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Dip (PD) Applied Social Studies

Academic Year 2017/18

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual.

Programme Title

Dip (PD) Applied Social Studies

Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)

Postgraduate Diploma

Programme Code

SWK-PD-AS

UCAS Code

JACS Code

L500 (DESCR) 100

Criteria for Admissions

Normally a 2.2 Honours degree or above or equivalent recognised qualification. An equivalent qualification is the Post-Qualifying Award in Social Work. Where this is not met, applicants must show that their experience and qualifications enable them to study at postgraduate level through the uptake of references and through completing a reflective assignment on their practice.

Social Work applicants must have a recognised social work qualification and be registered with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.
Subject specific requirements:

Strategy and Leadership;
NISCC registration (or equivalent), normally 5 years post qualifying experience
Be currently employed in a clinical or practice setting with access to a suitable service user group for practice and supervision purposes.

Child Care;
NISCC registration (or equivalent), normally 2 years post qualifying experience
Be currently employed in a clinical or practice setting with access to a suitable service user group for practice and supervision purposes.

Systemic Practice and Family Therapy
NISCC registration (or equivalent), 1 year post qualifying experience OR cognate qualification (psychology, psychiatry, nursing, teaching, etc as specified by The Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice in the UK);
Be currently employed in a clinical or practice setting with access to a suitable service user group for practice and supervision purposes.
Mental Health
NISCC registration (or equivalent), 2 years post qualifying experience
Be currently employed in a clinical or practice setting with access to a suitable service user group for practice and supervision purposes.
PQ Part 1 or equivalent

Dual Diagnosis
Be registered with the NISCC
Hold a Degree in Social Work, Diploma in Social Work, CSS, CQSW or predecessor equivalent. Social Workers trained outside of NISCC jurisdiction must produce a letter of comparability with these awards or a letter of verification issued by NISCC;
Have completed the Assessed year in practice or have at least two years post- qualifying experience if graduated prior to the AYE implementation.
Have a Second Class Second Division Honours Degree. Candidates not holding one of these qualifications are required to satisfy Queen’s University, Belfast of their suitability for post-graduate study by completing a 2,000-word reflective assignment.
Have experience of working with clients with a mental disorder and /or substance misuse problems. Where a candidate does not have prior experience of working with people with a mental disorder they should undertake appropriate preparation before and / or during Module 1 of the training programme
Be able to commit to attend all taught days.

Unspecified
NISCC registration (or equivalent), OR cognate professional qualification; and be currently employed in a clinical or practice setting with access to a suitable service user group for practice and supervision purposes.

ATAS Clearance Required

No

Health Check Required

No

Portfolio Required

Interview Required

Mode of Study

Part Time

Type of Programme

Postgraduate

Length of Programme

2 Academic Year(s)

Total Credits for Programme

120

Exit Awards available

INSTITUTE INFORMATION

Awarding Institution/Body

Queen's University Belfast

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

Social Sciences, Education and Social Work

Framework for Higher Education Qualification Level 
www.qaa.ac.uk

Level 7

QAA Benchmark Group
www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

Counselling and psychotherapy (2013)

Accreditations (PSRB)

Northern Ireland Social Care Council

Date of most recent Accreditation Visit 11-06-13

The Association for Family Therapy

Date of most recent Accreditation Visit 30-04-15

REGULATION INFORMATION

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

No

Programme Specific Regulations

N/A

Students with protected characteristics

N/A

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

Yes
Students are subject to University Fitness to Practise Regulations, in conjunction with those of their professional accrediting body.

EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF PROGRAMME

The central aim of this programme is to provide a diploma in Applied Social Studies with a facilitating framework for the continuing professional development of social workers and others from cognate disciplines:

Promoting the improvement of standards of service and care received by the consumers of personal, social, and health services.

The advancement of academic knowledge, through the fostering of staff development, professional competence and academic achievement.

The aim of the programme is to provide students with an opportunity to gain a postgraduate degree, and to achieve professional awards in social work (specific award, specialist award and/or strategy and leadership award).

The programme will also include opportunities to achieve professional qualifications in multi-disciplinary areas such as Family Therapy.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Specific area: develop the range of knowledge and skills associated with competence 'in depth' in a specific area of work.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Teaching and learning methods to achieve Cognitive Skills are commensurate with adult learning theory and entail formal lecturing, student led learning, IT based learning, tutorials, seminars, workshops.

Methods of Assessment

Assessment methods include Continuous Assessment through essays, projects, presentations, seminar papers, practice assessment methods and log books.

Specialist area: complex decision-making and high levels of professional responsibility and accountability.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Teaching and learning methods to achieve Cognitive Skills are commensurate with adult learning theory and entail formal lecturing, student led learning, IT based learning, tutorials, seminars, workshops.

Methods of Assessment

Assessment methods include Continuous Assessment through essays, projects, presentations, seminar papers, practice assessment methods and log books.

Leadership and strategic work area: high levels of competence within field that is recognised within and without agency context.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Teaching and learning methods to achieve Cognitive Skills are commensurate with adult learning theory and entail formal lecturing, student led learning, IT based learning, tutorials, seminars, workshops.

Methods of Assessment

Assessment methods include Continuous Assessment through essays, projects, presentations, seminar papers, practice assessment methods and log books.

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Basic transferable skills achieved include communication, problem solving, teamwork, autonomy and personal skills, information technology, numeracy, intellectual skills, critical thinking personal reflection, researching, writing at Masters level, debating and listening, presenting, and professional confidence and competence.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Teaching and learning methods to achieve Transferable Skills are commensurate with adult learning theory and entail formal lecturing, student led learning, IT based learning, tutorials, seminars, workshops, and practice learning opportunities.

Methods of Assessment

Assessment methods include Continuous Assessment through essays, projects, presentations, seminar papers, practice assessment methods and log books.

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Demonstrate a systematic understanding of their own practice and a critical awareness of current issues and challenges in the context of relevant Codes of Practice (depending on Pathways, see below), professional ethics, the principles of diversity, equality and social inclusion in a wide range of situations;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Teaching and learning methods to achieve knowledge and understanding requirements are commensurate with adult learning theory and entail formal lecturing, student led learning, IT based learning, tutorials, seminars, workshops.

Methods of Assessment

Assessment methods include Continuous Assessment through essays, projects, presentations, and seminar papers.

Use evaluation to systematically develop and improve their specific learning and practice, including implementing effective practice in inter-professional and inter-agency contexts;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Teaching and learning methods to achieve knowledge and understanding requirements are commensurate with adult learning theory and entail formal lecturing, student led learning, IT based learning, tutorials, seminars, workshops.

Methods of Assessment

Assessment methods include Continuous Assessment through essays, projects, presentations, and seminar papers.

Take responsibility for continuing professional development making use of professional and managerial supervision, consultation and other professional support as appropriate to identify and address issues; develop, implement and evaluate plans; and continue to advance knowledge and understanding in order to improve practice.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Teaching and learning methods to achieve knowledge and understanding requirements are commensurate with adult learning theory and entail formal lecturing, student led learning, IT based learning, tutorials, seminars, workshops.

Methods of Assessment

Assessment methods include Continuous Assessment through essays, projects, presentations, and seminar papers.

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

There are a wide range of Modules, some of which are stand alone, others that will have pre-requisites (to build on earlier Modules). There are different Pathways and modules that candidates can choose to take through the MSc programme: For the diploma, modules must accumulate to 120 CATS.

Strategy & Leadership;
Child Care;
Systemic Practice and Family Therapy
Mental Health;
Unspecified.

Each of these pathways develops overarching as well as subject specific skills depending on course content and requirements of professional accrediting bodies.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Subject-specific skills will be taught in class using above methods. In addition, there are placement requirements (usually in the candidate’s workplace) that are supervised by qualified supervisors that are either QUB or Agency staff.

Methods of Assessment

Assessment methods include essays, reports, examinations, direct observation, and/or project work.

MODULE INFORMATION

Programme Requirements

Module Title

Module Code

Level/ stage

Credits

Availability

Duration

Pre-requisite

 

Assessment

 

 

 

 

S1

S2

 

 

Core

Option

Coursework %

Practical %

Examination %

Advanced knowledge, theory and methods

SWK8055

7

40

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Social Work Practice Development in Mental Health

SWK8081

7

40

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Promoting & safeguarding welfare of children and families

SWK8056

7

40

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Enhancing Outcomes for Children in State Care

SWK8057

7

40

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Law, Ethics and Applied Law in Mental Health

SWK8082

7

40

YES

2 weeks

N

YES

50%

0%

50%

Context and Concepts in Mental Health

SWK8083

7

40

YES

2 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Leadership in an uncertain world

SWK8038

7

20

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Strategic thinking in social work

SWK8039

7

20

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Modern organisations

SWK8051

7

20

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Use and management of information

SWK8052

7

20

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Engaging with change

SWK8054

7

20

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Introduction to Systemic Theory, Research and Practice

SWK8058

7

20

YES

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Systemic Practice Skills and their application to the work setting

SWK8059

7

20

YES

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Personal and Professional Development in Systemic Practice

SWK8065

7

20

YES

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Theory, Practive and Research in Family and Systemic Practice - intermediate level

SWK8066

7

20

YES

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Systemic Practice Skills and their application to the work setting - intermediate level

SWK8067

7

20

YES

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Personal and Professional Development in Systemic Practice - intermediate level

SWK8068

7

20

YES

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Personal and Public Involvement in Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland

SWK8086

7

20

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Dual Diagnosis: An Introduction

SWK8097

7

20

YES

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Assessment and Intervention in Dual Diagnosis

SWK8098

7

20

YES

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Dual Diagnosis Working with Specific Service User Groups

SWK8099

7

20

YES

YES

1 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Notes

Please note that there are different Pathways in the Programme (i.e. Strategy and Leadership, Child Care, Systemic Practice and Family Therapy, Mental Health and Combined) with separate modules leading to a specialised award. In addition some modules on the Programme can be accumulated on an individual basis to complete with a Combined award; modules that can be brought together in this way are taken from the Dual Diagnosis pathway and the Child Care pathway. For the Diploma, modules must accumulate to 120 CATS.