CPD in Social Work : Postgraduate study : Social Work and Social Care : University of Sussex

CPD Lead: Sharon Lambley

Our awards/modules in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) build on the best of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) endorsed awards. They have recently been updated to reflect the changes needed to support the new standards introduced by the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) and the expectations of the Health and Professional Care Council (HCPC) which replaced the GSCC in August 2012.

Sussex CPD awards:

build on social work qualifying courses and support practitioners to expand their knowledge and skills and improve on their critical practice in a range of challenging areas of work
enable group learning where possible
enable participants to build their academic credits over time towards an academic award
offer participants the opportunity to study modules from different Schools/Departments across the University
are informed by research and an understanding of practice issues from a range of perspectives, including that of services users
are committed to widening participation - plans are in place to develop distance learning opportunities
subscribe to the APL (Accreditation of Prior Learning) system, enabling participants to bring and build on previously earned academic credits from other institutions towards a full academic award from the University of Sussex

Awards and modules have been designed for newly qualified, as well as experienced, social workers. You will be taught by experts from a range of service areas, in addition to University faculty. Assessment is work-based, designed to be critically reflective and informed by the latest research. University-based training provides you with the critical frameworks needed to develop your own practice and to learn how to reflect. Learning is evidenced through accredited assessment.

In liaison with service users, carers, practitioners, managers and supervisors, we are currently developing modules for those working in adults services.

For social workers with 2-5 years of experience
These modules are designed for those working with children and familes specifically/only

Risk and Accountability
Communicating with Children
Effective Communication
Working with violence, substance misuse and mental health

For experienced social workers

Risk and Decision Making (for those working with children and families)
Supervising and Managing Professionals
Managing and Leading Change
Research Mindedness
Practice Education: 1 and 2
Dissertation

Fees

Each module is a step on a 'pathway' towards a full academic award.
There are three award categories (or pathways): Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Masters (MA).

There are five awards currently available:

Management & Leadership: Adults
Management & Leadership: Children & Families
Practice Education
Effective Practice: Adults
Effective Practice: Children & Families

You can undertake a single module at a time, building up the credits needed for a full academic award. Or you can sign up for a whole academic award. The appropriate number of credits must be accrued in order to gain the full academic award. Individual modules are priced at:

15 credit modules: £550
30 credit modules: £950

NOTE: 50 per cent of the required credits for each award must be from core modules, ie. if you were studying for a Postgraduate Certificate you would need 30 credits from one or more core modules and 30 from one or more optional modules.

Full awards are priced at:

Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits): £1,850
* a saving of £200 if undertaken as a whole award, rather than by individual modules
Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits): £3,700
* a saving of £400 if undertaken as a whole award
MA (180 credits): £5,500
* a saving of £650 if undertaken as a whole award

See Modules available in autumn 2013 and Modules available in spring 2014 for details of what modules run when.

Promotional flyers

Download these promotional flyers for more details about modules available to study, including what and how you will learn, teaching dates and dates of submission.

CPD Flyer: Effective Communication [PDF 57.88KB]

CPD Flyer: Leading and Managing Development and Change [PDF 60.10KB]

CPD Flyer: Practice Education Stage 1 [PDF 78.40KB]

CPD Flyer: Practice Education Stage 2 [PDF 61.72KB]

CPD Flyer: Research Mindedness [PDF 53.82KB]

CPD Flyer: Risk and Accountability [PDF 57.97KB]

CPD Flyer: Risk and Decision-Making [PDF 58.66KB]

CPD Flyer: Supervising and Managing Professionals [PDF 58.60KB]