Working with Children, Young People and Families

Working with children, young people and families sits within the broader field of social and community care, drawing on child development, social policy, psychology, law and safeguarding to prepare practitioners who can support the wellbeing of children and young people in a range of statutory and voluntary settings. It is a field that combines applied knowledge with professional values, and one where the quality of relationships and the exercise of sound judgement matter as much as technical competence.

Studying this programme part-time at the University of Northampton allows you to develop your professional knowledge and reflective practice at a pace that can be combined with existing work or caring commitments. The content covers child and adolescent development, the legislative and policy frameworks that shape children's services in England, approaches to safeguarding and family support, theories of intervention and the skills needed to engage effectively with children, young people and their families. Part-time study of this kind is particularly well suited to those who are already working in early years, youth work, education support, social care or the voluntary sector and want to develop a more systematic understanding of the field alongside their practice.

The subject demands a particular kind of professional self-awareness. You will be asked to examine your own assumptions and values, to understand how power operates in relationships between professionals and service users, and to keep the needs and rights of children at the centre of your practice. These are challenging but essential habits of mind for anyone working in this field.

Graduates go on to work in a wide range of settings, including schools, children's centres, youth organisations, family support services, local authority children's services and the voluntary sector. The degree also provides a foundation for further professional training, including routes into social work, youth work qualification or postgraduate study in child and family welfare, education or community development.