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

Key developments in national policy have led to the reconfiguration and integration of public services at central and local government level. A new set of challenges have emerged for those now leading and managing multi-disciplinary 'Integrated Children's Services'. This has had implications for the induction, training, support, continuing professional development and career pathways of integrated children's services managers across all levels of Children and Young Peoples' Trust arrangements. Championing Children (DfES, 2006) clarifies how leaders and managers are needed who 'can build teams competent and confident in this (integrated) means of service delivery; who will put the child and family first; who can lead those from outside their own area of expertise; who can manage resources in new ways: and who can reconcile team members' different working practices and expectations' (DfES, 2006, p1). At the same time with the 2020 Children's and Young People's Workforce Strategy the Government has further promoted its aspiration to 'upskill' the children's workforce (see the (DCSF, 2008).

This programme of study will enable leaders and managers within children's services health, education and social care, studying alongside social work managers undertaking a different award, to develop the knowledge and skills needed for these new roles based on key inter-disciplinary frameworks. Work-based learning will be a significant feature of the programme, including Action Learning Sets and mentoring arrangements that challenge, support and provide coherence to the learning process in the context of the workplace. The course will run on a modular basis enabling participants to select the most relevant modules for their professional role and to take them in the order most useful for their development and their other professional commitments. For this reason which modules should be taken in which year of the programme are not pre-determined.

Course Learning Outcomes

At the end of the programme, the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate that they:

1. Have developed a comprehensive understanding of key principles of leadership and management (including the 'Ten Principles of Social Care Management' (Skills for Care)) and have incorporated these into their practice;
2. Have developed a comprehensive understanding of how to ensure their leadership and management practice promotes improved health, safety and wellbeing for children, young people, their families and carers, in line with guidance and standards set out in the 'Every Child Matters - Five Outcomes for Children', 'Championing Children', the Common Core of Skills & Knowledge for the Children's Workforce and the National Service Framework
3. Are able to critically evaluate, against the Generic Management and Leadership Standards set by the Management and Leadership Centre, their capacity to manage, support, mentor and develop staff, manage risk, and to plan and implement strategies for workforce development with multi-agency networks and professional and/or inter-professional teams;
4. Can systematically use relevant and up-to-date research evidence, reflection, critical analysis and independent critical judgement to inform leadership and management interventions and decisions;
5. Meet the academic standards for M level in the QAA framework.

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.