The programme provides a unique and highly flexible programme, with opportunities for integrated professional and academic study and development towards a range of professional post-qualifying and academic post-graduate awards. The programme contributes to the professional development of the individual and the wider professional community. The intermediate qualifications similarly support both professional and academic development. Students on the programme undertake work discussion and supervised practice as practitioners with any of three client groups (children and young people, adults or mental health service users) or in the role of leaders/ and managers or educators/trainers. Students also study theory, observation, policy and research methods in depth. Participants analyse and reflect on work experiences, supervision and case studies and planned management and training interventions. Students also attend a five day experiential learning event where the focus of study is the emotional life of the organisation.

Social workers attaining the Post Qualifying Award in Higher Specialist Social Work satisfy the GSCC requirements for this level of professional practice. Social workers attaining the Post Qualifying Award in Advanced Social Work satisfy the GSCC requirements for the higher specialist level and demonstrate that they are able to take a leading role in their chosen specialist field.

Students on the Integrative programme take one of the 5 post-qualifying awards. According to whether this award has (a) a service user focus, or (b) a professional activity focus, all students will take a minor pathway drawn from the other category. Thus, for example, a student taking the Social Work with Adults award will also take a ‘minor’ pathway in either management or education.

Minimum entry requirements are:

• 2 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
• Sustainable employment within a social work agency for the duration of the programme
• Evidence of commitment to learning from experience, and deploying psychoanalytic concepts for professional understanding
• A good (first or second class) honours degree or demonstration of the professional equivalent at level 3. This is the Post Qualifying Award in Social Work (PQSW) or Post Qualifying Award in Specialist Social Work (PQSSW)
• 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.
• Applicants who do not have a social work qualification but do hold a relevant first or second class degree may register for individual units. Such applicants, with sustainable employment in the health, education and/or social care field may register for all aspects of the academic award but would not be eligible for the post qualifying award in social work .

Selection

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.

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 you 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 the social work profession (or equivalent) 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. In your written work, you are expected to show capacity for:

• Critical reflection.
• Effective work with colleagues and teams within and across different disciplines and agencies.
• Competently engaging with and intervening in the life of the service user (in specialist contexts) and recognising and working with diversity.
• Drawing upon research and theory to inform your practice
• Using supervision to inform your practice and to support and develop the practice of others.
• Working with and thinking about risk, uncertainty and conflict.

1. A reference from your workplace supporting your application

1. Personal interview in which both academic and professional qualifications will be considered

Additionally, in these circumstances

1. Where qualified social workers 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.

All students applying for a place on this course will also be required to produce a current Enhanced Level Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure. If original and up to date documentation is not available at interview, only a conditional offer can be made, pending submission of disclosure certificate.

APEL

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.

The MA and Post-Qualifying Award in Higher Specialist and Advanced Social Work is a flexible part-time post-qualifying, post-graduate programme for social workers. In the spirit of inter-professional collaborative learning, suitably qualified students, who are not social workers, are welcome to register for any units of particular interest within the programme.

Social workers may complete one year for the academic award of Post Graduate Certificate in Social Work or two years for the Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work or three years for the MA in Advanced Social Work.

Social workers may simultaneously register for one of 5 post-qualifying professional awards at either Higher Specialist (Post-Graduate Diploma) or Advanced (M) Levels.

The professional awards are the GSCC Post-Qualifying Awards in Higher Specialist or Advanced Social Work:

• Children and Young People, their Families and Carers or
• Social Work with Adults or
• Mental Health or
• Leadership and Management or
• Practice Education

Students registering for the post qualifying awards in social work with service user groups: Children and Young People, Adults, Mental Health, may complete the awards in one of the following roles: Practitioner, Manager or Educator. Students registering for the awards in Leadership and Management or Practice Education may focus their work in relation to one specific client group: children and young people, adults or mental health service users.

Students who are awarded at the higher specialist level will, in the course of their studies, satisfy the GSCC level criteria for Higher Specialist Social Work. Students awarded at the advanced level will, in the course of their studies, satisfy the GSCC level criteria for Advanced Social Work.

All MA and Post Qualifying Award in Social Work holders at Advanced level are eligible for consideration for direct entry to the Professional Doctorate in Social Work.

The programme is taken over three years by part time study, on one day a week. It consists of a number of taught elements including a programme of structured work discussion. Those studying for the MA and Post–Qualifying (PQ) award in Advanced level social work may, in their 3rd year choose one of two pathways. These are MA and PQ award by dissertation or MA and PQ award by clinical work. All students wishing to proceed to the doctorate will take the Clinical pathway in their 3rd year.

Learning and teaching throughout the programme is linked to the student’s professional practice. The assessment of professional practice underpins all aspects of the programme. Work discussion, theory, observation, policy and research methods are all taught in small seminar groups. Clinical supervision, tutorials and research supervision take place either in small discussion groups or on a 1-1 basis.

Year 1 contains the following assessed elements integrating the GSCC generic level requirements (Higher Specialist (HS)) :

• Theory essay: 2500 words

(GSCC HS 1,2,3,4,5,6)

• Infant Observation: 3000 words, plus 2 observations of 1500 words each

(GSCC HS 1,2,3,4,5,6,)

• Work discussion essay: 3000 words

(GSCC HS 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9)

Year 2 contains the following assessed elements elements integrating the GSCC generic level requirements (Higher Specialist/Advanced) :

• Theory essay: 2500 words

(GSCC HS 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9)

• Work discussion: 3000 words, plus 2 recordings of 1500 words

(GSCC HS and at Advanced level 2,3,5,7,8,9,10)

• Institutional Observation: 2500 words, plus 1 observation of 1500 words

(GSCC HS 1,2,3,4,5,9)

• Social Policy presentation 4,000 words

(GSCC HS,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and at Advanced Level 2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10)

Year 3 contains the following assessed elements integrating the GSCC generic level requirements (Advanced Level (AL)) :

MA and Advanced Level Awards (dissertation pathway)

• MA dissertation: Year 3, 15,000 words

(GSCC AL 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10)

MA and Advanced Level (clinical pathway):

• Professional Practice study: Year 3, 6,000-8,000 words

(GSCC AL 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10)

• Social Policy process paper: Year 3, 3,000-4,000 words

(GSCC AL 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10)

Research Methods paper: Year 3, 3,000 words (GSCC A/L 1,2,3,4,6,)

This programme is a unique programme of study that offers opportunities to develop professional practice to a very high standard. It integrates practice, policy and research and contributes to the development of the individual and the professional social work community. The programme thus aims to contribute to the integration and recovery of professional identity. Students will develop capacities for leadership in relation to colleagues and services. Service user and carers have been consulted in the design stage of the programme and will be involved in programme teaching, assessment, management and quality assurance. Employers have been consulted about the content of the programme from the outset and will continue to be involved directly and as part of a regional workforce development strategy.

Throughout the programme, students have opportunities to develop and discuss their ideas and experiences in small seminar groups and individual tutorials/supervisions. All the assignments provide opportunities for making creative contributions to understanding practice (as practitioners, managers or educators) based on experience.

The programme provides opportunities to develop higher specialist and advanced level knowledge, skills and leadership capacities. It is expected that the programme will considerably enhance the career pathways for students within social work.

Support is offered through the individualised learning programmes, one to one relationships with tutors and supervisors and learning in a small group setting.

There is an induction event before the start of the programme and there are course committee meetings between students and staff once a term. Each student is allocated an individual tutor whom they see both individually and in a tutorial group at least once a term. In the third year, students are allocated individual clinical or research supervisors.

Each of the five PQ awards will be led by a staff member acting as an award leader, who will also act as tutor for the group of students following this award. In addition, all students will agree a personal learning plan that guides the negotiated aspects of their curriculum in relation to award requirements throughout the programme.