Social Welfare Law, Policy And Advice Practice BA (Hons)

This BA(Hons) Social Welfare Law, Policy and Advice Practice builds upon the success of the previous BA(Hons) Advice Studies award. It is designed to enhance and develop your existing skills and knowledge and to provide you with the opportunity to realise your academic potential, whilst improving your skills and knowledge. Those who have recently completed the award have told us that the successful completion of the degree has significantly developed their and confidence and has enhanced employment and career prospects.
The award is available in three stages: Certificate, Diploma and Degree. To achieve the Certificate in Social Welfare Law, Policy and Advice Practice you need to study the equivalent of one year full-time. The Diploma will take the equivalent of two years of full-time study and the Degree will require the equivalent of three years of full-time study. Many students may be able to secure credits because of work already completed or qualifications they already have via a formal APEL process.
Year 1 - Certificate in Social Welfare Law, Policy and Advice Practice includes: Legal Theory and Practice Welfare benefits and Money Advice The Context of Advice Services Housing Rights Consumer Protection Year 2 - Diploma in Social Welfare Law, Policy and Advice Practice includes: Social Welfare and Community Care Reflection on Experience Communication Skills Option Modules Year 3 Degree in Social Welfare Law, Policy and Advice Practice includes: Dissertation and Research Discrimination, Equal Opportunities and Human Rights Social Policy and Social Problems Option Modules Option Modules include: Management of Advice Services Understanding Disability Understanding Community Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Immigration Family and Personal Advice When you graduate, you'll find employment opportunities with organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, social housing providers, or in voluntary organisations providing advice and support to specific client groups such as older people, victims of domestic violence or people with mental health problems. You could also find work with Local Authority advice services or in specialised agencies in areas such as consumer protection, debt advice, housing advice and immigration advice.

The learning and teaching on this award seeks to combine the needs of the social welfare sector with the needs of individual students.

The sector needs advice practitioners with an adequate level of understanding of a range of subject areas and related policy issues, and of appropriate ways of working with clients, and who can demonstrate effective communication skills

The programme aims to enable you to develop the ability to analyse social problems and the role of the state, alongside voluntary and private welfare provision. You will gain an understanding of the legal basis of social welfare practice, knowledge of a range of legal remedies and other solutions, and the ability to critically analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of legal action. Values and communication skills are emphasised, particularly at Certificate Level when you are introduced to the knowledge, principles, and law underpinning advice practice in the sector.

Within a framework of independent and reflective learning we aim to provide you with the skills to work effectively in a variety of situations, and to enable you to practise in a way which is consistent with the objectives of equal opportunities and which upholds the rights of service users as citizens.

The strategy also takes into account the differing needs of students by offering variety of teaching and assessment methods. The teaching and learning methods which are chosen are those which will encourage you to achieve the specified learning outcomes. A variety of teaching methods are used in recognition of the fact that everyone has different experiences and learning styles, and with the aim of stimulating your motivation and encouraging independent learning. In particular, interactive and experiential learning activities, such as discussion and practical exercises, are used as much as possible to maximise the understanding of the material.
As a student studying the award distance learning you will access your materials via the Blackboard VLE and will sometimes share these spaces with our campus based students. You will have access to an award space, where we will encourage you to develop an award community by engaging in discussion forums. Tutors will be available for support through this mechanism and we will also encourage peer engagement. In addition tutors will also available by telephone and/or email. We will use a variety of teaching methods;

Methods include;

Online collaborative working including discussion forums

Guided independent study when you will be expected to conduct some research or read around a subject. You can access our library facilities online and will have the support of a subject librarian.

Module tasks including quizzes, tests and case scenarios or policy exercises

Live 'chat forums' with your tutor and fellow students