Integrated Children's Services FdA

This Foundation degree in Integrated Children’s Services is designed to address key issues regarding communication, co-operative working and shared professional aims and processes.

The degree makes a significant contribution to the professional understanding and necessary collaboration and communication between the wide range of professional services which work with children and their families. It is intended to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills of those involved or interested in inter-agency and interdisciplinary work. It also contributes to the requirement to develop career pathways, built on clearer relationships between qualifications that enable staff to progress within and across different sectors.

A key aim of the degree is to ensure that you and other students from different professional backgrounds develop a common understanding of meeting the needs of children and young people through collaborative working. The degree is also intended to help meet your professional development aspirations and needs which are specific to your employment setting.

The course is run by two partner institutions (The Learning Institute and Somerset LA) at university approved centres of these institutions. These centres include Callington Community College, Cornwall; Somerset SCITT Cannington Centre, near Bridgwater; and Wells Blue School.

Where can I find out about funding?

Factfile
Entry requirements
Course content
Student views

UCAS code

UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry onto full-time undergraduate courses in Higher Education in the UK.

Integrated Children’s Services FdA L520 G,I FdA/ICS

The course is taught in conjunction with two partners and offered in Cornwall and Somerset. The campus code for The Learning Institute in Cornwall is I and for Somerset local authority is G.

For the latest information, check the UCAS website at www.ucas.com

Study options

Full time or part time available

Get in touch

Admissions Office
01905 855111
admissions@worc.ac.uk

Nikki Passmore/ Christine Pyke
Somerset LEA
01823 410100
npassmore@somerset.gov.uk and cpyke@somerset.gov.uk

Jen Brown
The Learning Institute, Cornwall
01579386123
jbrown@learninginstitute.co.uk

Passes A-C in 4 GCSE subjects plus:
UCAS tariff: 60 points from a 6 unit award (or equivalent). (Accredited Key Skills at Level 3 can be counted towards the tariff total)

It is a requirement of the programme that all students undertaking the programme will be in a relevant work environment, either as a paid member of staff or on a voluntary basis

Applicants intending to study the Foundation degree as part of a route to gaining a higher professional qualification (such as qualified teacher status or higher level teaching assistant status) should note the entry requirements for those programmes

Modules

Year 1
Introduction to Study Skills
Reflective Journal
Safeguarding & Well-being of Children & Young People
An Introduction to Communication & Management in Integrated Children’s Services
Introduction to the Development of Children & Young People (0-19 years)
Understanding Motivation & Behaviour in Children & Young People
Work-Based Project (double module)

Year 2
Reflective Journal
Developing Collaboration in Integrated Children’s Services (double module)
Social & Emotional Development of Children & Young People (0-19 years) (double module)
Working with Vulnerable Children & Young People
Work-Based Independent Study (double module)

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used, both practical and theoretical. These include:

Formal (summative) assignments, which include a critical review of module learning outcomes

Informal (formative) work-based tasks

In addition, Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) can be given for those students who have evidence of appropriate academic qualifications or work-based learning

Course Leader

"This course is designed for anyone working in a particular children’s service who has an interest in collaborative and integrated working to provide a multi-agency service."

Academic department

Institute of Education

“Our high quality programmes and innovative teaching methods prepare and train the very best professionals. Worcester graduates have made a huge difference in the field of education.”
Professor Chris Robertson, Head of Institute

Employability

This Foundation degree is designed to support employment in a range of children’s services and may also enable entry to relevant Level 6 Higher Education programmes, such as Professional Practice BA (Hons), which is taught currently in the South West, Social Work and Youth Work.

After completing an Honours degree you may wish to progress further onto Masters level partnership programmes, which include PGCE (teacher training), Postgraduate Professional Development, PGDip and MA or MSc in Leadership and Management in Integrated Children’s Services.