School of Education and Social Work

FHEQ level

This course is set at Level 7 (Masters) in the national Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.

Course Aims

There is a long and successful tradition in the Social Work department of offering courses/modules and programmes in continuing professional development (CPD) for qualified social workers in children's services. Following the new framework for post-qualification education and training for social workers which the GSCC introduced in 2005, this programme is aimed at very experienced social workers who will previously have undertaken other forms of CPD. It enables candidates to gain a PQ Advanced Award alongside the academic MA through demonstrating GSCC standards and requirements for the Advanced Award.

This programme will enable candidates to further develop a comprehensive knowledge and critical understanding of issues related to their specialised and complex roles in children¿s services, which is rooted in recent research evidence. There is an opportunity to develop advanced skills in observing, assessing, communicating and intervening with children, young people, their families and carers. An in-depth critical inquiry project will provide an opportunity for candidates to develop and demonstrate a leading role in the practice field.

Those who previously took other forms of CPD such as PQ Child Care Award and PQ Specialist Award at Masters level (as a postgraduate certificate) will be able to join this MA programme with 60 credits as Advanced Standing (following the completion of a short verification report). That applies to all candidates who took those previous programmes at Sussex.

With the recent move to Integrated Children's Services it is recognised that practitioners from a range of disciplines need to learn together to develop effectiveness in their new role and multi-disciplinary configuration. This programme will offer such opportunities, taught alongside the MA in Effective Practice in Integrated Children¿s Services, with both based on key inter-disciplinary frameworks such as the DfES Common Core of skills and knowledge for the children's workforce.

Course Learning Outcomes

At the end of the programme, the successful student will be able to demonstrate they have met all of the following standards and requirements which have been set by the General Social Care Council for a PQ Advanced Award programme in Practice with children, young people, their families and carers. These concern both the values and professionalism of the practitioner in his or her own practice and also the knowledge and skills brought to bear on the social work role and task. They are set out as follows:

1. Candidates will have met the PQ Generic Requirements for an Advanced Award MA programme set by the GSCC [Qi-ix]
2. Candidates will have demonstrated that they have incorporated into their practice the Specialist Practice Standards for work with Children and Young People, their Families and Carers (set by the GSCC) [D1-10]
3. Candidates will have ensured that their practice promotes improved health, safety and wellbeing for children, young people, their families and carers, by following the guidance and standards set out in the 'Every Child Matters - Five Outcomes for Children' [B1-5], the Common Core of Skills & Knowledge for the Children's Workforce [A1-6] and the National Service Framework [H1,2,3,4,5,8,9]
4. Candidates will have demonstrated they are able to carry out the six key roles for social work set out in the National Occupational Standards for Social Work a(TOPSS/Skills for Care) [J1-6]
5. Candidates will have demonstrated that professional values set by the GSCC are embedded in their practice [E1-5]
6. Candidates will have operated in line with the GSCC Code of Practice for Employees [G1-6]

For information on the composition of this course please see either the on-line Undergraduate prospectus for undergraduate related courses or the on-line Postgraduate prospectus for postgraduate related courses.

More detailed information on the course structure and modules within this degree will be available on this page shortly.