Jade Taylor
A Scottish Borders’ social worker with her ‘dream career’ thanks to a qualification from The Open University has spoken of its abilities to open doors for those unable to go to a traditional university.
Jade Taylor of Hawick has celebrated gaining her Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work, which has led to a job in the adult social work team at her local council.
And her success is not the first time that Jade has achieved her OU study goal. She previously completed her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Social Sciences degree with the university, all possible while living and working back home in the rural Scottish Borders.
Credit transfer to OU
This came after Jade had been poised to quit a city university. But thanks to a chance encounter with a customer in the phone shop where she then worked, Jade discovered not only The Open University, but also opportunities to transfer credit from studies she had already done.
I was awarded the credit transfer and managed to go straight into stage three at the OU, equivalent to third year of uni.”
Jade reflects: “After completing my first two years at a university in Edinburgh, I decided living in the city wasn’t for me and I was losing interest in my course due to money stress.
“So, I decided I was going to quit after completing my second year.”
However, on investigating the OU after her chance conversation, she says: “Luckily I was awarded the credit transfer – two years’ worth from my original university - and managed to go straight into stage three at the OU, which was the equivalent to third year of uni.”
Jade’s OU undergraduate studies were funded by a Part-Time Fee Grant and top-up funding from the OU. She achieved her degree while working full-time - and through the pandemic - for Scottish Borders Council as an Administration Assistant for Public Protection.
Working within public, adult and child protection sparked a large interest for Jade in social work, and she made “so many great connections within that field”.
Change of path
At her subsequent degree ceremony in Glasgow, she was cheered on by the staff member who had inspired her change of path.
Jade had since learnt, through a further chance encounter, that her random shop chat had been with the-then Head of Social Work in Scotland at the OU. “Had I not met her that day, I wouldn’t have finished my degree,” she says.
I am grateful to the OU for allowing me to have my dream career.”
Her first two years of university study resulted in the award of a diploma, and on building that up at the OU to achieve her social sciences degree, Jade says: “I don’t feel I am a great academic, and certainly wasn’t a straight A student.
“Whenever I see that certificate hanging on my wall I am just so proud of myself for completing those four years.”
And that degree was then the springboard to Jade’s postgraduate social work diploma.
Fast-forward to summer 2024, and Jade received her professional social worker registration.
Scottish Borders Council had sponsored her postgraduate studies, while simultaneously employing her as a social work trainee. They also granted her a study day each week.
Social work career
Now embarking on her new career, Jade advises “start” to anyone poised to begin an OU course. “Studying with the OU is something I have been lucky to do twice now,” she says.
"The support system in place for people studying remotely is amazing – your tutors and practice educators are always on hand to support you when you need it which is such a relief as it is so easy to become overwhelmed.
“The OU has the ability to open so many doors for people who are unable to go to a brick university and this is something I am keen to advocate for.
“For anyone who is considering the OU but feels it is too late in life, please take the leap and begin your studies as the sense of achievement at the end is more than worth it.
“I am grateful to the OU for allowing me to have my dream career.”
Adds Jade: “I am now just a few weeks off finishing my newly qualified year – in a team that I am so happy to be in.
“I am looking forward to the rest of my career and getting to learn to work with more complex scenarios and to delve into adult protection work.”
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