FdSc Working with Families and Communities

Summary 2012/13

• Study the North West’s only programme dedicated to supporting families and communities;
• Embark on an exciting opportunity to achieve an academic qualification and enhance your career development;
• Achieve your qualification with minimal disruption to your current role via work-based learning.

The Foundation Degree Working with Families and Communities will provide you with all the necessary skills and knowledge to work closely and effectively alongside families and communities. Developed following discussions and engagement with a diverse multi-professional group, this programme is highly relevant for individuals across a range of workplace settings.

Please note, that the location of study for individual modules may be at any one of our satellite centres.

2012 Entry Requirements

Typical offer is a minimum of 40 UCAS tariff points from one A level, or equivalent Level 3 qualification, in a related subject. Exceptionally, five GCSEs at grade C or above, or equivalent, will be accepted. Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate your ability through accreditation of prior learning/experiential learning (APL/APEL).

Where appropriate, applicants will be required to successfully undergo an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check and complete a health questionnaire which is within the remit of Occupational Health.

Details

Who is this course for?

If you currently work in Social Services, Primary Care Trusts or a Local Authority in a supportive role and seek a Higher Education qualification which will enable your career development, then this course is for you.

This Foundation Degree will also appeal to those who currently work, or wish to work, within a variety of settings including the private, public and voluntary sectors supporting families and or communities.

What will I gain from this programme?

In addition to entering Higher Education and experiencing university life, you will develop the knowledge and skills to equip you to competently work with families and communities and contribute to their health and welfare.

How we will support you

As well as a programme leader you will also have a named personal tutor who will support you throughout the programme. A work based learning facilitator will support your development in practice and module leaders for each academic module studied.

What will I study?

The programme content reflects the relevant National Occupational Standards for Care and Development and The Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children’s Workforce.

Modules undertaken will prepare you to work with, and support, families and communities and you will develop the skills necessary to follow an academic programme.

Year 1 will consist of essentials study skills, communication along with modules which will strengthen your knowledge of the subject. These include family structure and dynamics, communities within society and identifying venerability and assessment of the child/young person.

Year 2 focuses on topics such as vulnerability, individuals and groups, supporting and empowering people with complex needs, family community needs assessment service provision and support. Students will also be required to complete one work-based module in year 2.

Successful students will achieve 120 credits at Levels 4 and 5 (Foundation Degree). Alternatively, you can exit the course after 120 credits at level 4 with a Certificate in Higher Education.

Placement

If your current place of employment is relevant to this Foundation Degree then you can complete your work based learning there. If you require a placement we will be able to assist in finding one.

Who will be teaching me?

You will be taught by academic staff who have vast experience in the field of children, families and communities either as paediatric nurses, health visitors, midwives, school nurses, child and family care practitioners, community mental health workers.

How will I be assessed?

A variety of assessment techniques will be staged throughout the two years to allow you to manage your programme workload. Assessment will include presentations, written assignments, scenarios, clinical examinations and portfolios of evidence.

What are my career prospects?

This programme will provide you with the skills to work as a support worker in a variety of family and community settings including children centres, local authority settings, children’s healthcare areas and social services.

Further study at Edge Hill University

• BSc (Hons) Leadership and Management in Children's Services
• BSc (Hons) Support for Families and Communities

Related Programmes

• FdSc Integrated Practice (Early Years and Children)
• FdSc Integrated Practice (Young People)
• FdA Playwork
• BSc (Hons) Children’s Nursing

A Great Study Environment

Based in 160 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Ormskirk Campus is a unique and inspirational place to study. Industry standard resources and cutting edge technology combine to make an interactive and highly advanced teaching and learning environment. Everything you could want is on one site with 25 acres of sport and leisure facilities, more than 1,000 rooms in halls of residence and fantastic modern spaces in which you can study and socialise.

The University library gives you access to thousands of books, journals, online resources and extensive PC and media provision. You'll get all the support you need to succeed, reflected in Edge Hill University being ranked in the top two in England for students' personal development, and the top three in the country for assessment and feedback, in the 2011 National Student Survey. The University is also featured in the top four in England for graduate employment.

How do I apply?

Apply online through UCAS for the full-time programme. For part-time study apply directly to Edge Hill.

See our How to Apply pages for more information on the application process and our Admissions criteria.

Fees and Finance

Full-Time Study

For academic year 2012/13, Edge Hill University will charge £6,000pa for full-time foundation degrees. Eligible full-time students will not have to pay upfront for their tuition. The cost of tuition will be paid by a loan which you will only start to repay once you have finished the course and are earning over £21,000.

Eligible full-time students can also apply for a maintenance grant, subject to household income, and a non-means-tested loan to help with living costs.

Edge Hill University offers a range of scholarships for prospective full-time students. These include £2,000 Entrance Scholarships rewarding determination, commitment and achievement in creative arts, performing arts, sport and volunteering. Eligible entrants with outstanding grades are recognised through the £1,000 High Achievers Scholarship.

The University will also be offering awards, worth £3,000 in cash benefits and fee/accommodation waivers for academic year 2012/13, to eligible prospective full-time students through the National Scholarship Programme.

For more information on scholarships, including eligibility criteria for each award, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/scholarships.

To find out more about fees, grants and loans for full-time students in academic year 2012/13, visit http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/foundationfees2012.

Please note, the above information is for UK and eligible EU students only.

Part-Time Study

Tuition fees for part-time study on this foundation degree are £50 per credit for academic year 2012/13; i.e. £500 per 10 credit module, £750 per 15 credit module, £1,000 per 20 credit module and £1,500 per 30 credit module. A total of 240 credits are required to complete a foundation degree.

Eligible part-time students will not have to pay upfront for their tuition. The cost of tuition will be paid by a loan which you will only start to repay once you have finished the course and are earning over £21,000 a year.

For more information on the financial support available for part-time foundation degree students in academic year 2012/13, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/foundationfees2012pt.

Please note, the above information is for UK and eligible EU students only.

Not got the entry requirements?

If you wish to enter the programme but do not fulfil the specified entry criteria, you may demonstrate the ability to study at the appropriate academic level via APL/APEL (Accreditation of Prior Learning / Experience).

You will be required to demonstrate appropriate literacy and numeracy skills as part of the interview process.

If you do not have the GCSEs required for this programme, Edge Hill offers equivalency tests.

Where can I find out more?

If you would like to receive a copy of our prospectus or be kept updated about forthcoming events, contact the Course Information, Advice and Guidance Team by emailing study@edgehill.ac.uk or calling 01695 657000.

If you want to attend one of our open events held throughout the year, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/opendays to book your place.

You will also find Edge Hill University staff at many national careers fairs and UCAS events.

Still want more?

If you have any questions you would like to ask the programme leader about this course, please contact:

• Alison Whelan, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 657008
• Email: whelana@edgehill.ac.uk

Modules

Year 1

FDH1100 Essential Study Skills for Undergraduates (20 credits) encourages you to identify individual needs, backgrounds and experiences in relation to study skills and explore how these may be developed within your programme of study. This module will enable you to develop advanced study skills to enhance your time and organisational management and thus prepare you to be able to take advantage of further studies and new situations.

FDH1101 Communication Skills (20 credits). Effective communication skills are essential for anyone dealing with the public in order to work collaboratively as members of a team. You will be supported to develop self-awareness in communication skills, by facilitating your listening skills, and the ability to empathise. The skills of giving unconditional positive regard and how to act as an advocate for others will also be addressed.

FDH1102 Health and Well-being and Identification of the Vulnerable Child (20 credits). Giving every child the best start in life is seen as essential. This module will help you to develop the ability to recognise the vulnerable child and, when necessary, refer to the appropriate members of the multi-professional team..

FDH1109 Communities within Society (30 credits) focuses on the structure and function of communities within society, and is designed to meet the needs of support workers within the multi-disciplinary, multi-organisational audience. Introducing you to the concept of communities and how community structure and function differ, the module will help you develop an appreciation of the causes of inequalities in health. You will gain an appreciation of how many facets contribute to health, social and economic well-being.

FDH1110 Family Structure and Dynamics (30 credits) focuses on the diversity of family structure and its inherent dynamics. The module is designed to enable you to develop your understanding of the complex issues and dilemmas faced by families. The diversity of family life and dynamics will be explored alongside the attitudes beliefs and values affecting families. This will include exploring different cultures’ perceptions of the meaning of family, position within the family, family function and dynamics, and the shifting balance of power within families.

Year 2

FDH2077 Work-Based Learning (20 credits) allows you to negotiate with academic staff, and the workplace if appropriate, to focus on an area of study of particular interest. This may be for the enhancement of practice or for the achievement of more in-depth knowledge and skills. It involves identifying the chosen area for study, developing and negotiating a learning contract. The module will provide a rigorous framework for the approval of such study, ensuring the necessary academic level and assessment is fulfilled.

FDH2100 Legal and Ethical Perspectives (20 credits). Within the field of health and social care there are a range of professions and groups whose ability to provide safe and competent practice is determined in the context of professional, legal and ethical considerations. Indeed, these are the hallmarks of any profession, and those wishing to work in this sector, potentially across professional boundaries, need a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of such frameworks.

FDH2105 Vulnerabilities, Individuals and Groups (30 credits). The concept of vulnerability is the central tenet of this module which will be fundamental in providing and developing a greater understanding of the meaning of the term vulnerability and its impact on those termed to be vulnerable. The vulnerability of individuals and groups will be examined, together with the varying policies and strategies designed to empower the very same.

FDH2113 Family Community Needs Assessment Service Provision and Support (20 credits) explores assessment processes, enabling you to contribute towards action plans that enhance well-being of individuals, families and communities. This module will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to support families and communities in accessing service provision appropriate to their needs. Subjects to be addressed include skills in the application of assessment, interpretation of findings and contribution to the development of an individual action plan to enhance well-being of the family/community. You will also be given an overview of the services available for a variety of groups likely to need support in health and social care provision.

FDH2114 Supporting and Empowering People with Complex Needs (30 credits) explores the complexity of supporting people with complex needs and affords you the opportunity to engage in and appraise the effectiveness of multi-agency provision. People with learning difficulties, disabilities or complex needs are at greater risk of low achievement in relation to their potential well-being. Working in this context requires knowledge and skills to identify the responsibilities for supporting these people and their families/carers with complex needs. The module will facilitate the opportunity to engage in identifying the needs of these people and their families / carers within an integrated framework of generic and specialised services.