MSc Childhood Development and Wellbeing in Practice

OVERVIEW

Who is the course for?

Our masters degree in Childhood Development and Wellbeing is designed for practitioners working with children, young people and families, and students looking to develop a foundation in theory and practice issues relating to young people’s mental health.

You might be a social worker, youth worker or a teacher looking to update your knowledge of mental health in children and young people. Or, you might be a speech and language therapist looking for a course combining theory with skills practice.

Whichever stage you’re at in your career, our course focuses on developing your therapeutic and clinical skills, theoretical knowledge, applied research skills, and explores wellbeing for practitioners.

What will you learn and how will you learn?

Some of the topics you’ll consider include key mental health and wellbeing constructs during childhood, ‘typical’ development, strategies to maintain your wellbeing at work, and how to design research projects with impact.

The course will give you the opportunity to understand how major life events and intersectional issues affect development and growth, as well as practical tools for undertaking assessments and designing effective interventions for young people across a range of settings.

Practical skills sessions typically focus on skills such as employing standardised assessment tools, managing important issues surrounding consent and confidentiality when working with young people, and how to be an effective member of an interdisciplinary team.

CAREER PROSPECTS

You’ll have the skills to develop your career in mental health services for children and young people, such as in schools, social work, educational psychology and children’s centres.

You could also continue with your studies through a professional doctorate (e.g. clinical, counselling or educational psychology) or through a PhD to further your career in mental health services or academia.

When you complete stage 1 and stage 2 (the professional doctorate), you can apply to the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) for practitioner registration. Applications to the Professional Doctorate are competitive and offers are only made to up to ten students per intake following a robust selections process.