UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX

PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION UNIVERSITY TEMPLATE

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Section A

Awarding Body/Institution	University of Essex
Teaching Institution	Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
Professional accreditation by	Association of Family Therapy (AFT)
Final Award	Graduate Certificate in Systemic approaches to working with individuals, families and organisations (foundation)
NQF Level of Qualification	Level 6
Full / Part Time	Part time
Course Title	Systemic approaches to working with individuals, families and organisations (foundation)
QAA Benchmark Group	None
2nd QAA Benchmark Group
3rd QAA Benchmark Group for Joint Schemes
JACS Code
Revision Date
Admissions Criteria	Students will need to demonstrate an interest in, and aptitude for learning about systemic ideas.   Students will need to demonstrate an interesting the application of systemic ideas to their work contexts.   Students will have a first degree or in  social work, psychology, medicine, nursing, education or any allied field, or to be able to demonstrate an equivalent level of relevant experience. Students should be working in a setting that will allow them to apply and develop systemic ideas – a voluntary work placement is acceptable for this. Students will have to provide two references.   In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then the normal requirements for postgraduate courses is IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component) TOEFL IBT 91+ (min. 18 in each component). International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate courses.

Section B

Course Aims (to be completed by department)
Develop students’ understanding of systemic theory and practice so that they can critique and consider ideas fluently Develop students’ practice skills so that they can confidently apply systemic theory to their work setting Learn to reflect usefully on the personal professional dimension of practice Recognize how multiple contexts including political, cultural and theoretical discourses inform work and can support discrimination in practice.Explore the implications of the Association of Family Therapy (AFT) code of ethics within current practice.
Course Outcomes (to be completed by department)
A.  Knowledge and Understanding
Learning methods Students are taught in whole groups, smaller groups and are in consulting pairs for learning support.		Assessment methods Three essays, one each term. Tutors also provide continuous feedback regarding personal/professional development and group process
1     2   3	Learning Outcomes   History of Systemic Ideas, including cybernetics and the development towards post-modern thinking Cultural and political discourses and their place in the Systemic theoretical frame Approaches to working creatively with families, couples and organisations
B.  Intellectual/Cognitive Skills
Learning methods Students are taught in: Whole group lectures Seminars in small groups Tutorials Independent Study and assignment preparation Library skills workshop- conducting a literature search		Assessment methods Assignments Examination of a clinical presentation
4   5     6     7	Develop an ability to analyse and critically evaluate theoretical ideas Develop an ability to reflect on practice and connect it to personal and professional development Develop an ability to understand how theory can support inherent discrimination in an organisations’ practice and structure Develop a recognition of own and others’ involvement in their practice
C.  Practical Skills
Learning methods Whole group lectures Seminars in small groups Tutorials Independent Study and assignment preparation		Assessment methods Assignments Examination of a clinical presentation
8     9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16	Learning Outcomes   Interviewing skills which include engagement of all family members and awareness of the different positions of the family and the therapist   To provide appropriate interventions   Working with specific issues   Working with specific contexts   Positioning skills   Reflexivity – the capacity to observe and reflect on oneself in interaction   Capacity to observe and engage with difference   Capacity to recognize and manage issues of power and discrimination   Work effectively as a practitioner, researcher, educator, or manager in a context of risk, uncertainty, conflict and contradiction where there are complex challenges and a need to make informed and balanced judgements.

D.  Key Skills
Learning methods   Lectures Group discussions in small and large groups Tutorials Private study and assignment preparation Dissertation seminars Dissertation supervisors Library workshop – conducting a literature search		Assessment methods   Assignments Examination of clinical presentation Dissertation seminar feedback Seminar feedback Dissertation proposal feedback Dissertation
18	Communication – Students are required to develop their therapeutic communication skills with clients, observe and provide interventions regarding interactions within families.   They are also required to develop abilities to communicate at multiple levels with a range of professionals.
19	Information Technology – Students access course information via MOODLE
20	Numeracy –
21	Problem solving – Students are required to consider multilevel contexts and to be able to analyse, negotiate and problem solve appropriately.
22	Working with others – Students are required to develop the ability to work with a wide range of professionals and colleagues over complex cases and in multicultural contexts.
23	Improving own learning and performance – An ability to responsibility for extending their own and contributing to colleagues’ capacity for self- reflexivity and thoughtful well-balanced use of self in therapeutic and professional encounters.

Section C

Course structure

Please note that for PG courses, the status of each module on exit awards (e.g. PGDip and PGCert on a Masters degree) should be indicated by adding additional columns

Year 1
Component No.	Compulsory/ Core	FULL Module Code	Module Title	NQF Level	Component Credits
1	Core		Exploration of Difference and Diversity: Self, Family and Relationships	6	20
2	Core		History and Development of Systemic Theory and Practice	6	20
3	Core		Systemic Application to Practice	6	20

Additional Notes on Module Choices (if applicable)   NA

Section D

Web page address:   (completed centrally)

Rules of assessment   (completed centrally) Requests for variations to rules of assessment must be approved by Education Committee.   (for PG programmes rules of assessment should be entered via a separate template)