Working with Children and Families

This programme is ideal for anyone who wants to make a difference to the lives of children, young people and families. The programme will develop the knowledge and skills you need for a career across a range of professional areas, or for entry into further study. It has a number of distinguishing features including: an emphasis on interdisciplinary working; employability; internationalisation; research skills and social justice.

The work-related programme of study is designed to cover the key knowledge, understanding and practical skills required in the health and social care sectors. The programme facilitates opportunities for learners to apply their knowledge and practical skills in the workplace.

Interdisciplinary working: Each module explores how different professions would approach the area under study – supported by an interdisciplinary programme team including child care professionals; psychologists, youth workers, teachers. Wherever possible you are provided with opportunities to learn alongside students on other professional programmes enabling interprofessional learning. These features equip you with the knowledge, understanding, skills and experience to work in contemporary integrated practice settings.

Employability: The programme offers an excellent introduction to the wider children’s workforce and social care arena, the types of work within it and career routes that lie ahead. This keeps your career options open throughout the degree. You will gain a firm understanding of human development, issues of social justice, interdisciplinary professional practice and global perspectives. This provides a strong foundation to pursue careers across the workforce and supporting people at all ages and stages of their lives. There are modules dedicated to professional skill development and opportunities to engage with the real world of work ensuring that you are confident in your career choice at the end of the foundation degree or you may choose to continue your studies to complete a BA (Hons) Working with Children and Families at the Univesity of Cumbria. The programme is tailored to maximise your employability. As such the module content, activities and assessment tasks reflect real world of work contexts. In addition, as part of this programme you may have the opportunity to complete Safeguarding and First Aid training. Employability skills are mapped into each module, and the programme culminates with a career progression planning module to ensure you are secure in your next steps.

Internationalisation: The programme places considerable emphasis on an international curriculum, in the knowledge that this will strengthen your position as a practitioner potentially preparing you for work across the globe. Moreover, it prepares you for work in contemporary society. Global perspectives will be represented across the curriculum at all levels.

Social Justice: Consistent with the core values underpinning health and social care practice this programme promotes the social justice agenda and works from a strengths based or salutogenic approach valuing who people are, what resources they have and what they can do.

Research Skills in preparation for practice: Practitioners and academics within the wider children’s workforce and social care services need to be equipped to reflect, evaluate and gather evidence to demonstrate the efficacy of their provision. This programme prepares you for practice with bespoke research challenges at each level of study.

Work experience: To complement the learning in the university work experience at level 5 will equip you with the opportunity to integrate the knowledge, understanding and skills into tangible practice. The work experience will also support you to make an informed career choice at the end of the programme. This is an invaluable learning experience.

There is an option to study this as a Certificate in Higher Education at level 4.

Course Modules

Year 1 Perspectives in Human Development; Professional Skills with Children; Young People, Families and Communities; Social and Political Influences on Policy and Practice; Play and Creative Development in Diverse Contexts;Cultural and Historical Influences on Children, Young People and Families

Year 2 Researching and Evaluating Practice Equality; Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Oppressive Practice; The Internet, Media and Society; Identity, Personality and Social Justice; Innovative Approaches to Working with Children and Families

Assessment is entirely based on coursework and includes written assignments, project work, presentations, portfolios, blogs and discussions.