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Programme summary for MA/Post Graduate Certificate/Diploma Strategic Leadership and Management

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 course is part-time, post-graduate course and is delivered in a block format of two days per month and organised in three terms per academic year. It consists of a number of taught elements including a course of structured work discussion. The course units will also cover the functional areas of the GSCC Leadership and Management which are underpinned by the principles for Leadership and Management developed by Skills for Care. The course is normally completed after 3 years. The PG Cert (60 M level credits) can be obtained after one year, the PG Diploma after two years (120 M level credits), the MA after 3 years (180 M level credits).The course normally needs to be completed within 6 years of initial registration.

Social work managers may simultaneously register for post-qualifying professional awards at either Higher Specialist (Post-Graduate Diploma) or Advanced (M) Levels. Students registering for the awards in Leadership and Management at the higher specialist level will, in the course of their studies, satisfy the GSCC specialist standards for leadership and management (managing self and personal skills, providing direction, facilitating change, working with people, using resources, achieving results). Students awarded at the advanced level will, in the course of their studies, satisfy the GSCC level criteria for Advanced Social Work.

Career opportunities

This programme enhances the skills and competencies of those involved in leadership roles within their organisations. Through your personal development, it is intended that you will gain opportunities for career progression in a management role.

Support

Support is offered through the individualised learning programmes, one to one relationships with tutors and supervisors and learning in a small group setting. Each student will be allocated a tutor for the three years of the course. The tutor's role will be to oversee the development of the student in relation to the course, to provide support and guidance in relation to the course. Over the first year candidates are allocated a personal Tutor and supported via regular tutorials in the first year (approx 1-2 per term). In the second year students receive more regular supervision on their work and have termly meetings in a group with the Course leader. During the third year students are supported by fortnightly research seminars and tutorials.
There are also regular course committees whereby the students can engage with a dialogue with staff about the course.
Many of the seminars are divided into small groups, each with a tutor, in order to provide a high level of individual attention. Additionally, the Reflective leader/manager group may also provide a supportive environment through the understanding gained there.

Prior to commencing the course students are invited to an introductory afternoon, to explore the components of the course, the study skills that will be required and developed and any other practical issues that may need to be addressed prior to starting the course proper. This will include an introduction to the library, with further tutorials on databases available from library staff on request. The library provides an excellent service for candidates studying in the field of child care/ mental health including electronic access to journals, with a personal named librarian for students on this course.

Admission

Minimum entry requirements are:

Academic/Professional

  • Normally a relevant first degree, degree equivalent or evidence of other post-registration education/experience.
  • Normally at least three years practice experience in Health, Social Care and Education since qualification.
  • To be in full-time or part-time posts in Health, Social Care, Education for which they have management responsibilities.
  • Normally, an appropriate professional qualification relevant to their chosen career.
    For example:
  1. Social Work managers should have 3 years post qualifying experience in social work, with a recognised social work qualification (DipSW/CQSW/Social Work Degree or equivalent) and eligibility for registration with GSCC
    • Post qualifying social work experience equivalent to or accredited as post qualifying social work at specialist level. Applicants who have a social work qualification but no degree or professionally accredited post qualifying award at specialist social work level may present a portfolio that demonstrates the requirements of a relevant post qualifying award at specialist award level.
  2. Equivalent professional qualifications will be expected from other disciplines in a health, Education or voluntary sector organisation e.g.
  1. Doctorate in Clinical Psychotherapy
  2. Nurses should have an active registered nursing qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
  3. PG Certificate of Education, Bachelor of Education, Master of Education.

Selection

The Tavistock Clinic will apply the principle of equality of opportunity to all its admission activities and positively encourages the application of students from a wide range of backgrounds, including those with special needs. Applicants are expected to submit photocopies of their professional and academic qualifications at interview.

Selection is by:

  1. Application form in which Applicants write in about 1,000 words a brief account of your career to the present day. You are asked to describe the factors which you feel have had the greatest bearing on your development within your profession and your application to this course including one or two examples from your practice/work which have influenced your professional development. This may be the subject of further discussion at interview.

  2. In your written work, you are expected to show capacity for:

    1. Critical reflection.
    2. Effective work with colleagues and teams within and across different disciplines and agencies.
    3. Competently engaging with and intervening in the life of service user (in specialist contexts) and recognising and working with diversity.
    4. Drawing upon research and theory to inform your practice
    5. Using supervision to inform your practice and to support and develop the practice of others.
    6. Working with and thinking about risk, uncertainty and conflict.
  3. A reference from the Applicant's workplace supporting their application and a statement that demonstrate their commitment to the study time required for the course
  4. Personal interview in which both academic and professional qualifications will be considered.

Additionally, in these circumstances

  1. Where qualified social work managers do not hold a degree or an accredited post qualifying professional award at specialist level, such applicants may, in addition to the application form and the interview, submit a portfolio to evidence that they meet the requirements of a relevant Post Qualifying Award at Specialist Social Work level.

There is provision for entry with advanced standing, subject to fulfilling other entry criteria. The integrated academic and professional requirements of individual units serve as the baseline against which each individual standing claim is assessed. Candidates wishing to make such a claim will be provided with the learning outcomes of the unit for which exemption is sought and will be expected to complete the task within the word limit of the unit's designated assessment task. Such claims may be based on either prior certificated or prior experiential learning.

Personal Suitability: Commitment to personal as well as intellectual development is an important factor. As the course's teaching methods rely considerably on learning from experience at many different emotional, social and intellectual levels, a capacity to work in this way is essential. Therefore applicants will be asked to demonstrate their capacity to reflect on a piece of practice, or work situation/challenges that they face/ed and critically appraise their learning and development gaps, including what they would do differently

A(E/C)L

A) Up to half the credits for an award may be achieved through accredited experiential learning, and up to two thirds of the credits for an award may be achieved through accredited certificated learning.

B) Where a combination of experiential and certificated learning is involved up to one half of the credits for the award may be achieved through accredited experiential learning with further credits being achieved through accredited certificated learning up to a maximum of two thirds of the credits for the award.

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