Creative Approaches to Working with Children, Young People and Families - SPY00041I
Module summary
| This module will provide you with an
opportunity to learn about and practice some creative approaches
to working with children, young people and families. This module
may appeal to anyone who has an interest in careers relating to
health and social care, social work, education. The module will give you the opportunity to explore the multiple social issues that face young people growing up in a challenging and fast changing environment. You will also be introduced to interventions that may be undertaken on a 1:1 basis, within the community and groups, and family work. Throughout the module, you will be supported by experts, including those with lived experience of receiving services and professional experience of delivering effective approaches, to create your own intervention. |
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2025-26 |
Module aims
| This module will provide you with an
opportunity to learn about and practice some creative approaches
to working with children, young people and families. This will
involve developing: - An insight into some of the challenges in contemporary society faced by children, young people and families - An understanding of the rationale for using creative approaches as a way to explore these - Core skills such as communication, collaboration and negotiation with others. - Direct work techniques such as the use of art, role play and other approaches as a way to work with children, young people and families. There will be input from a range of people, including practitioners from social care agencies and People with Lived Experience (PLE). |
Module learning outcomes
| Having completed the module,
students will be able to: LO 1: Understand how human development and the social environment (including social and political context and the resulting societal stressors) influence the experience of children, young people and families LO 2: Understand the process and underlying theory around developing an appropriate intervention to meet the needs of children and young people. LO 3: Demonstrate an ability to communicate, negotiate and collaborate effectively in partnership with others LO 4: Demonstrate skills around critical reflection in order to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions LO 5: Understand the experience of children, young people and families and how they can contribute to the development of services |
Module content
| The module will include 11 taught
classes (one per week), each two hours in length. Classes will
include both direct teaching and group discussion/activity.
There will also be a full day’s teaching building on the focus
of Classes 1 and 5, giving students an opportunity to further
practice skills in group work and effective communication with
People with Lived Experience. Preparation for classes will be
required. There will be recommendations given as to indicative
reading for the presentation topics, which students can begin to
prepare early in the semester. A recorded presentation will be
made, introducing the module, explaining the content and
discussing the assessment task. This will be available before
the commencement of Semester 2. Taught classes will include developing foundational knowledge in areas such as Basic introduction to the module Collaborative working and negotiating Creating effective environments for working in partnership Policy and knowledge base Theory underpinning intervention Basic child development Parenting and parenting styles Interagency working and escalation Planning a project Guest speakers in specialist areas may include areas such as domestic violence, exploitation, children in care, drug and alcohol, family support |
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 50.0 |
| University - project | 50.0 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 50.0 |
| University - project | 50.0 |
Module feedback
Written feedback on both assessments 20 days after submission date
Indicative reading
Brandler, S (2015) Group Work: Skills and Strategies for Effective Interventions (3rd ed) Routledge
Koprowska, J. (2014) Communication and Interpersonal Skills in Social Work, (4th ed) Learning Matters
Rogers, M. et al. (2016) Developing Skills for Social Work Practice, London: SAGE
Thompson, N and Thompson, S (2018) The Critically Reflective Practitioner, (2nd ed) Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke
Thompson, N (2021) People Skills (5th ed) Red Globe Press
Trevithick, P (2021) Social Work Skills and Knowledge: A Practice Handbook (3rd ed) McGraw-Hill/Open University Press
Adams, R. (2012) Working with children and families: Knowledge and contexts for practice. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 109-118
Frost, N. (2011) Rethinking children and families: The relationship between Childhood, Families and the State. London: Continuum
Frost, N., Abbott, S. and Race, T. (2015) Family support. Cambridge: Polity Press