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BA (Hons)

Practice Development Social Work

(Post-Qualifying Specialist Social Work Award with Adults)

Duration:
Between 18months and 4 years for the Specialist Award
Start Dates:
Variable: September/February or May
Attendance:
Part-time attendance and e-learning
Venue:
High Wycombe
Cost:
On application
Key Contact:
Stan Henshaw
Tel:
01494 522 141 ext 3533
Email:
stan.henshaw@bucks.ac.uk

Is this course suitable for me?

This programme has been developed in conjunction with service users and carers, employers and practitioners and will provide practising and registered social workers who have been professionally qualified for a minimum of 6 months with the opportunity to consolidate deepen and extend their practice knowledge, skills and values and meet the requirements at the ‘Specialist’ level in accordance with the General Social Care Council’s new framework for post-qualifying training.

The social work specialist level awards form part of the ‘BA (Hons) Practice Development’

Candidates with a professional social work qualification and Diploma of Higher Education (minimum 240 credits at levels 4 and 5) can use the course to make up the 120 credits necessary to be awarded the BA (Hons.) in Practice Development.

Applicants who already have a relevant first degree can study for the Graduate Diploma. (Practice Development).

Modules are also available to those from other professions and to service-users and carers who can work at the appropriate academic level and have the work-based opportunities to integrate practice.

The ‘Consolidation’ and ‘Enabling Learners’ modules may be particularly attractive as ‘stand-alone’ courses.

Overview

The PQ programme will build on the successful format of the undergraduate social work degree at Bucks New University, by offering themed, blended learning across the available modules. There will be a strong emphasis on developing and extending practice based skills which are essential for today’s complex and ever changing social care settings.

Multi-agency working is a dominant characteristic of emerging policy and practice across the social care sector and will be a strong and consistent feature across the modules offered.

The PQ programme will enable each participant to identify and develop personalised learning to inform future practice and will provide the opportunity to consolidate and deepen skills and knowledge gained through practice and training experiences. The programme will reflect on social and political constructs and explore ideas of power and ways of understanding and challenging inequality and discrimination.

Both Adult and Children and Young Peoples Pathways will be offered on a modular basis offering maximum flexibility for part-time study. Most modules will require attendance on a weekly or fortnightly basis over a semester. University taught sessions will be supported by tutors, work-based and assessors and through the web-based interactive ‘Blackboard’ site.

Academic and practice learning and assessment will be fully integrated within all modules and there will not be a separate ‘practice’ module or portfolio. All academic assignments will include practice-based evidence and students will be supported and assessed in practice by a PQ Practice Assessor. There will be three direct observations of practice based within the programme.

Service users and carers, employers and practitioners have been involved in the development of all the modules and will be supporting tutors throughout the learning and assessment process.

All students will study:

Consolidation’ (30 Credits)

This module will make use of four University-based workshops to introduce candidates to PQ study, support their academic learning and enable identification and evidence of development of knowledge, skills and values in a specialist area of practice since qualification. The module is linked closely with practice-based induction standards and post-registration training and learning. Tutors and practice-based assessors will support candidates in practice to identify their learning pathway and practice evidence.

‘Professionals in a Changing World’ (15 Credits)

This module is designed to enable candidates to enhance their knowledge, skills and confidence in working within the context of their particular practice setting and will make use of current issues, themes and debates. It will reflect on the changes across the social work environment, the impact on the workforce and the need to continue to adapt and develop new skills and value core social work skills yet embrace wider inter-professional practice.

Key themes will include:

  • Historical development, current ideologies and future trends
  • Organisational, regional, national and international structures, policies and practices
  • Inter-professional and multi-disciplinary practice
  • Service-users perspectives – needs, risks and rights set within an organisational context
  • Working with adults who may be vulnerable. Safeguarding and managing risks.
  • Working in complex settings with individuals who have complex needs.
  • The central role of carers as stake holders providing community based care and promoting social inclusion.
  • The changing roles of social workers as individualised budgets become more widely used. An analysis of the roles and function of a social worker in a fast changing social care climate.
  • Provision of a quality service: Professional standards in social work, key legislation and learning from cross cutting themes across other European countries, social pedagogy and power-sharing partnerships.

‘Theory and Values – Changing Practice’ (15 Credits)

This module will provides an in-depth examination of values and the theoretical and evidence bases of social work practice. It offers the opportunity to critically reflect on and deepen knowledge and skills in relation to:

Key themes will include:

  • Key theoretical, research and evidence-based practice
  • Tools and frameworks including the assessment of risk and need with particular reference to safeguarding
  • Effective use of strategies, including advanced communication skills, particularly in relation to working with those with complex needs.
  • Psychological and sociological models of disability and ageing including theories around transitions, and loss and bereavement, values and ethics, anti oppressive practice, assessment methodology, risk and choice, critical practice and strengths based approaches to practice.
  • The rights and responsibilities of service users. Exploring consumerist and citizenship ideas of how the individual interfaces within society.

‘Research Project -Changing Practice (30 Credits)

This module will enable students to carry out a primary research project within their own work-based settings. The project is aimed at enhancing or developing practice and should also be of direct benefit for social work agencies. Students will attend University-based teaching on research methods and will be supported by a dissertation supervisor during their project

Candidates will also study either:

‘Introduction to Enabling Learning and Mentoring’ (15 Credits)

This module will provide opportunities for practitioners to develop the basic knowledge of adult learning and the skills and values required in contributing to the teaching and assessment of learners and pre-qualifying students in the work-place. Practitioners will act as an onsite verifier or assessor for a pre-qualifying social work student and will be supported by an experienced practice assessor.

And

‘Optional Module (Minimum of 15 Credits)

Those taking the ‘Introduction to Enabling Learning and Mentoring’ will choose another relevant module from across the range offered in the inter-professional BA or MA Practice Development. For example practitioners may wish to study the module ‘Introduction to Mental health and Ill-health’ in order to improve their own knowledge and skills. Those who work in a particular specialist setting may wish to choose another module from across the range offered at the University There is also an option to make use of the University APL procedures for previous relevant certificated study.

*Or**

‘Enabling Learning and Mentoring’ (30 Credits)

This module is provided for those who rather than choosing a optional specialist module wish to develop more in-depth skills in working with learners and provides the basis for those who wish to go on to take the full ‘Practice Educator Award’. Practitioners will take on responsibility as an assessor for a pre-qualifying social work student.

Further opportunities

All pathways will offer the opportunity for inter-professional study and form part of the inter-professional BA Practice Development.

How to make an application

Please contact the Enquiries Team on 01494 603 171 or email ask@bucks.ac.uk

We hope to have a fully on-line application system shortly, but in the meantime, to apply for a course, please download and print these forms, completing them fully and posting back to the address below.

Mike Thomson
Student Recruitment Officer
Bucks New University
106 Oxford Road
Uxbridge
UB8 1NA

If you are unable to view the forms, please click here to download a free version of adobe reader.

Alternatively, if you call us on 01494 603 171 or email ask@bucks.ac.uk we can post you a hard copy application pack.

Students funded by the NHS or other employer

If the cost of your course is being funded by your employer, please contact your education lead or manager for guidance as to how they would prefer you to make an application.

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