Working with Children, Young People & Families

Working with children, young people, and families is a discipline rooted in the recognition that effective support for children and those who care for them requires professionals with a thorough understanding of the social, economic, political, and cultural contexts in which families live. It draws on social policy, developmental psychology, sociology, and education to develop practitioners who are both critically informed and practically skilled, capable of responding appropriately to the complex realities that children and families face today.

At Birmingham Newman University this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, giving you the academic preparation needed to engage fully with degree-level content before entering the main degree. You will study child development, safeguarding and child protection, family support, the legal and policy frameworks governing children's services, and the practice skills needed to work ethically and effectively with children and young people across a range of settings. The degree develops your ability to reflect on your practice, to work collaboratively with other professionals, and to advocate for children and families in a system that can often be complex and difficult to navigate.

The typical entry tariff of 72 points reflects the broad entry base that the foundation year makes possible.

You will develop skills in professional communication, assessment, case recording, critical analysis, and the ethical practice that work with vulnerable children and families demands.

Graduates pursue careers in early years settings, children's social care, family support services, youth work, the voluntary sector, residential care, and education. The degree also provides a strong foundation for further professional training in teaching, social work, family therapy, or youth justice, and for postgraduate study in social work, childhood studies, or child and family welfare.