Social Policy
Whether you're a new student starting your first assignment, further on in your studies, or starting a research project, this page will help you find and use the best information for your subject. You will also find resources to help develop your academic, study and digital skills.
If you can’t find what you need here, please contact your Academic Support Team: library-healthandsociety@salford.ac.uk
Key resources for Social Policy students
Books & Journals
The first place to look for books and journals is your reading list – you will find a link to this in your Blackboard modules. It lists all the core texts for your subject as recommended by your lecturers. all our other books and journals can be found in Library Search.
Databases
- Community Care Inform: Children: Contains expert-written, practice-related information, including: Guidance to key pieces of legislation Expert articles Practice guides It has been built with and for social workers and other professionals who work with children, young people and their families.
- Criminology Collection: This collection gives you access to information on crime, its causes and impacts, legal and social implications, as well as law enforcement and security services.
- Manchester Security, Conflict and Peace: Includes 61 books covering key issues and debates on international, regional and national security, domestic and international terrorism as well as conflict management and resolution and practices of peacebuilding.
- Newsstreams Newspapers: You can access local, regional and national newspapers from around the world.
- Social Policy Digest: The Digest provides a regularly up-dated, fully searchable, summary of policy developments and research findings across the whole range of social policy.
- Social Sciences Databases: This provides access to key UK and worldwide articles and research, including the Criminal Justice Database.
LinkedIn Learning
You have access to thousands of professionally produced online courses via LInkedIn Learning covering a wide range of technical, creative and professional skills.
You will find lots of courses including developing communication skills, managing professional relationships, fine tuning your digital skills or preparing for job interviews and so much more.
Access LInkedinLearning to have a look and take some courses.
Browse your Reading Lists

Your tutors select books, articles, videos and other resources for your reading lists and the Library buys them so you don't have to.
Find the lists for your modules in Blackboard, or in Library Search.
Referencing

APA 7th Edition is the main referencing style in use at the University. We've compiled an easy to follow list of guidebooks and examples to help you get to grips with complexities of referencing.
Newspapers

Newspapers are a valuable source of information. They provide insight into what interests and concerns people both now and in the past.
The Library provides some excellent newspaper sources that allow you to search simply and easily across many newspapers at once.
Dissertations and Theses

During the course of your studies, you may find that you need to search for dissertations or theses.
You can use Library Search to help you find them and there are a number of different ways to search, depending on what you want to find.
New Social Policy Students
Book a one to one
If you’ve tried our eLearning and classroom sessions and need more help, you can request a one to one appointment for information finding, academic and writing or digital skills. Select your chosen time slot and book on through Advantage.
FACE-TO-FACE - Information Search Skills 30 minute Appointment (Health & Society) 11 Dec 2023, 10:00 am
FACE-TO-FACE - Information Search Skills 30 minute Appointment (Health & Society) 11 Dec 2023, 4:00 pm
ONLINE - Information Search Skills 30 minute Appointment (Health & Society) 12 Dec 2023, 11:30 am
Book on a workshop
We offer a wide range of face-to-face skills training. If you need to improve your IT skills, learn how to find information for your assignments or improve your study skills this is a great place to start.
All workshops are bookable through Advantage by clicking on the workshop title. Where a session has no remaining spaces you can add yourself to the waiting list.
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Exam session [Online]
Starts: 20 Dec 2023, 4:00 pmFinishes: 20 Dec 2023, 5:00 pmVenue: MOS Exam - Certiport exam providerRemaining places: 11This is a one-hour online EXAM SESSION for MOS certification. At the time of booking, you must have scored over 70% in GMetrix's 'Testing' mode for your chosen application. Bookings not meeting this criterion will be cancelled.IT Essentials at Salford [Online]
Starts: 9 Jan 2024, 12:00 pmFinishes: 9 Jan 2024, 1:00 pmRemaining places: 99This workshop will introduce you to the main IT tools, resources and services you need to get started as a student at the University of Salford. This workshop will be delivered online.Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Exam session [Online]
Starts: 10 Jan 2024, 4:00 pmFinishes: 10 Jan 2024, 5:00 pmVenue: MOS Exam - Certiport exam providerRemaining places: 15This is a one-hour online EXAM SESSION for MOS certification. At the time of booking, you must have scored over 70% in GMetrix's 'Testing' mode for your chosen application. Bookings not meeting this criterion will be cancelled.