Working with Children, Families and Communities

Working with children, families, and communities is a degree for those who want to make a practical difference in the lives of young people and the communities in which families live. It is an applied discipline that draws on social work, education, community development, and psychology to develop practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and values to work effectively with diverse families and communities, particularly those experiencing disadvantage or difficulty. The degree reflects the reality that children's wellbeing is inseparable from the wellbeing of their families and the communities around them.

At Anglia Ruskin University, this programme is offered part-time, and students take the same modules as full-time students, sometimes in a different order or across different years, making it genuinely accessible to those who are already working in related fields or managing other commitments alongside study. You will develop your knowledge of child and adolescent development, safeguarding, community work practice, family support, and the policy and legislative frameworks that govern work with children and families, alongside the reflective practice and communication skills that professional work in this field demands.

Graduates of working with children, families, and communities programmes pursue careers as family support workers, community workers, youth workers, early years practitioners, children's centre professionals, and paraprofessionals in social care and education settings. The degree also provides a strong foundation for those who wish to progress to social work training or further postgraduate study in child and family services, education, or community development. The practical focus and applied nature of the degree means that many graduates are already working in related settings during their studies, and the qualification supports their professional advancement within those roles.