Full time (2 years)
Course overview
Study the UK’s only postgraduate course in Family Support to acquire the academic and professional skills you need to manage and deliver effective family support.
You’ll learn from research-active academics with extensive experience as social care and family support practitioners. They’ll work with you to help you develop effective practice in a range of settings – from social care and health, to education.
About this course
The course is delivered by lecturers with diverse experiences of working in family support and children's services. Their approach to learning and teaching is underpinned by theoretical knowledge, the latest research and contemporary issues facing family support. They’re well-connected with local employers who provide specialist services in family support and early help and regularly consult with them to ensure the course content meets the needs of the sector.
We keep our class sizes small so we can give you the personal support you need to flourish – whether you’re already experienced in the area of family support, you want to change careers, or you’re a recent graduate. You’ll have the chance to complete work-based learning assessments, or we’ll work with you to arrange professional work placements as part of your course.
By the time you graduate, you’ll have had the chance to critically reflect on your practice, learn from evidence-informed practice, and contribute to the development of practice knowledge in family support.
Why study with us
- Study on the only MA Family Support programme in the UK. An alternative to an MA Social Work, this MA gives you the chance to explore family support in a range of settings.
- Learn from active researchers at the forefront of their fields, with extensive experience as family support practitioners, registered social workers and psychologists.
- Complete work-based learning assessments with your existing employer, or we’ll work with you to arrange placements within local authority settings, voluntary or independent sector.
- Benefit from the course structure designed to fit in with a full-time job. You’ll have a block induction (two evening sessions) prior to starting the course. You’ll then attend two evenings a week including group seminars, lectures and one-to-one tutorials. If you’re studying on a part-time basis, you’ll attend one evening a week.
Modules
You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Core modules:
Introduction to Postgraduate Study of Childhood, Education and Family Support
Alongside those on other MA programmes, you will develop the foundations of Level 7 academic knowledge and skills, critically reflecting across both academic and professional contexts. You will learn about theoretical underpinnings, competing frameworks and approaches, and the implications for ethical and effective practices.
Research Methods for Childhood, Education and Family Support
This is a research methods module which prepares you for choosing a topic area and how you will research it. You’ll be allocated a research supervisor at the beginning of the programme, who will continue to work with you through to completion of your empirical dissertation or major study.
Leading and Managing Family Support
This module introduces key aspects of leadership of family support practice. You’ll be assessed by short blogs, a case study, or a policy essay where you can negotiate your own assessment title.
Dissertation or Major Study
You can opt for either an empirical dissertation or a literature-based major study. This is an opportunity to work closely with a research-active supervisor, who can help you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of family support theory and practice. Your assessment is based on an individual presentation in early May, plus a completed dissertation/major study report in mid-September.
Option modules:
Supporting Social Development and Emotional Wellbeing in Children, Young People and Families
You’ll be introduced to the impact of adverse child experiences (ACEs) and the need to develop therapeutic strategies that promote good emotional wellbeing in children and young people. This is an experiential module that aims to equip you with effective practice skills.
Family Intervention Strategies in Practice
During this module you will assess the needs and problems that children and their families face by examining the key factors of risk and vulnerability within the family context. You will also discuss the conflict between individual rights and family dynamics and evaluate effective intervention strategies and services in your own locality.
Course structure: full-time, one year course
| Term | Module | Contact Hours |
|---|---|---|
|
1 September - December |
Introduction to Postgraduate Study of Childhood, Education and Family Support Research Methods for Childhood, Education and Family Support |
Two evenings per week in term-time Two evenings per week in term-time |
|
2 January - March |
Leading and Managing Family Support Dissertation/Major Study |
Two evenings per week in term-time
|
|
3 March - June |
Continue with Dissertation/Major Study Option modules: Supporting Social Development and Emotional Wellbeing in Children, Young People and Families or Family Intervention Strategies in Practice |
Two evenings per week in term-time
Two evenings per week in term-time |
Course structure: part-time, two year course
Year 1
| Term | Module | Contact Hours |
|---|---|---|
|
1 September - December |
Introduction to Postgraduate Study of Childhood, Education and Family Support |
One evening per week in term-time |
|
2 January - March |
Leading and Managing Family Support Option modules: Supporting Social Development and Emotional Wellbeing in Children, Young People and Families or Family Intervention Strategies in Practice |
One evening per week in term-time
One evening per week in term-time
One evening per week in term-time |
|
1, 2 and 3
|
Dissertation/Major Study |
60 hours plus one-to-one tutorials and additional hours for supervision |
Year 2
| Term | Module | Contact Hours |
|---|---|---|
|
1 September - December |
Research Methods for Childhood, Education and Family Support |
One evening per week in term-time |
|
1, 2 and 3
|
Continue with Dissertation/Major Study |
60 hours plus one-to-one tutorials and additional hours for supervision |
Learning and Teaching
At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.
Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:
- high quality teaching
- an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
- a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.
We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.
We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:
- Student Involvement and Engagement
- Inclusion
- Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
- Digital Literacy and Skills
- Employability and Enterprise
To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.
We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:
- Personalised support
- Expert lecturers
- Strong connections with employers
- An international outlook
- Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development
Assessment
We use both formative and summative assessments to give you ongoing feedback on the learning and understanding of family support theory and practice you develop throughout the course.
Assessments will be directly related to your work context and professional role, ensuring that you can appreciate the relevance of your study while deepening your understanding of practice processes.
A range of assessment methods will be used, which may include written essays, portfolios, presentations, work assignments and problem-solving exercises.
Entry Requirements
Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.
The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.
- A good honours degree (2:2 or above) in a relevant subject area.
- Degrees in non-related subjects will also be considered if you can demonstrate relevant paid or voluntary work experience and a commitment to study. Additionally, candidates without a BA/BSc may be considered where you can demonstrate evidence of equivalent prior learning and experience.
- Six months’ experience of ongoing engagement in work with children, young people and families, or equivalent relevant paid or voluntary employment/work experience involving direct support of children, young people and families.
- Ability to work with groups of children and access support from experienced professional colleagues.
- The support and agreement of an employer through the confirmation of support for study, verification of experience and allocation of a mentor (pastoral support). Alternatively, you should be willing to complete a family support placement – this would be individually negotiated to fit with any current work commitments you may have.
- If you will be required to undertake a placement as part of your course, you will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check.
For more information on meeting English language requirements and academic requirements by country, visit our International Applicants page.
Please contact us for personalised advice on 0113 283 7123 or at admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk
Fees and finance
Funding
UK Home Students:
For information about our tuition fees please visit our Student Fees and Finance pages.
If you studied your undergraduate degree at Leeds Trinity University, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 50% on the cost of your tuition fees.
International Students, including EU Students:
Visit our web page for international students.
Leeds Trinity Alumni Discount
Some Leeds Trinity graduates are eligible for a tuition fee discount on postgraduate courses of up to 50%, excluding PGCE Delivery Partner Model and Lead Partner Model, and Masters by Research courses. You will need to achieve a 2:2 or above in a Leeds Trinity undergraduate course to qualify.
| Postgraduate course | Discount |
|---|---|
| MA programmes | 50% for graduates with a 1st class honours degree |
| MA programmes | 35% for graduates with a 2:1 honours degree |
| MA programmes | 20% for graduates with a 2:2 honours degree |
|
MA Childhood and Education/MA Education/MA Family Support MA Mental Health in Children and Young People |
20% for PGCE graduates if none of the above apply |
How to apply
There is no official closing date for applications, but the course will be closed when it is full. We therefore encourage you to make your application as early as possible.
Please ensure you complete the application form in full and supply all the required supporting documentation when you make your initial application. Incomplete applications may be rejected.
If you need advice on your application, please contact our admissions team on 0113 283 7123 (Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, or Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm) or admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk
Home applicants - How to apply
Applicants who require a Student Route Visa
If you require a Student Route Visa in order to study in the UK, then you must apply to us by Wednesday 31 July 2024. You must also meet all the conditions of your offer and present all supporting documentation required for the visa application no later than the end of June 2024. Part-time study is not available for international students on a Student Route Visa.
To view academic requirements by country, visit our International Applicants page
International applicants - How to apply
What happens next?
Our admissions team will acknowledge receipt of your application by email. Where applications are submitted but references are still in progress, admissions will wait for the reference(s) to be received and then will process it, and forward to the relevant Programme Leader within five days of receipt of the reference(s).
The Programme Leader will make a decision based on your application. You may be asked to provide a reference to demonstrate your academic and non-academic experiences, or you may be invited to attend an interview. If you are successful and made an offer, the conditions will be outlined in your offer letter.
Applications will be acknowledged within five working days. Applicants will be contacted within 15 working days with a request for additional information, invite to an informal interview or an application decision.
Made an offer?
You should accept or decline your offer by emailing admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk.
If you accept, you'll need to prove you satisfy the conditions outlined in your offer letter.
You may be asked to present the relevant supporting documentation in person to the student information point on campus, if originals are not needed you’ll be contacted and given details of how to provide the supporting documentation.