Credit bearing module in Psychosocial Care of Children, Adolescents and their Families

Program Overview

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This Psychosocial Care module focuses on assessing and intervening in childhood and adolescent psychosocial needs within family contexts. Through e-learning, seminars, and experiential groups, students develop understanding of family dynamics, attachment patterns, behavioral problems, and therapeutic approaches, enabling them to provide informed and evidence-based care. The module emphasizes personal and professional development, integrating graduate attributes like critical self-awareness and academic literacy.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

This Psychosocial Care of Children, Adolescents and their Families module opens with a focus on developing psychosocial assessment skills from a sound theoretical basis. A range of therapeutic approaches are introduced and you are encouraged to reflect on their use within your specific practice environment. This module will develop your understanding of the psychosocial needs that are expressed through a child’s behaviour and emotions, and your ability to identify and implement ways of managing them.

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Outline:

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Content:

The module covers topics such as:

• Psychosocial development across the lifespan, including cultural and historical context
• Understanding family dynamics and generational roles: applying structural interventions
• Attachment in infancy, childhood and adulthood including trans-generational patterns
• Assessment and Interventions from a psychodynamic perspective including containment
• Understanding child and adolescent problems and disorders in the context of the family
• Behavioural assessment and intervention including positive parenting and managing challenging behaviour
• Cognitive behavioural approaches and application to anxiety disorders in children and adolescents
• Interventions when working with parents.
Identifying and overcoming challenges.

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Structure:

The module is delivered through a blended approach, including:

• E-learning units
• Seminars (synchronous or asynchronous)
• Experiential learning groups (ELG)

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Course Schedule:

The module is offered as a part-time, one-semester program.

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Modules:

• The module is offered as a standalone module or as part of an award-bearing course.
• Each module encompasses practice in the work setting.
• The ELG component involves students reflecting on their work with a particular family, applying module knowledge, and gaining insights from group discussions.

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Assessment:

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Methods:

• The module is assessed by 100% coursework.
• The main assessment is a case study.

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Criteria:

• The case study aims to assess the student's ability to:
• Use theoretical understanding of psychosocial development and family systems to assess a child's problems within their family context.
• Identify appropriate interventions, providing a rationale for their choices.

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Teaching:

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Methods:

• The module utilizes a blended teaching approach, including:
• E-learning units
• Seminars (synchronous or asynchronous)
• Experiential learning groups (ELG)

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Faculty:

• The module is delivered by faculty from the Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery.

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Unique Approaches:

• The experiential learning groups (ELG) provide students with a platform for reflective practice and peer learning.

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Other:

• The module requires students to be working practitioners in a health or social care setting with babies, children, or adolescents, with access to families.
• Students are required to bring a case to the ELG and reflect on their work with a particular family.
• The module develops graduate attributes such as academic literacy, critical self-awareness, and personal literacy.
• The module emphasizes the relationship between these graduate attributes.