Professional Education and Training PgCert/PgDip
Why choose this course?
This course provides a career development pathway for those wishing to specialise in professional education and training within their professional field relevant to social work and or social care. All modules include practical elements, are research-informed and can be chosen to suit your professional needs.
You can develop your skills and knowledge in a variety of areas such as practice education, coaching, mentoring, supporting, assessing and managing others, teamwork, interprofessional practice and leadership.
You will need to complete two 30-credit modules to gain the PgCert. For the PgDip you will need four modules. The course incorporates recent changes in social work education and professional regulation.
| Mode | Duration | Attendance | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part time | 3 years | Flexible |
January 2020 September 2020 |
Please note: you can take free-standing modules as part of your CPPD in social work. The following qualifications are also available:
- Professional Education and Training PgCert/PgDip
- Practice Education (Social Work) PgCert
| Location | Kingston Hill |
2020/21 entry
If you are planning to join this course in the academic year 2020/21 (i.e. between August 2020 and July 2021), please view the information about changes to courses for 2020/21 due to Covid-19.
Continuing students
Students who are continuing their studies with Kingston University in 2020/21 should refer to their Course Handbook for information about specific changes that have been, or may be, made to their course or modules being delivered in 2020/21. Course Handbooks are located within the Canvas Course page.
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- Continue your professional development by supporting the education and development of others.
- It is ideal if you work in a field relevant to social work or social care and wish to wish to specialise in professional education and training.
- This course will enhance your career progression opportunities.
What you will study
You will learn about latest developments and research in social work and social care education around the world and the global agenda for social work.
In addition, you will develop the professional practice skills needed to work in professional education and training in social work, social care or other relevant sectors; e.g. educating, mentoring, supporting, assessing and managing others; teamwork and interprofessional practice; and leadership skills.
There is a strong emphasis on developing your critical appraisal of research evidence and exploring ethical frameworks.
Modules
Available modules
Practice Education Stage 1
30 credits
This module equips registered social workers to undertake the responsibilities of a Stage 1 Practice Educator (Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW). Students who complete this module successfully will be able to supervise, teach and assess social work degree students up to but not including the final assessment prior to qualification. At this stage they may contribute to the last placement but not take full responsibility for assessment or act as the practice educator on a day-to-day basis. Students undertaking this module are required to undertake a practicum which entails acting as a Stage 1 practice educator to a degree in social work student on a first placement (70 days).
This module is only available to registered social workers with two years or more post-registration practice experience. It is targeted at social worker/experienced social worker level.
Practice Education Stage 2
30 credits
This module equips registered social workers to undertake the responsibilities of a Stage 2 Practice Educator (Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW). Students who complete this module successfully will be able to supervise, teach and assess social work degree students up to and including the last placement and to work with ASYE candidates. In effect, these practice educators will have the authority and capability to recommend, on the basis of appropriate evidence, that the social work students are fit to practise at the point of qualification. The module includes practice assessment.
This module is only available to registered social workers with three years or more post-registration practice experience and who have completed Practice Educator Stage 1 or equivalent. It is targeted at experienced social worker level.
Individual Work-based Learning Project
30 credits
This module provides an opportunity for students to undertake, under academic supervision, work-based projects and gain credit for this work. The work-based learning approach assumes self-directed and autonomous learning. The module develops the student's own critical reflection skills and to work as a mature self-directed student. Learning outcomes and the method of working will be agreed jointly by the student, module leader / academic supervisor and workplace mentor. The assessment strategy is based upon the principle that work based activities can be used to generate critical reflection and learning outcomes which are consistent with M level academic attainment. The assessment submission can take a variety of forms such as reports, essays, discussion documents, and practice analysis.
Final Research Project (Capstone)
60 credits
This module is required for students undertaking studies at Masters Level and is normally taken after achieving PG Diploma Level. The module will provide students with the experience of utilising principles of research and academic writing and thus demonstrate the intellectual skills learnt on the course. Students are expected to critically review research and to evaluate the evidence underpinning their own practice. The module will provide students with the opportunity to implement the knowledge and skills developed during the previous modules by conducting research focused on a topic of their choice related to their area of practice with the support of a research supervisor. The module will enhance students' presentation and publication skills as the assessment includes writing an abstract, oral presentation and writing an article suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal.
The information above reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. Updates may be made on an annual basis and revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. The regulations governing this course are available on our website. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this may not be offered.
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
A strong emphasis is placed on developing your critical appraisal of research evidence, exploring ethical frameworks and the development and demonstration of professional capability at advanced levels. 'Research mindedness', awareness of international perspectives and the achievement of high professional and academic standards are hallmarks of the programme. This programme encourages the development of knowledge, skills, insights and attitudes that will allow graduate educators and trainers to contribute to development and improvement of professional practice.
Who teaches this course?
Every member of the teaching staff has substantial practice experience in social work. In addition, many are actively involved in social work research, presenting regularly at conferences and publishing in books and journals. In addition, our course teams draw on the wealth of experience provided by our professional contacts and service users and carers who feed into the design of our courses and provide teaching and supervision to enrich your learning. Postgraduate research students may also contribute to the teaching of guest lectures.
Course fees and funding
Here you can find more details about fees for this course, as well as any funding opportunities available to you for this course. Please note that fees relate to the academic year in question and will increase in future years.
Facilities
The Practice Learning Suite is a purpose-built facility where social work and social care students have the opportunity to learn and to practise key social work skills.
The suite is divided into several sections including:
- a seminar/case conference room for a maximum of 20 people;
- a simulated living-room and front door to assist in developing skills relating to home visits;
- five interview rooms simulating work environments;
- a control room with two-way mirror and viewing monitors; and
- all rooms have fitted cameras and microphones so that activities can be recorded.
After you graduate
There is an increasing demand for well-qualified educators and trainers in human services. Our graduates work in:
- social care and justice;
- sector skills councils;
- higher education;
- freelance training;
- consultancy; and
- as independent educators.
What our students say
Links with business and industry
We are involved in a unique teaching partnership with seven local authorities and two voluntary sector agencies, including Achieving for Children, Croydon Adult and Children's services, Kingston Adult services, Merton Adult and Children's services, Surrey Children's services, Sutton Adult and Children's services, Richmond & Wandsworth Adult services, Wandsworth Children's services, NSPCC and Welcare.
The course has strong long-standing links with other local employers in south-west London and Surrey including:
Practising social workers are involved in teaching, bringing theory to life with their front-line experiences.
Representatives of service users and carers contribute to assessment and quality assurance on our programme.
Current research in this subject
Many of our staff in the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education are research active, often in partnership with NHS Trusts. This ensures they are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies.
Social work research activity focuses around several key areas:
- risk and child abuse;
- children's rights;
- learning processes and partnership approaches in professional education;
- management of child protection systems;
- safeguarding adults;
- mental capacity; and
- effectiveness of community-based responses to crime.
We conduct much of our social care research and consultancy either in partnership with or on behalf of the social service, voluntary sector and probation agencies.
