Programme summary for PgCert Therapeutic Communication with Children

About the programme

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a number of programmes in partnership with the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust. The programmes are delivered at the world-renowned Tavistock Clinic in London. The Trust is the UK’s leading provider of multi-disciplinary postgraduate training in mental health and is a major provider of clinical services.

The Trust has a national and international reputation as a centre of excellence in the therapeutic treatment of complex and serious mental health disorders, clinical training, consultancy, research
and scholarship.

Programme structure

The programme is part-time, one afternoon a week for one year.

Career opportunities

The programme is aimed at staff who work directly with children and families in child and adolescent mental health services, social services, children’s centres, residential settings, nurseries and educational settings, including special needs teachers, learning mentors and learning support assistants. It is also suitable for candidates with experience but with few formal professional qualifications, eg family support workers or foster carers.

Support

An important part of the learning experience is that students meet with their individual tutors twice a term to reflect on the experience of the programme and their progress on it. Brief notes are kept by the tutor as an aide memoire to the learning and feedback process and in order to follow up on agreed action. The tutor will be expected to be aware of the student’s work context and to think about possibilities for future learning and further training or professional development opportunities. The Organising Tutor advises on study skill methods and essay writing. Students with special needs are individually monitored so that any extra input required in terms of academic support can be addressed. Seminar leaders create a climate in the small groups for careful reflection on the academic content and its individual application to the particular work settings of the students.

Admission

The most important entry requirement is that the student is currently in a work situation in which they are engaged in direct work with children. Whilst many are already professionally qualified and have a basic degree, we also accept those who may not have had standard higher educational backgrounds. For those who do not have a degree applicants may be admitted on the basis of relevant working experience, which demonstrates appropriate knowledge and skills. We apply the principle of equality of opportunity and encourage the recruitment of those with special needs.