Applied Social Science Subject Guide 2015

* Experience and employability * The skills to succeed * Graduates in demand

WELCOME

www.beds.ac.uk

The University of Bedfordshire has won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2011, the most prestigious corporate award that any UK business can win.

con t e n t s 3

NEWS

The latest headlines from Social Sciences

THE Welcome. Are you feeling sociable?

PEOPLE 4 MEET Because we’re going to take you on a tour of the Department of Applied Social Studies.

FOR WORK 8 PREPARING You’ll be meeting staff and students and we’ll be getting graduates on the couch to tell us LISTINGS 10 COURSE about studying at Bedfordshire, as well as their rewarding careers.

You’ll also be able to analyse our fantastic facilities and draw your own conclusion on this case.

If you choose Bedfordshire for your study, we promise you’ll be in safe hands and your career will be on the right path.

Students, staff and graduates talk candidly about the department

Campus facilities, activities and events to enhance employability

A run-down of the courses we provide

© University of Bedfordshire, 2014. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part strictly prohibited without the permission of the publishers. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the University of Bedfordshire. Information correct at date of publication, but subject to change.

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The University ire of Bedfordsh for st fir ed nk is ra ent ud st improving the l na io at (N e experienc ey rv Su t en Stud 2014)

Scholarships for students Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care, success of paid placements for students The Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care offers the Tilda Goldberg Scholarship scheme to two Social Work students each year.

They carry out paid work at the Centre, which proves valuable for their CV. The Centre is run by Professor Donald Forrester (left).

He explains that Social Work students apply with a CV and covering letter stating how they would carry out the work and how their interest in the topics arose. The placement work has previously included a conference, a survey project and a literature review. More recent students on placement undertook an intellectual biography of Tilda Goldberg and a review of evidence relating to adopted children affected by maternal substance abuse.

See pages 8-9 for information on other opportunities open to students.

Subject Guide Applied Social Sciences

World-leading research by our Social Sciences academics receives the Queen’s Anniversary Prize Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh presented the University of Bedfordshire with the leading award in higher education at an honours ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education was bestowed upon the University in recognition of its applied research into child sexual exploitation, influencing new safeguarding policy and practice.

The award was presented to the University’s Vice Chancellor, Bill Rammell, and Professor Jenny Pearce, who led the pioneering research as Director of the International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Trafficking at the University.

Bill Rammell said: “It truly was an honour today to be invited to Buckingham Palace and to receive such a prestigious award from Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.

“To win the Queen’s Anniversary Prize is a landmark moment for the University of Bedfordshire. It brings national and international recognition to the University for its groundbreaking research in social work and social care. I am particularly pleased that, by addressing the societal challenge of child sexual exploitation, this University has made an impact on policy and practice that will change the lives of many young people.”

The Royal Anniversary Trust said the University’s work was of strategic national importance, influencing UK policy and practice, adding that it has positioned the University as a leader of child-centred research in an area of growing social concern.

Professor Jenny Pearce (pictured) said: “It is an enormous honour to receive this award.

“It means a lot for us as researchers as recognition of our work but also to the young people we work with who, through such recognition, appreciate that their efforts to stop sexual violence are recognised.”

Professor Pearce added: “Our work is distinctive and unique because of its collaborative approach, engaging with partners in government, funders, service providers and voluntary agencies, and because we prioritise the voice of the child through participatory methods of work.

“As a result, we are working with young people and other colleagues to advance theory, policy and practice. We are contributing to widespread changes in approaches to child sexual exploitation, positioning it firmly within strategies to safeguard children.”

Watch our video: http://uob.cc/socialsciences-award

Academy of Social Work and Early Intervention launches Launched through a partnership between Central Bedfordshire Council and the University of Bedfordshire, the pioneering Academy of Social Work and Early Intervention will offer learning and development opportunities to everyone in the children’s workforce in Central Bedfordshire or those thinking about joining it.

Cllr Mark Versallion, Executive Member for Children’s Services at Central Bedfordshire Council, explained: “There are a wide range of jobs on offer ranging from those interested in becoming a childminder to those looking for senior management roles. We want to support everyone involved in this area of work and our new Academy will offer something for everyone, whether they are simply curious about starting out or looking for continuing professional development.”

Professor Michael Preston-Shoot, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of Bedfordshire, said: “This is an important incentive to continue to raise the standard of skills and education in social work practice.” www.beds.ac.uk 3

meet the people

On the couch

Prepare to listen and make your assessment, as staff and students past and present share their experiences of life at the University of Bedfordshire

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Subject Guide Applied Social Sciences

Name

Professor Michael Preston-Shoot Title

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences Q What opportunities does studying Social Sciences at Bedfordshire offer students?

A You have the opportunity to study with academic staff who are internationally recognised for the standard of their teaching.

The University is very student-centred with a commitment to widening participation and enabling students to aspire and achieve.

Q Why did you decide to become a lecturer?

A To make a difference to my professional community by engaging in teaching, learning and research with the next generation of the workforce and the existing workforce. I was attracted to the department by the research standing of staff here, and to the University by its commitment to teaching quality and accessibility for people to higher education.

Q What is the most rewarding thing about your job here at Bedfordshire?

A Seeing that it is possible to make a difference.

Q Do you think the course equips students for jobs in the real-world when they leave?

A We have strong partnerships with employers, and students have opportunities for practical experience to prepare them for work.

The Department of Applied Social Studies at the University was established in 1994 and has come to be recognised as a place where teaching and research provide students with a rich and supportive learning environment. Students benefit from the latest knowledge and thinking on a range of subjects.

The Department is accredited by the National Youth Agency to provide courses leading to youth and community work qualifications, and by the General Social Care Council for the delivery of social work courses. We want to make sure that students flourish and achieve the best they can when they study with us.

Q How successful are graduates?

A Very. 92 per cent of students find a job or undertake further study within six months of graduating (DHLE, 2014).

Q What advice do you have for anyone thinking of coming to Bedfordshire?

A Studying here gives you the opportunity to interact with staff who are known nationally and internationally for their work, and who are student-centred in the learning opportunities that they offer. www.beds.ac.uk 5

meet the people Name

Norma Hoyte GRADUATED

BA (Hons) Criminology (2009) Job

Director, PLIAS Resettlement Tony Rhodes Award winner for the best performance in Community Management

Name

Joan Bailey MBE Course

PhD in Youth Justice GRADUATED

BA (Hons) Youth & Community Work (1997) Job

Programme Manager, Safer Luton Partnership and Local Councillor

Q Why did you choose to study at Bedfordshire?

A When I started out on my studies, I was a mature student with a young family and the University understood my other commitments and that I needed to be flexible.

Q What’s the most satisfying thing about your role?

A Being able to create safer communities. Safer Luton Partnership (SLP), an independent branch of charity Crime Concern, has been dedicated to this for more than 20 years. I have developed SLP’s youth unit and taken on many University of Bedfordshire student youth workers for placements. I’m also proud of our ‘cohesion team’ – a cutting-edge team of youth workers who can be called upon by the council or police in tricky situations.

Q How would you describe your experience at the University?

A My studies set me on the pathway to success and my dream role. I had such a positive experience that I wanted to offer the same kind of support to the next generation of youth workers. I’m thrilled that we can work in partnership with the University to help students gain relevant experience. I also encourage my staff to undertake further study at the University!

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QW hat’s the most rewarding thing about your job?

A We support the resettlement and reintegration of ex-offenders into society – one of the most socially excluded groups. They present challenging and complex needs, such as dual diagnosis, illiteracy and poor communication skills.

Many people in prison are unable to remedy these and when released these issues continue into the community. I love my role because I am able to create opportunities for people caught in the cycle of crisis, crime and mental health and help transform their lives.

Q How would you rate the staff at the University?

A I have immense gratitude to the members of staff of the Department of Applied Social Studies. As a mature student I can tell you with pride that I could not have chosen a more caring, sensitive, and highly supportive place in which to pursue my academic goals.

Name

Q Is the course preparing you for a job when you graduate?

A The Assessment Centre day is brilliant. It simulates job interviews and attending an employer’s workshop day. The staff worked hard to make the assessment as real as possible. It was a great learning experience.

Emma Cox course

BA (Hons) Child & Adolescent Studies Q What made you choose this course?

A I wanted a career working with at-risk children and families, and this course covers a broad spectrum.

Q What’s the best thing about your course?

A It gives you a deep understanding of society and how all social issues are interlinked.

The course also includes the experience of going for job interviews, and all that it entails.

Q Were there other career-oriented events?

A There was a conference with different agencies who spoke to us about job opportunities and what employers are looking for these days. I found this to be quite an eye-opening experience, because things have changed a lot since I was last writing and sending out CVs. Q How would you rate the staff?

A I really feel the staff want us to succeed and that they are prepared to help us in whatever way they can.

Q How would you sum up your experience?

A I am grateful for the privileges and opportunity to study at an institution where all students are valued and supported. I’ve met some wonderful people along the way – from the administration staff and students to the lecturers.

Q Any advice for people thinking of studying your course?

A Even if you can’t see the big picture at the beginning, trust that the lecturers are giving you the information that’s needed. Not only is the course useful for your future employment, but it is also life-enriching.

Subject Guide Applied Social Sciences Name

Hyacinthe Uwimana course

BA (Hons) Applied Social Studies Q Why did you choose your course?

A I have a disability and wanted to help other people with disabilities, since I understand what they are going through. This course has really opened the door for me and will give me a choice of careers when I finish.

welcome and comfortable. People take you just as you are, and your religion or race doesn’t matter.

Q Have you enjoyed your work placements?

A I have done a placement at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre where there are a lot of people who don’t speak English as their first language. So I’ve been able to talk to them and understand what they’re going through. It’s about putting what you’ve learnt into practice.

Q How do you rate the staff?

A They’re great. Everyone has been so caring and supportive of me and my disability.

Q Do you have any advice for prospective students?

A Come to Bedfordshire! I would recommend it.

It is a really good university, and I love it.

Q What is the best thing about the University?

A I am from Rwanda and so I would say the best thing is the fact that everyone feels

Q What three words would you use to describe the University?

A Wonderful, caring and multicultural.

Name

Elise Wells course

BSc (Hons) Social Work graduate (2012)

How has the course prepared you for employment?

The course has given me the confidence in my own abilities. It has helped me to develop my critical and analytical skills. The placements have stretched me beyond my comfort zones and helped me to realise that I can achieve in areas that I would not have attempted prior to the course.

Name

Ruth Corden course

BSc (Hons) Social Work graduate (2010)

PHOTOGRAPHY: Brijesh Patel

Q How did you find the teaching?

A Great! The lecturers in particular made learning fun and interactive.

Q How has the course helped you prepare for employment?

A The 200 days that I’ve spent out on relevant practice placements have really helped to prepare me for employment. Also, the University sorted out all my placements, so I didn’t have to worry.

Q Have you applied what you learnt from your degree?

A Yes. I got to put my skills into practice in the Channel 4 show, The Joy of Teen Sex, where I was filling the role of an agony aunt.

What skills have you further developed?

Working with others has helped me to recognise the importance of developing my leadership skills and my communicative skills with others.

What did you enjoy most about the course?

I have enjoyed every aspect of the course, even the units I found challenging. The tutors are great and so too is the peer support of your fellow students on a course like Social Work. We had a lot of workshops from outside agencies that were informative and helpful.

Any last words…?

I loved studying at the University and enjoyed all of the challenges I faced throughout my course. The sense of accomplishment I have is beyond words.

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PREPARING FOR WORK

We’re on the case We have experienced and approachable staff, a library packed full of journals and books, plus a wide array of events and activities designed to help students improve their employment prospects

SPECIALIST EXPERTS

External Experts

Our students are taught by experienced practitioners and academics who are authorities in their fields and whose cutting-edge research influences the University’s curriculum. For example: Professors John Pitts on East London gangs; Jenny Pearce on human trafficking; and Michael Preston-Shoot on practice in relation to law. In 2010 Professor Preston-Shoot was one of only 50 people to receive a National Fellowship Teaching Award.

What’s more, our staff work tirelessly to ensure students are getting all the support they need – whether studying at the Luton or Bedford campus, each student has a personal tutor who will provide one-to-one support throughout the course.

Final year students benefit from the expertise of visiting specialists such as Consultant Psychiatrist Professor Uttom Chowdhury, who specialises in working with young people on the autistic spectrum, and Professor Samuel Stein, Consultant in Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatry. Qualified practitioners in Social Work, Health and Social Care, and Youth and Community also visit the University to discuss their experiences with students. These experts are available as mentors and supervise students’ practice when on work placements.

Service User Experts

Current or past service users with a range of learning and physical disabilities and mental illnesses form the Experts By Experience group.

Their expertise informs the application and interview process, as well as the teaching, and includes workshops and assessments via presentations and role play.

AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Learning Resources Centre at the Luton campus has more than 300,000 books and 35,000 periodicals. There are also 300 networked PCs, which are available 24/7, as well as video viewing rooms. Students can communicate through podcasting, voice email and voice discussion boards, accessible from anywhere, at any time, by logging on to the University’s web-based distance learning system, Bedfordshire Resources for Education Online (BREO). We also have our new seven-storey library opening at our Luton campus in 2015, which will offer even more learning resources.

The library at our Bedford campus, also open 8 www.beds.ac.uk

24/7, contains more than 120,000 loan and reference materials, plus an IT training suite and 120 networked computers. In addition, the campus’s Learning Hub offers a dynamic environment that encourages interaction and group learning.

PARTNERS in crime

The Centre for Development of Social Care Practice is a joint venture between the University of Bedfordshire and Luton Borough Council’s Housing and Community Living, and Children and Learning Departments. The Centre provides practice learning opportunities for students on the BSc Social Work and the MSc Social Work courses at the University.

Students also benefit from the University’s robust partnerships with the NHS on sexual health projects and multi-agency working, and with Milton Keynes Council, Hertfordshire Council, Bedford Borough Council, Luton Borough Council, and Central Bedfordshire Council. Partnerships with local state-based schools help lead to student placements.

Students are also encouraged to give feedback on these placements.

Skills Units

All students have access to skills development opportunities across a number of different units during their first, second and third year of study, which promote skills for employment, based on multi-agency working and career development.

Criminology and Sociology students in years two and three have access to a Skills Unit which assesses their employability. This shows students how to research posts, write a compelling CV, make job searches, and perform in mock interviews.

Subject Guide Applied Social Sciences

Assessment Centres

These Centres offer students an opportunity to understand how employers assess graduates. In a simulated work environment, students carry out group problem-solving activities and observe best practice alongside professionals. They learn about working in a team and how to prepare for graduate applications. They also receive direct feedback from employers.

Going Professional

Our annual Going Professional conference takes a BBC Question Time format where students quiz industry professionals about job opportunities in human services. Aluma Norma Hoyte (pictured right, middle) from social enterprise PLIAS Resettlement is a regular panel member. (Norma was described by her former tutor as a ‘complete inspiration’ – read about her experience at Bedfordshire on page 6.) The conference includes the Make A Difference volunteering fair, which promotes opportunities to do CV-enhancing volunteer work and presents workshops where professionals talk about routes into the fields of human services.

External visits

External visits provide a valuable opportunity for our students to enhance their studies in real-world settings. The University has established strong relations with Bedfordshire Courts and Bedford Prison. Criminology and Sociology students have visited Bedford Prison, Luton Magistrates’ Court and the Galleries of Justice Museum in Nottingham.

Guest speakers

Courses are enhanced by access to the expertise of many guest speakers. For example: • Students on the Forensic Mental Health unit hear from a Broadmoor Hospital representative about procedures in the justice system and the mental health sector that deal with mentally ill offenders

• Speakers from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) discuss their work, including finger printing and DNA profiling • A talk on how to become a magistrate and the cases magistrates encounter in Bedford • Services provided by the University’s Making Research Count partnership include seminars and conferences addressing topical issues in social work and social care, journal clubs and access to specialist advice • The Director of Bedford Adult Social Services and other potential employers talk to students about the skills, competencies and qualities they look for in a graduate Volunteering

Representatives from charities come to talk to students about CV-improving opportunities to do volunteer work. Criminology and Sociology students are also introduced to an element of volunteering work in years two and three, in order to enhance their practical experience and their CVs. Interlinked courses

Our Social Work courses are very popular and because all of our courses are interlinked, students can progress to a Social Work qualifying course by first taking one of our other undergraduate degree courses (see pages 10-11). Students graduating with a good degree from one of the Department’s other courses can then apply for a place on the MSc Social Work to become a qualified Social Worker.

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COURSE LISTINGS

On Course We’ve got all the best courses to get your career on the right track

BA (Hons)/ BSc (Hons) refers to three or four year Bachelor’s degrees, with or without Honours. FDs refer to two year Foundation degrees run at one of our partner colleges and intended for people already in relevant employment, or students looking for classroom-based learning with an employment focus. A final year can be completed to top-up to an Honours degree. MSc/MA refers to Master’s degrees. PgCert/PgDip refers to a postgraduate certificate or diploma.

PhD refers to Professional Doctorates.

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Our Sociology, Social Policy & Anthropolog y subjects are ra nked 8th in the coun try (National Stud ent Survey 2014)

Subject Guide Applied Social Sciences UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES BA (Hons)

Applied Social Studies Luton campus This topical course is designed primarily for applicants interested in becoming professionals within the broad range of human services – including those who prefer to study part-time.

This course is taught by friendly staff and aims to support your entry into the human services professions, or help you develop your career.

BA (Hons)

Child & Adolescent Studies Luton campus Underpinned by world-leading research, this course will help you acquire an understanding of the essential aspects of child development and child welfare, equipping you to provide a skilled service to young people. It has a vocational orientation, and ‘real’ practice issues and experiences inform the curriculum. You will look at the rights of young people and the belief that they should have equal access to services and life opportunities regardless of social difference.

BA (Hons)

Criminology Luton campus This highly relevant course is designed to appeal to applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and experience. It has a strong practical and vocational orientation, designed to act as an entry to a career in the field. Criminology is concerned with the problem of crime, the conditions that generate it and the means by which it is controlled. Linked to the Vauxhall Centre for the Study of Crime, situated within the University, the teaching is informed by relevant research.

BA (Hons)

Criminology & Sociology Bedford campus Taught by supportive staff with research and consultancy experience, this course covers crime and criminal justice, while specialising in sociology. You will cover topics such as crime and deviance, crime prevention, policing and social theory.

BA (Hons)

Early Years Studies (stage 3 only)* Luton campus This course is a progression route for those students that are currently working within the early years sector and studying one of our Foundation degrees. The course has links with local early years establishments and representation at both national and regional level.

These close associations ensure that the course remains current and reflects the practice issues, events, research, legislation and policy influencing the welfare of children in early years care and education.

BA (Hons)

Health & Social Care Luton campus Delivered by world-leading researchers and experts in their field, this course responds to the blurring of boundaries between health and social care in recent years, as vulnerable people are increasingly supported within their own homes and communities by a range of agencies and practitioners working in partnership. The course is designed to prepare students to meet the challenges raised by such changes.

BSc (Hons)

Social Work Luton campus The Social Work course is the qualifying award for professional social work practice. The course is designed to comply with the Health and Care Professions Council requirements and College of Social Work Professional Capabilities Framework, giving graduates the ability to apply for professional registration as a qualified Social Worker. Developed in conjunction with statutory and voluntary partner agencies to reflect the changing needs of social work as a profession, this course prepares you for practice in this challenging field.

BA (Hons)

Sociology Bedford campus The course will improve your knowledge and understanding of a wide range of social, political, cultural and ethical issues. It will put these in the context of sociological theories which will help you to understand the contribution of sociology with regard to a wide range of social, political, cultural and ethical issues.

BA (Hons)

Youth & Community Work Luton campus This full-time course offers an exciting opportunity to learn and develop as a Youth and Community worker through both academic and practice learning. The course leads to both an academic and professional qualification in Youth and Community Work, which is validated by the National Youth Agency and recognised as the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) professional qualification.

University Certificate

Preparing for Social Welfare Luton campus The Certificate comprises three stage-one undergraduate units taken on a part-time basis over a single academic year. Topics include: sociological perspectives on policy development in British society; social processes and institutions underpinning social work practice; various models within social work settings; and concepts of inequality, discrimination and oppression.

FOUNDATION DEGREES FD

Child & Family Studies (Bedford College /Central Bedfordshire College/ Barnfield College) FD

100% overall satisfaction on our Youth & Com munity Work and Hea lth & Social Care co urses (National Stud ent Survey 2014)

Children, Families & Community Health (Grantham College) FD

Early Years Studies (Bedford College/Central Bedfordshire College/ Tresham College/UCMK campus) POSTGRADUATE DEGREES MA

Applied Social Work Practice: Children & Families PgCert/PgDip/MA Applied Social Work Practice: Leadership & Management* MA

Applied Social Work: Practice Education MA

Childhood & Youth: Applied Perspectives* MA

Criminology* MSc

Family & Systemic Psychotherapy PgCert Intermediate Child Focused Systemic Practice PgCert Intermediate Systemic Practice with Families & Couples MA

International Social Work & Social Development* PgDip

Professional Social Work Practice MSc

Social Work MSc

Systemic Leadership & Organisational Development MA/MSc/MPhil/PhD

Research Degrees in the Institute for Applied Social Research PhD

Professional Doctorate in Leadership in Children & Young People’s Services PhD

Professional Doctorate in Systemic Practice *Subject to approval

Full details for all our courses are available to download at www.beds.ac.uk/courses www.beds.ac.uk 11

Luton campus University Square Luton LU1 3JU

Bedford campus Polhill Avenue Bedford MK41 9EA

To apply and to find out more, call our Admissions Team on: +44 (0)300 3300 703