Do not wait for your English LA s decision. Post your bursary application now and send your original LA 2008-09 notification letter, when you receive it. 4.3 Other LA funding Have you applied or are you intending to apply for any other LA funding not covered at question 4.1? No Yes Give details Name of LA providing support Name of the grant, bursary, retainer or other support Dates of support From DD / MM / YYYY to DD / MM / YYYY Application form page 5 of 15

5 Other grants, bursaries, retainers or support Are you applying for any other grant, bursary, retainer or support not covered in section 4 as well as the social work bursary? No Yes Give details Name of organisation you are applying to If you need more space to give details, use section 8 of this application form. Name of the grant, bursary, retainer or other support Dates of support From DD / MM / YYYY Are you currently receiving any other grant, bursary, retainer or support not covered in section 4 as well as the social work bursary? No Yes Give details Name of organisation providing support to DD / MM / YYYY If you are applying for or receiving a retainer, you must complete a 2008-09 bursary retainer declaration. Contact the Social Work Bursary department for this. If you need more space to give details, use section 8 of this application form. Name of the grant, bursary, retainer or other support Dates of support From DD / MM / YYYY If you apply for or receive ANY other grant, bursary, retainer or support after you submit your application, you must inform us in writing. Career development loans do not affect your application for a bursary, but if we confirm your entitlement to a bursary, you are obliged to let your loan provider know. to DD / MM / YYYY If you are applying for or receiving a retainer, you must complete a 2008-09 bursary retainer declaration. Contact the Social Work Bursary department for this. Application form page 6 of 15

6 Your residency details Read pages 4-6 in the application instructions before completing this section. 6.1 Residency and nationality details What is your nationality? What is your country of birth? Date you came DD / MM / YYYY OR Not applicable to England Main reason you came to England OR Not applicable 6.2 LA funding Will you apply to an English LA for funding for 2008-09? Yes Go to section 7 No 6.3 The bursary in 2007-08 Did you receive the social work bursary in the academic year 2007-08? Yes Go to section 7 unless you are claiming migrant/frontier worker status, in which case you need to complete all of section 6 No 6.4 Time spent living outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man Have you ever lived outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man? No Yes Give details Date Country Main reason From To you lived in you lived there What was the main reason you returned to the UK? Application form page 7 of 15

6 Your residency details continued 6.5 Your residency status in the UK Tick the description of your or your relative s residency status in the UK and provide the evidence we ask for. For the purposes of this application, your relatives are: your spouse/civil partner; your parents; your step-parents; and your legal guardians. I am a UK national Send your original birth certificate or passport OR I am a European Union (EU) national Send your original birth certificate or passport OR I or any of my relatives are European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss national migrant/frontier workers Send: applicant s original birth certificate or passport; migrant/frontier worker s original evidence of three years employment history in the UK, dating back from 1 September 2008; and frontier worker s evidence of keeping a property in an EEA country or Switzerland. Who is the migrant/frontier worker currently working in the UK? You Your spouse Your civil partner Your parents Your step-parents Your legal guardians If you are the migrant/frontier worker, do you intend to continue working while you study? Yes No Please give employment details for you or any of your relatives who are working in the UK. Person who is working Employer Field of work Date started OR I am a non-uk national with the following status: I have settled status I or my relative has refugee status I or my relative has leave to enter or remain Expiry date of status DD / MM / YYYY OR No expiry date Post: your original birth certificate or passport; and any original Home Office documentation regarding your or your relative s status in the UK and the date it was awarded, and the date it expires if applicable. Application form page 8 of 15 You must receive settled status by the first day of the first academic year of your course, and the status must last for the duration of your course.

7 Employment details 7.1 Will you be employed in the social care sector during your course? No Go to section 9 Yes You must ask your line manager to complete the following declaration If you are receiving a retainer only, please refer to page 6 of the application instructions. 7.2 Social care employer s declaration to be completed by your employer Note to employers By completing this section you are confirming that the bursary applicant is your employee and is not receiving any of the following: sponsorship/support; any paid time off to allow them to attend studies; all or part of their tuition fees; any practice learning opportunity with pay or any other financial support; support through the Department of Health Training Support Grant; or any other form of support in order to assist with their social work training. The person who completes this declaration must be the applicant s line manager. If you have any questions contact us at: NHS Business Services Authority Social Work Bursary Sandyford House Archbold Terrace Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 1DB Tel: 0845 610 1122 Email: swb@ppa.nhs.uk Fax: 0191 203 5507 Web: www.ppa.org.uk/swb About the line manager completing this declaration Manager s surname or family name Manager s first name Manager s job title Title Mr Mrs Other Ms Miss About the applicant s social care employer Name of social care employer Address Town/city Postcode Contact phone number ( ) Application form page 9 of 15

7 Employment details continued About the employee Employee s surname or family name Employee s first name Employee s job title Give names to confirm that the applicant is the person employed by the organisation you represent. Type of employment Please tick the applicant s type of employment and give the information we ask for. Full-time/part-time Hours worked per week Permanent Contract Temporary Voluntary Declaration I declare that I am the line manager of the applicant named above and that the applicant is not receiving any support from the social care organisation named on page 9. I understand that if I give the NHS Business Services Authority false, misleading or incomplete information, the applicant named above may be refused financial support or any current financial support may be withdrawn resulting in an overpayment for the applicant and I may be prosecuted. I agree to be contacted by the NHS Business Services Authority so they can verify the employment status and any support arrangements of the applicant named above. Full name Signature Date DD / MM / YYYY Application form page 10 of 15

8 Additional space Use this space if you need to continue any of your answers Indicate clearly which questions you are continuing. If you need more space, continue on separate sheets of paper. Write your name and bursary reference number (if known) on each sheet and write the number of sheets you have included here. Attach these sheets securely to your application form. Application form page 11 of 15

9 Applicant s declaration Read this declaration carefully before signing it. If you choose not to sign it, we will be unable to process your application for the social work bursary. Third party authorisation Due to data protection, we are only able to discuss your bursary and other personal details with you and the organisations listed in section E on page 13. If you would like to authorise another person, such as a parent, to discuss your bursary, please fill in their details below. We will verify their details if the person contacts us. You must sign the applicant s declaration in order for the third party authorisation to take effect and to indicate that you have sought the person s permission for us to contact them. Third party s first name Third party s last name Third party s date of birth DD / MM / YYYY Relationship between you and the third party This will be used as a security question. A B C By signing this declaration I agree to the following conditions: I have read the application form and instructions in full and I will supply any additional information which might reasonably be required by the NHSBSA to verify the information I have given on this form. I will inform the NHSBSA immediately in writing of any change in circumstances that might affect my entitlement to financial support or the NHSBSA s records relating to me, including but not limited to: withdrawing, suspending, deferring or interrupting the course temporarily or permanently for any reason, regardless of whether I intend to return; changing my study pattern from full-time to part-time, or vice versa; being unable to attend the course for any reason where it exceeds 15 calendar days in total; changing the account I want my payments made to; changing address; or gaining support from a publicly funded body (excluding Student Finance Direct, Access to Learning Fund, government benefit agencies and bursaries from my HEI) or my social care employer. I accept that the NHSBSA will immediately terminate or suspend my funding if: I withdraw, suspend, defer or interrupt the course temporarily or permanently for any reason, regardless of whether I intend to return; I am unable to attend the course for any reason where it exceeds 15 calendar days in total; the NHSBSA determines at its absolute discretion that it is reasonable for it to do so; or I gain support from a publicly funded body (excluding Student Finance Direct, Access to Learning Fund, government benefit agencies and bursaries from my HEI) or my social care employer. Application form page 12 of 15

9 Applicant s declaration continued D E F G I will pay back to the NHSBSA immediately any excess payment and all fees and charges as described in the application instructions and determined by the NHSBSA as being due, in the event of the following circumstances: changing my study pattern from part-time to full-time; withdrawing, suspending, deferring or interrupting the course temporarily or permanently for any reason, regardless of whether I intend to return; being unable to attend the course for any reason where it exceeds 15 calendar days in total; being overpaid because I have failed to inform the NHSBSA of a change in my circumstances; an NHSBSA office error; where the NHSBSA at its absolute discretion determines that I have been given financial support to which I am not entitled; or gaining support from a publicly funded body (excluding Student Finance Direct, Access to Learning Fund, government benefit agencies and bursaries from my HEI) or my social care employer. To authorise the NHSBSA to share the information on this form, in compliance with the Data Protection Act (see page 12), with other organisations if necessary, including but not limited to: HEIs; LAs; organisations from which I am receiving benefits, bursaries, grants or support; NHSBSA software suppliers; the Home Office; HM Revenue & Customs; and any other persons or organisation the NHSBSA deems necessary. To inform organisations from which I am receiving benefits, such as my LA and the Department for Work and Pensions, that I have received a bursary. I understand and accept that if I fail to give sufficient notice of any change to my bank or building society account details, or provide incorrect details, the NHSBSA cannot take responsibility for payments made to an incorrect account, delayed payments or non-payment of the bursary. I understand and accept that the terms and conditions (including rates) of the bursary may change at any time without notice, and that the scheme is subject to continued government funding, which may cease at any time without notice. I declare that the information I have given on this form is true, complete and accurate. I understand that if I give the NHSBSA false, misleading or incomplete information, I may be refused financial support or financial support may be withdrawn and I may be prosecuted. Applicant s full name Applicant s signature Date DD / MM / YYYY Application form page 13 of 15