THE SENATE
PATHWAY APPROVAL REPORT
(Core and/or Franchised Provision)
A confirmed report of the event held on 21 May 2009 to consider the
approval of the following pathways:
BA (Hons) Specialist Social Work: Social Work with Adults
Graduate Diploma Specialist Social Work: Social Work with Adults
Faculty of Health & Social Care
Delivery of Pathways at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge &
Chelmsford
Quality Assurance Division
SECTION A – OUTCOME SUMMARY
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
The purpose of the event was to consider the approval of the BA (Hons) Specialist Social
Work: Social Work with Adults and Graduate Diploma Specialist Social Work: Social Work
with Adults
1.2
The pathways will be located in the Social Work & Counselling programme, Social Work &
Social Policy Department in the Faculty of Health & Social Care.
2.
CONCLUSIONS
2.1
The Panel recommends to the Senate the approval of the following pathways:


BA (Hons) Specialist Social Work: Social Work with Adults
Graduate Diploma Specialist Social Work: Social Work with Adults
Approval, once confirmed, will be for an indefinite period, subject to Anglia Ruskin’s
continuing quality assurance procedures.
The mode of attendance for each pathway will be part-time.
2.2
The Panel recommends to the Senate the approval of two new modules for delivery. The
full titles of all new modules are provided in section D of this report.
2.3
Conditions
Approval is subject to the following conditions which were set by the Panel. A copy of the
response must be lodged with the Executive Officer by the date(s) detailed below:
Details of Condition
Deadline
Response to
be considered
by
2.3.1
The Proposal Team shall review and re-submit
the PSFs and MDFs to ensure amendments are
made in line with the Technical Report and the
discussions held at the Approval Event.
(Paragraph 9.4)
12 June 2009
Chair,
Executive
Officer &
Technical
Officer
2.3.2
The Proposal Team shall re-visit and re-draft, as
appropriate, the PSFs to reflect the observations
of the Panel, in particular, the Intended Learning
Outcomes and employment issues and to lodge
a resulting revised mapping exercise.
(Paragraphs 4.5 & 9.2)
12 June 2009
Chair &
Executive
Officer
2.3.3
The Proposal Team shall re-draft the Student
Handbook to include:
 pathway specification information;
 the roles of relevant key personnel; and
 information relating to assessment tools,
including patchwork texts.
(Paragraphs 5.1 & 6.2)
12 June 2009
Chair &
Executive
Quality Assurance Division
2
Confirmed
2.4
Recommendations
The following recommendations for quality enhancement were made by the Panel. A copy
of the responses to the recommendations listed below must be lodged with the Executive
Officer. The Faculty Board for the Faculty of Health & Social Care will consider the
responses at its meeting of 13 October 2009:
2.4.1
2.5
Details of Recommendation
Deadline
It is recommended that the Proposal Team keeps under review
the usefulness of a generic Student Handbook. (Paragraph 9.1)
12 June 2009
Issues Referred to the Senate (or appropriate standing committee)
The Panel did not identify any institution-wide issues requiring the attention of the Senate
or the appropriate standing committee of the Senate.
Quality Assurance Division
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Confirmed
SECTION B – DETAIL OF DISCUSSION AND PANEL CONCLUSIONS
3
RATIONALE
3.1
The BA (Hons) and Graduate Diploma Specialist Social Work: Social Work with Adults
were originally validated in 2008 as part of the suite of PQ Awards. The purpose of the reapproval event was to make the two pathways more balanced, accessible and flexible
whilst continuing to meet the requirements of the General Social Care Council’s (GSCC’s)
and those of local practitioners and employers. Delivery of the two pathways was
schedules to start in September 2009.
4
CURRICULUM DESIGN, CONTENT AND DELIVERY
4.1
The terms adult and vulnerable adult were discussed. The Proposal Team was able to
demonstrate what these terms meant/extended to in respect of the two pathways and also
identified the modules that would relate to these such as Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults.
4.2
The student profile was of interest to the Panel. It was explained this varies by delivery
site. For example in Chelmsford, the Assessing Risk module had 18 students and of those,
approximately 14 students work with adults with learning difficulties and the rest with older
people in a variety of settings. Whereas the cohort in Peterborough comprises mainly of
students working with sensory and physical disabilities, together with learning disabilities.
In terms of the delivery of the pathways, this is bespoke to meet the needs of the students
in that area: focussing on the requirements of the individual learner and drawing on their
expertise.
4.3
It was noted that the Proposal Team has links with larger agencies across the region but
the Panel enquired as to smaller sized agencies. The Proposal Team confirmed there is
less involvement with those - this was attributed to funding and time. However, it was
hoped that if bursaries are maintained and expanded this may change over time. It was
also felt that the use of VLEs would assist with distance learning.
4.4
A discussion took place regarding the Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) for the
pathways. In addition to clarifying a number of specific points raised by the Panel, the
Proposal Team was asked to amend the language used in relation to ILOs 1 and 3 in
accordance with the Panel’s comments in order to ensure these appropriately conveyed
the level and were sufficiently explicit. The Panel also felt that ILO 7 represented a skill
and, as such, should be captured under Intellectual (thinking), practical, affective and
transferable skill (16B) rather that Knowledge and Understanding (16A). (Condition 2.3.2)
4.5
The Proposal Team confirmed that the 21 units of the Occupational Standards would all be
assessed in the Consolidation module Assessing Risk. The Panel considered this should
be explicitly stated the Student Handbook.
5
ASSESSMENT STRATEGY
5.1
The Panel noted that the submission deadlines appeared to be heavily weighted at the end
of the semester and asked how the Proposal Team would ensure that students receive the
necessary formative feedback during the semester. The Proposal Team confirmed this
would be achieved in part by the use of patchwork text which would enable the students to
develop work with their peers and the tutor during the course of the module. It was
explained that the patchwork text would consists of 3 patches/pieces of work from different
perspectives that would be discussed at the time of writing with the last one weaving them
together. These pieces of work could be reviewed/refined by the student prior to
completing the assessment. In addition, workbooks would also be used and feedback
Quality Assurance Division
4
Confirmed
provided. The Panel was of the view that the use of patchwork text and other forms of
formative feedback should be fully articulated in the Student Handbook and therefore made
it a condition of the event. (Condition 2.3.3)
6
STAFFING, LEARNING RESOURCES AND STUDENT SUPPORT
6.1
The Panel noted the competing demands that would be placed on students in terms of
work and study. The Proposal Team explained that local stakeholders are very keen for
their workforce to post qualify and at the same time retain their staff. In view of this, it has
been possible for staff at Anglia Ruskin to enter into working relationships with employers
thus providing them with an understanding of what will be required of a student, particularly
in terms of time. It was also noted that there has been a high retention rate for both the
Mental Health & Child Care PQ Award pathways. The Panel concluded that the approach
taken in respect of employer engagement is evidence that this approach work.
6.2
The Panel was of the view that roles of relevant key personnel, such as mentors, academic
tutor and line managers, and their impact on the students should be made more explicit.
Accordingly, it was decided this information would be best placed in the Student Handbook.
(Paragraph 2.3.3)
7
NATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND STATUTORY BODY REQUIREMENTS
7.1
It was noted that the General Social Care Council (GSCC) had been made aware of the
proposed changes and would be notified of the event outcome in due course.
8
DOCUMENTATION
8.1
The Student Handbook, which it was explained covers all the PQ Awards, was discussed
and areas for improvement and change in respect of the Adult pathways were noted by the
Proposal Team. Whilst the Panel accepted that the Student Handbook would dovetail with
the module guides and that these would provide more detailed information in respect of
each module, it was felt that the usefulness of having a generic Student Handbook should
be keep under review. (Recommendation 2.4.1).
8.2
The Panel raised a number of points in respect of the PSFs. In particular box 17 needed to
clearly state the entry requirements and should also make clear what would happen if a
student lost their job during their time at Anglia Ruskin, as being in employment would be
key to them achieving the pathway ILOs. Also, in line with earlier discussions, certain ILOs
needed to be reviewed and where necessary amended and the relevant mapping exercise
be revised in line with these changes. (Paragraph 2.3.2)
8.3
The Panel also raised a number of points regarding the MDFs as detailed on the Combined
Checklist of Issues. It was noted that these and other points raised during the discussion
would be captured in the Technical Report, a condition of the event, and that the Proposal
Team would be provided with this report following the event. (Condition 2.3.1)
9
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1
The external panel member who had acted in the same capacity at the PQ Awards event in
2008 complimented the Proposal Team on this development. The Panel also thanked the
Proposal Team for its input in the process and urged them not to undersell themselves.
Quality Assurance Division
5
Confirmed
9
CONFIRMATION OF STANDARDS OF AWARDS
11.1
The Panel confirmed that the proposed BA (Hons) Specialist Social Work: Social
Work with Adults and Graduate Diploma Specialist Social Work: Social Work with
Adults pathways satisfied the University’s Academic Regulations with regard to the
definitions and academic standards of Anglia Ruskin awards and, hence, the QAA’s
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.
DRAFT
UNCONFIRMED
CONFIRMED
FILE REF
OFFICE FILE REF
Quality Assurance Division
6
16 October 2009
28 October 2009
Confirmed
SECTION C – DETAILS OF PANEL MEMBERSHIP AND PROPOSAL TEAM
Internal Panel Members:
Julia Ramsay (Chair)
Shadow Deputy Head of Law
Principal Lecturer - Law
Faculty of Arts, Law & Social Sciences
Dr Trevor Emmett
Principal Lecturer
Department of Life Sciences
Faculty of Science & Technology
External Panel Members:
Jim Reid
Senior Lecturer
School of Education and Professional Development
University of Huddersfield
Jenny Smith
Independent Social Work Consultant/
External Examiner
Executive Officer:
Sara Elliott
Faculty Quality Assurance Officer
Quality Assurance Division, Academic Office
Technical Officer:
Alex Toole
Academic Regulations Officer
Quality Assurance Division
Academic Office
Members of Proposal Team:
Peter Scourfield
Senior Lecturer Social Policy & Social Work
Faculty of Health & Social Care
Sarah Burch (Acting Head of Department)
Social Work & Social Policy
Faculty of Health & Social Care
Andrew Maynard
Programme Leader
Social Work & Social Policy
Faculty of Health & Social Care
Adrian Black
Principal Lecturer, Social Work
Social Work & Social Policy
Faculty of Health & Social Care
Quality Assurance Division
7
Confirmed
SECTION D – OUTCOME DATA
Programme
Department
Faculty
Collaborative Partner
New/amended Awards
Approved (nb intended awards
Social Work & Counselling
Social Work & Social Policy
Faculty of Health & Social Care
Title(s) of Named Pathway(s)
Attendance mode
and duration
BA (Hons
Specialist Social Work: Social Work with Adults
Part-time 3-years
Graduate Diploma
Specialist Social Work: Social Work with Adults
Part-time 2-years
only, not intermediate awards)
Validating body (if not Anglia Ruskin University)
Professional body accreditation
Proposal Team Leader
Month and Year of the first intake
Standard intake points
Maximum and minimum student numbers
Date of first Conferment of Award(s)
Any additional/specialised wording to appear on
transcript and/or award certificate
Date of next scheduled Periodic Review
Awards and Titles to be deleted (with month/year of last
regular conferment)
GSCC
Peter Scourfield
January 2010
NEW MODULES APPROVED
DP330105S
DP315069S
DP315070S
Social Work with Adults in Context
Enabling Others
Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
Quality Assurance Division
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Confirmed
List of Post Qualifying Awards for Social Work as at 16 July 2009




BA (Hons) Specialist Social Work: Social Work with Adults
Graduate Diploma Specialist Social Work: Social Work with Adults
MA Advanced Social Work: Social Work with Adults
Post-Graduate Diploma in Higher Specialist Social Work: Social Work with Adults




BA (Hons) Specialist Social Work: Children and Young People, their Families and Carers
Grad Dip Specialist Social Work: Children and Young People, their Families and Carers
MA Advanced Social Work: Children and Young People, their Families and Carers
Post-Graduate Diploma in Higher Specialist Social Work: Children and Young People, their
Families and Carers


MA Advanced Social Work: Leadership and Management
Post-Graduate Diploma in Higher Specialist Social Work: Leadership and Management



MA: Mental Health Services
Post-Graduate Diploma: Mental Health Services
Post-Graduate Certificate: Mental Health Services


MA Advanced Social Work: Practice Education
Post-Graduate Diploma in Higher Specialist Social Work: Practice Education
Quality Assurance Division
9
Confirmed