Children’s, Young People’s and Community’s Services (Prof Doc)

In order to ensure that as a busy professional you are supported to succeed, the programme is designed for delivery outside of normal working hours. The programme will involve Saturday lectures supported by frequent evening webinars online. Staff are available for tutorials in the evenings if required, and will support you by offering catch-up tutorials if you are forced to miss learning sessions because of your professional responsibilities. 

If you are unsure of your academic writing skills after a long time away from formal education, staff will provide support in the form of tutorials. The development of your academic writing skills is also achieved through the targeted feedback given by staff before you submit your assignments. 

The programme has a strong collaborative element. You can expect to engage with other students on your course to discuss and constructively critique each other's research design. 

If you join the programme but later decide that you do not want to progress to Level 8 (the thesis), you can transfer to the Master's route, and gain a discipline-specific MA. 

PROF DOC

Level 7 modules

• Critical Reflections of Academic and Professional Practice (30 credits; Compulsory)
• Critical Perspectives in Policy, Planning and Delivery (30 credits; Compulsory)
• Developing Professional Curiosity: A Critical Literature Review (30 credits; Compulsory)
• Research Design and Management for Professional Practice (30 credits; Compulsory)
• Future Focused: Impacting Change and Leading Improvement through Research (30 credits; Compulsory)
• The Philosophy and Practice of Social Research (30 credits; Compulsory)

Level 8 modules

• Practice-Based Research Thesis (360 credits; Compulsory)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

• Up to 180 credits at Level 7 may be accounted for by the submission of evidence of university or equivalent-level work completed in the past. For more information, please see the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy or email n.welton@uwtsd.ac.uk.

The programme uses a range of assessment types. In some modules, you will be assessed through portfolios, blog submissions, and a conference-style presentation. In others, assessment consists of a research proposal, completed ethics form and research report.

For all types of assessment, staff will provide feedback to allow you to develop your ideas and respond to constructive advice before the final submission. 

The range of assessment types will develop your skills in academic writing, giving presentations in front of an audience, reflective practice, critical thinking and research design. 

• Natalie Macdonald
• Alison Rees Edwards
• Dr Nichola Welton
• Dr Glenda Tinney
• Dr Alison Murphy
• Dr Darrel Williams
• Dr Jessica Pitman

You should have at least two years' of professional experience in a field related to the Prof Doc before applying. Also see this course's sibling qualification, the Children's, Young People's and Community's Services (MA), which accepts students who have recently completed their undergraduate degree. 

You should have a background in one or more of the following areas:

• Youth Services
• Families Services
• Childcare
• Early Years Education
• Social Care
• Community Development
• Play Work
• Civil Servants
• Third Sector Organisations
• Blue Light Services (particularly the police)
• Youth Justice
• Health Services.

Discussions and feedback from organisations active in the area of children's and young people's services has been used in the design of the course, and will continue to inform future developments in the programme's aims and content. 

The Professional Doctorate fills a gap in the provision of postgraduate research qualifications focused on childhood, youth and community services. As a graduate of the programme, you would thus have a distinct, sophisticated skillset that would set you apart from your peers. The advanced critical abilities and expertise gained from your studies would enhance your career progression opportunities and employability across various criteria. 

Under the Entrepreneurship Competence Framework, you would achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Spotting opportunities
• Creativity
• Ethical and sustainable thinking
• Motivation and perseverance
• Taking the initiative
• Planning and management
• Coping with uncertainty, ambiguity and risk
• Learning through experience.

Students may choose to purchase textbooks to support their studies. This is not required as texts are generally available in the library or online. Textbook costs range from £20 to £100. 

There may be opportunities to attend research conference(s), where this may be appropriate for the student and related to their research interest. Costs range from £50–£500 depending on location and length of attendance.

There will be an option of a residential for the professional doctorate costing between £250 and £500.

• Children's, Young People's and Community's Services (MA)

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions related to the University or to this course in particular.