Course summary

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children, young people and their families and carers? Do you want to challenge some of the most complex problems in society, whilst helping individuals to thrive? If so, this course will help you to become a future practitioner who can help bring about positive and sustainable change. This programme will equip you with the ability to understand what effective practice with families looks like, including the difficulties and challenges of working with children and families, and how to help them fulfil their potential. You’ll study aspects of child development, looking at how society understands the concept of family and the rights of children. You’ll also look at the complex issue of safeguarding children, models of support such as THRIVE, and consider current legislation and policy initiatives to understand how practitioners can help to protect children. Utilising cutting edge simulation-based teaching alongside hands-on work experience, you’ll gain first-hand experience dealing with a range of problems that families can face while children are growing up, developing the skills needed to support and empower families, and to deliver therapeutic interventions. You’ll be equipped with the key professional skills needed for recognising and assessing complex needs, and intervening in children’s lives, especially when in crisis, as well as an understanding of the complexities of multi-agency working. The degree will also prepare you to work across diverse settings, such as family homes, youth centres, youth justice, children's centres, statutory provisions and in the community more widely. We’ll help you to become a skilled practitioner that supports the confidence and skills of children, young people and families, helping them to overcome barriers and maximise their independence. On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People and Families