Cert (PG), 5 years part time
Subject overview
Social work at Sussex was ranked 1st in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2014, 2nd in the UK in The Complete University Guide 2014 and 4th in the UK in The Times Good University Guide 2013.
Our core research themes are pedagogy of professional education, policy and practice across the life-course, and professional knowledges and methodologies.
There is a developing portfolio of flexible study opportunities for practitioners from a wide range of disciplines, and for those interested in pursuing research qualifications. The MSc in Social Research Methods offers ESRC-recognised research training in social work research methods. Our thriving DSW and ESRC-recognised PhD degrees provide excellent opportunities for disciplinary and interdisciplinarity doctoral-level study.
Relationships with local social welfare agencies are excellent. Joint projects include development, training and research initiatives.
Programme outline
This degree is a 60-credit Postgraduate Certificate.
With the 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 multidisciplinary configuration. This degree will offer such opportunities, based on key interdisciplinary frameworks such as the DfE Common Core of skills and knowledge for the children’s workforce.
This shorter course will still support students’ continuing professional development.
Current modules
Please note that these are the core modules and options (subject to availability) for students starting in the academic year 2012.
Options
- ASYE Developing Professional Practice in Children's Services
- Developing the Professional Role through an Individual Action Learning Project
- Effective Assessment in the Multi-Disciplinary Context - M level
- Enabling Work-based Learning and Assessment (Higher Specialist)
- Enabling Work-based Learning and Assessment (Higher Specialist) Spring
- Supervision and Evaluation of Professional Learning
- Understanding Children - M level
ASYE Developing Professional Practice in Children's Services
15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
Developing the Professional Role through an Individual Action Learning Project
15 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, year 1
This module enables you to identify an issue, problem, knowledge gap, or service need relevant to your professional role which requires further exploration or development, and to formulate and carryout an individualised project to develop your practice, underpinned by appropriate academic theory and research evidence. The module enables you to develop and demonstrate your own capacity for autonomous, self-directed learning, critical self-reflection, and practice development or project management skills.
The process and content of the taught component of the module will be negotiable and defined by a proposal from your for the work-based learning activity.
You will be provided with an academic supervisor from the university and a workplace mentor will be negotiated with the your employer. You will be required to consult your academic supervisor and workplace mentor on the framing of your work-based projects, and during the progress of the learning or development work. A learning contract will be drawn up specifying responsibilities of all parties and time scales. Proposals will be approved by the academic supervisor and ratified by the Module Leader, prior to the you embarking on your contract.
Effective Assessment in the Multi-Disciplinary Context - M level
15 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, year 1
This module will enable you to further your knowledge and understanding of: particular frameworks for assessment used within children's services; decision-making processes and dynamics; and research findings which inform decision-making and planning. Its core focus is competent and effective professional practice that promotes and protects the well-being and welfare of children and young people.
For qualified social work practitioners the module also forms part of postqualifying awards in specialist social work with children and young people, their families and carers and enables registered practitioners to fulfil post registration training and learning requirements. It forms the second of four modules which make up the specialist core element of these programmes. It is taught and assessed at postgraduate Masters Level, and thus is suitable for those who gained their social work qualification at degree level and wish to pursue their PQ specialist award studies at postgraduate Masters level.
Enabling Work-based Learning and Assessment (Higher Specialist)
15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1
This module provides the core skills and underpinning critical knowledge necessary for good practice in the creation and support of workplace learning. It equips you to create appropriate workplace learning opportunities and to support the learning and development of others. It facilitates critical exploration of the role of the work-based assessor and supports the development of evidence informed practice in developing the competence of others.
Enabling Work-based Learning and Assessment (Higher Specialist) Spring
15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
Supervision and Evaluation of Professional Learning
15 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, year 1
This short module provides the core skills and underpinning critical knowledge necessary for good practice in the supervision and evaluation of professional competence in the context of the professional workplace. This equips you to contribute to the learning and development of others and to assess their competence against professional practice standards. The module provides you with the in-depth exploration of supervision, direct observation and assessment necessary for candidates undertaking the full role of practice educator.
Understanding Children - M level
15 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, year 1
This module will enhance your capacity to understand children holistically from a range of perspectives, including child development, psychodynamic and attachment theories. An experiential child observation exercise is at the heart of the module. Your main focus will be on competent and effective professional practice that promotes and protects the well-being and welfare of children and young people.
The module will prepare practitioners from any setting for practice in the integrated children's workforce. For qualified social work practitioners the course also forms part of post-qualifying awards in specialist social work with children and young people, their families and carers, and enables registered practitioners to fulfil post-registration training and learning requirements. The module is also suitable for those who gained their social work qualification at degree level and wish to pursue their PQ specialist award studies at postgraduate Masters level.
Entry requirements
UK entrance requirements and application details
A first- or second-class undergraduate honours degree; exceptionally other candidates may be accepted who demonstrate ability to study at the appropriate level.
Candidates must hold a professional qualification relevant to integrated children's services and be employed in a relevant position in an integrated children's services setting.
Please note: applications are submitted direct to the Department of Social Work and Social Care. For an application form contact the Social Work Admissions Coordinator, Essex House, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QQ, UK; telephone +44 (0)1273 872595; or email eswenquiries@sussex.ac.uk.
Overseas entrance requirements
Please refer to column B on the Overseas qualifications.
If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas
qualifications table, contact the University.
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
Visas and immigration
Find out more about Visas and immigration.
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in each section. Internet TOEFL with 95 overall, with at least 22 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
For more information, refer to English language requirements.
For more information about the admissions process at Sussex
For pre-application enquiries:
Student Recruitment Services
T +44 (0)1273 876787
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
For post-application enquiries:
Postgraduate Admissions,
University of Sussex,
Sussex House, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk
Related programme
Fees and funding
Fees
Home UK/EU students: £1,8501
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £1,8502
Overseas students: £5,5003
1
The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2
The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3
The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.
Funding
The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.
To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.
Faculty interests
Research interests are briefly described below. For more detailed information, visit the Department of Social Work and Social Care.
- Childhood and youth studies
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Professor Robin Banerjee Social and emotional development of pupils, self-conscious cognition and emotion, self-presentational behaviour.
Dr Janet Boddy Parents and families, parent and child health and well-being, parenting and family support, children in or at the edges of care, social pedagogy, cross-national research.
Professor Suzy Braye Social work practice and the law, policy implementation and professional practice, community care provision.
Professor PennyJane Burke Widening access to and participation in Higher Education; critical and feminist pedagogies; gender and identity formations; challenging inequalities in higher education; participatory methodologies.
Dr Rachel Burr Social work, child rights, international aid, international social work, ethnographic-based research methods, Vietnam.
Dr Anne-Meike Fechter Indonesia, South East Asia; corporate expatriates, transnationalism, development practitioners.
Cath Holmström Admissions and selection for social work education, experiences of younger students on qualifying social work courses.
Barry Luckock Social policy and social work with children, social work practice and education, adoption, fostering and permanency planning.
Dr Tish Marrable Children with ‘additional needs’, interprofessional working and professional supervision in integrated teams.
Professor Rachel Thomson Childhood and youth studies, young people’s transitions to adulthood, sexuality and sex education.
Dr Jo Westbrook Learning to read, comprehension, wider reading, teacher education in the UK and developing countries, action research.
Dr Benjamin Zeitlyn Access to education, dropout, development, migration, transnationalism, childhoods, ethnic minorities, Islam.
- Social work
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Professor Suzy Braye Social work practice and the law, policy implementation and professional practice, community care provision.
Dr Lisa (Henglien) Chen Social gerontology, care policies and services for older people and family carers; long-term care resources.
Cath Holmström Admissions and selection for social work education, experiences of younger students on qualifying social work courses.
Sharon Lambley Policy evaluation research; research into management and leadership within health, social care and Higher Education.
Dr Michelle Lefevre Social work communication and direct work with children and young people, children with complex care needs.
Barry Luckock Social policy and social work with children, social work practice and education, adoption, fostering and permanency planning.
Dr Tish Marrable Children with ‘additional needs’, interprofessional working and professional supervision in integrated teams.
Dr Sevasti-Melissa Nolas Participation and inclusion of socially marginalised children and young people, supporting community learning.
Dr David Orr Mental health and mental illness; education in health and social care, and culturally sensitive care; transcultural psychiatry.
Dr Elaine Sharland Developing research methodologies and capacity in social work and social care, research ethics.
Professor Imogen Taylor Pedagogic research in Higher Education: learning for professional practice in social work and related professions.
Dr Russell Whiting Religion and spirituality in social work practice and education, professional values and ethics, history of social work.
Careers and profiles
This degree is aimed at experienced practitioners in Children’s Services (health, education, or social care). It will enable you to develop advanced skills and comprehensive knowledge, rooted in recent research evidence, for highly specialised and complex roles in Children’s Services.
For more information, visit Careers and alumni.
School and contacts
School of Education and Social Work
The School of Education and Social Work combines two very strong departments with excellent reputations, and serves the needs of its students as well as those of the wider community.
Course Co-ordinator, Essex House,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9QQ, UK
T +44 (0)1273 872595
F +44 (0)1273 877534
E eswenquiries@sussex.ac.uk
Department of Social Work and Social Care
Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions
You’re welcome to attend one of our Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions. These are held in the spring and summer terms and enable you to find out more about postgraduate study and the opportunities Sussex has to offer.
Visit Discover Postgraduate study to book your place.
Other ways to visit Sussex
We run weekly guided campus tours every Wednesday afternoon, year round. Book a place online at Visit us and Open Days.
You are also welcome to visit the University independently without any pre-arrangement.