Safeguarding Children – (Grad.Cert.)

The Postgraduate Certificate programme comprises of two modules that are credit rated. Each taught module offers 30 credits. On successful completion of two masters level modules of 30 credits each it is possible for the 60 credits to be incorporated into the MSc in Advanced Practice programme.

Partnership Working in Safeguarding Children & Young People

This module aims to develop an understanding of the issues of, and effective practices for, safeguarding children and young people. It will pay particular attention to multiprofessional approaches and explore the complex dynamics of partnership working in this complex and challenging field. The module will also explore the nature of risk and cover current legislation and policy relating to safeguarding children, local procedures and responsibilities and managing issues of personal safety and relationships with parents/carers/children.

On completion of the module students are expected to be able to:

• critically explore the challenges and opportunities of safeguarding children and young people

• critically analyse current child welfare policy in safeguarding children and young people

• critically reflect on theoretical, professional, inter-professional, interagency, ethical and legal principles underpinning the effective safeguarding of children and young people

• demonstrate critical appraisal of the evidence base of safeguarding children and young people and evaluate the practice implications

The content of the module is arranged in four themes and each theme will be presented over three study days. The mode of delivery is 50% classroom based and 50% networked learning and so each theme will be frontloaded with face-to-face interaction and followed up with directed networked activity.

Therapeutic Practice in Safeguarding Children and Young People

Health and social care professionals are identified as key agents in the identification of child maltreatment (Brandon et al. 2008). Professional competence in this area requires an ability to make sound judgements in order to protect those children vulnerable to abuse and neglect. This involves the need for comprehensive knowledge and understanding of parenting styles and influences on parenting behaviours. Alongside this practitioners require clear understanding of statutory safeguarding children legislation and requirements and how to apply them, as well as clarity about professional roles and responsibilities. This module aims to develop student awareness and understanding of such key considerations, all within the context of partnership working. It is particularly suited to those who work regularly with children, and young people, and has been developed in accordance with recommendations outlined in the Welsh Assembly Government’s (2006) Safeguarding Children: Working Together Under the Children Act 2004.

On completion of the module a student should be able to:

• Critically evaluate psycho / social / cultural / religious and political influences on parenting capacity and subsequent impact on child welfare

• Critically appraise evidence which informs on making sound judgements in assessing, planning, intervening and reviewing safeguarding children practice

• Critically evaluate own and others roles, boundaries, and responsibilities in safeguarding children and determine best practice when working in challenging child welfare situations

The content of the module is arranged in three themes and each theme will be presented over two study days. The mode of delivery is 50% classroom based and 50% networked learning and so each theme will be frontloaded with face-to-face interaction and followed up with directed networked activity.

Leading Practice in Safeguarding Children and Young People

Effective leadership and management are required at both organisational and practice levels of all agencies associated with child welfare in order to ensure children are safeguarded from harm (Laming 2009). In response to this, module three of the Safeguarding Children pathway of the MSc in Advanced Practice programme focuses specifically on key concepts and theories associated with leadership and management, in order for students to develop the knowledge and skills to lead safeguarding children practice with competence. Students will be encouraged to synthesise theories of leadership and management with practice experiences and identify attributes that hinder or help the leadership process. Students will also be guided to appraise professional and organisational working and identify opportunities to develop their own and others practice. To facilitate this, students will be introduced to a range of theories, models, frameworks and strategies that aim to promote, evaluate and measure change in order for students to gain greater competency in initiating, leading, managing and responding to changing practice circumstances.
On completion of the module students are expected to be able to:

• Critically appraise approaches and tools which both evaluate safeguarding children practice and influence and promote change

• Critically evaluate the influence of leadership theories and styles on assessment, supervision, and support of those working to safeguard children and young people

• Critically analyse the influence of group processes on partnership working and decision-making in safeguarding children
The content of the module is arranged in three themes and each theme will be presented over two study days. The mode of delivery is 50% classroom based and 50% networked learning and so each theme will be frontloaded with face-to-face interaction and followed up with directed networked activity.