Is this course suitable for me?

This programme has been developed in conjunction with service users and carers, employers and practitioners and will provide practising and registered social workers who have been professionally qualified for a minimum of 6 months with the opportunity to consolidate deepen and extend their practice knowledge, skills and values and meet the requirements at the Specialist level in accordance with the General Social Care Councils new framework for post-qualifying training.

The social work specialist level awards form part of two new inter-professional post-qualifying degree programmes, the BA (Hons) Practice Development

Candidates with a Diploma of Higher Education (minimum 240 credits at levels 4 and 5) can use the course to make up the 120 credits necessary to be awarded the BA (Hons.) in Practice Development. Applicants who already have a first degree can study for the Graduate Diploma.

Modules are also available to those from other professions and to service-users and carers who can work at the appropriate academic level and have the work-based opportunities to integrate practice.

The Consolidation and Enabling Learning modules may be particularly attractive as stand-alone courses.

Overview

Both Adult and Children and Young Peoples Pathways will be offered on a modular basis offering maximum flexibility for part-time study. Most modules will require attendance on a weekly or fortnightly basis over a semester. University taught sessions will be supported by tutors, work-based and assessors and through the web-based interactive ëBlackboardí site.

Academic and practice learning and assessment will be fully integrated within all modules and there will not be a separate practice module or portfolio. All academic assignments will include practice-based evidence and students will be supported and assessed in practice by a PQ Practice Assessor. There will be three direct observations of practice based within the programme.

Service users and carers, employers and practitioners have been involved in the development of all the modules and will be supporting tutors throughout the learning and assessment process.

All students will study:

Consolidation (30 Credits)

This module will make use of University-based workshops to introduce candidates to PQ study, support their academic learning and enable identification and evidence of development of knowledge, skills and values in a specialist area of practice since qualification. The module is linked closely with practice-based induction standards, post-registration training and learning. Tutors and practice-based assessors will support candidates in practice to identify their learning pathway and practice evidence.

Two specialist practice modules will be offered. We are well known for running courses based on current themes and debates and all practitioners will study:

Professionals in a Changing World (15 Credits)

This module will consider the development of the studentís own social work practice in relation to the impact of philosophical, political and social construction concepts of childhood and family, welfare ideologies including the definition, identification and management of need and risk, the legal framework, government policy and guidelines and the structures, cultures, management and values of social welfare agencies and organisations working with children and families.

Theory and Values Changing Practice (15 Credits)

This module will provide candidates with the opportunity to deepen and extend existing post-qualifying learning and experience by critical examination of the values, theoretical and evidence-bases of social work practice with children and families and their effective application in relation to the student’s own practice.

Social work programmes at the University have a commitment to enabling primary practitioner research.

Research Project Changing Practice (30 Credits)

This research project will enable students to carry out a primary research project within their own work-based settings. The project is aimed at enhancing or developing practice and should also be of direct benefit for social work agencies.

The University have a long history of providing high quality practice assessing and mentoring courses both within social work and nursing.

Introduction to Enabling Learning and Mentoring (15 Credits)

This module will provide opportunities for practitioners to develop the basic knowledge and skills and values required in contributing to the teaching and assessment of learners and pre-qualifying students in the work-place.

Optional-module (minimum of 15 Credits)

Alternatively:

Enabling Learning and Mentoring (30 Credits)

This module is provided for those who rather than choosing a optional module wish to develop more in-depth skills in working with learners and provides the basis for those who wish to go on to take the full Practice Educator Award.

Further opportunities

All pathways will offer the opportunity for inter-professional study and form part of the inter-professional B.A. Practice Development.

How to make an application

Please download an application pack, or contact the Marketing and Recruitment Administrator on 01494 603 171 or ask@bucks.ac.uk