Module manager: Dr Katie Gathercole
Email: k.a.gathercole@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module explores contemporary issues in relation to child welfare. The module will be relevant to all those thinking of careers working with children - including teaching, social work and the therapeutic professions. The theory, practice and policy of issues such as multiagency working, safeguarding, children in care, family support, and the role of the voluntary sector and government initiatives, will be critically examined. The central focus of the course will be the Children Act (1989), the Children and Families Act (2014), and ‘Working together to safeguard children’ (2018) the statutory guidance that informs the way that agencies work together to promote children’s welfare.
This module is designed to explore some of the critical debates relevant to the welfare of children and young people. The focus of the module is upon the theoretical, practical and research implications of these debates. There is some flexibility within the module to the changing nature of the state and the political ideologies that influence the development of child welfare policy and practice. The module objectives are to:
- Critically evaluate the role of the state and changing approaches to child welfare policy;
- Explore various influences upon the development of child welfare policy and practice;
- Explore debates within research, theory and practice in relation to child welfare;
- Critically evaluate the practical implications of child welfare policy across interdisciplinary contexts
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1- Evaluate child welfare policy and practice with children and families;
2- Examine the relationship between children, families and the state and the impact upon child welfare policy and practice
3- Appraise current issues and debates in relation to child welfare, family support and intervention approaches.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following BA Childhood Studies Skills Learning Outcomes:
- Critically reflect on the voice of children and young people within broader debates in the field of study.
- Problem solve challenges related to children’s welfare
- Systems thinking concerning ecological factors involved in supporting children and young people’s welfare
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 2 | 22 |
| Seminar | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Private study hours | 175 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 25 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for each summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | . | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 23/01/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team