Skip to content

FdA Working with Children, Young People and Families

Tutor supervising young children teaching
Study Mode Full-time
Year of Entry 2023/24
FdA

Working with Children, Young People and Families

Full-time Social work

Train to work with children and families on a course developed in consultation with employers.


Everything you need to know...

What is the fee? Home: £9,250 per year
How long will I study? 2 Years
Where will I study? Collegiate Campus
What are the entry requirements? 64 UCAS Points
What is the UCAS code? LX53
When do I start? September 2023

Student satisfaction

This course scored 90% for overall satisfaction in the 2022 National Student Survey.

Course summary

  • Gain key skills and knowledge to work with young people and their families.
  • Learn directly from 400 hours of valuable placement experience.
  • Study alongside others on a supportive, collaborative course, with no exams.
  • Current opportunities to work abroad (on an organised placement or as a volunteer with European refugee support groups) – with the possibility of funding through the Turing Scheme.

On this course you will develop an excellent grounding for further studies or to work with children, young people and families. You will focus on important contemporary topics such as child safeguarding and child and adolescent development and parenting – alongside interdisciplinary-focused modules and work placements. You will graduate with a diverse range of skills that make a real difference.

Student View
Watch student Olivia Nesbit talk about what it’s like to study on this course.

How you learn

Watch course leader Sukey Tarr talk about the FdA and BA (Honours) Working with Children, Young People and Families course.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

This course provides high-quality work placements alongside enriching and enjoyable teaching sessions. We are a team of supportive and dedicated professionals from a range of relevant backgrounds. The modules are designed to introduce and develop your confidence and understanding of the principles and skills you will need to work with children, young people and families. Alongside university teaching sessions, you will learn from two x 200 hour placements of work-based learning experience.  

You learn through

  • workshop-style sessions from current practitioners and experts
  • case studies, presentations and assignments
  • placements in a wide range of statutory, voluntary and independent settings
  • one-to-one support from an academic adviser
  • on-placement learning support
  • technology designed to enhance your learning experience

Course leaders and tutors

Paula Green
Paula Green
Principal Lecturer

Staff profile for Paula Green, principal lecturer at Sheffield Hallam

Applied learning

Applied learning is the ethos at the heart of all Sheffield Hallam courses – meaning you are given the opportunity to put your studies into practice. 

You will be taught by professionals who are active in their field, so you'll get cutting-edge, practice-focused knowledge of your subject. You will gain real-world skills and insights through placements, workshops and a range of development opportunities.

Work-based learning is embedded into both years of the course, so you will develop your workplace skills and confidence alongside building a solid knowledge and understanding of your subject. These will help you to build your skills, confidence, creativity, resilience, integrity and curiosity as a developing professional. This will take place in different practice learning environments, reflecting the range of ways services are currently delivered.  

In-class knowledge and theory will help prepare you for practice-learning experiences on placement. You will also bring your practice-learning experiences into the classroom to reflect and explore more fully. Modules are designed to help you not only apply theory to practice, but also to develop critical and ethical approaches to your practice in order to become life-long, competent professionals. 

UG open day 2022

Come to an open day

Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.

Learn more

Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in

  • educational settings
  • social care and health settings
  • public, private and third sector roles supporting children and young people
  • family support and early intervention
  • community development and outreach

Or you could further study one of the following Sheffield Hallam University courses

  • BA (Honours) Working with Children Young People and Families – guaranteed progression route to all graduates of this foundation degree
  • BA (Honours) Social Work – entry into the second year (via a competitive interview for limited places)
  • BA (Honours) Childhood Studies – entry into the third year
  • BA (Honours) Early Childhood Studies – entry into the third year
  • BA (Honours) Teaching and Learning in Primary Education (5-11) with QTS (top up)
Student success story

Up to 30 students on the University's social work, social care and community studies courses put everything they learned into practice when they travelled to Calais and Dunkirk to help displaced migrants.

Where will I study?

You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

Collegiate campus

Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.

Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus


Collegiate Campus map
Location

Collegiate Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2BP

Get directions
Students outside Collegiate Library
Collegiate library

Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

Learn more

Equipment and facilities

We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.


Entry requirements

All students

UCAS points

64

This must include at least 24 points from an A level or equivalent BTEC National qualification. For example:

  • CC at A Level
  • MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma
  • A combination of qualifications, which may include AS Levels, EPQ and general studies

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

Or

  • Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course in social science, health studies, health science, nursing or another relevant course. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3.

Other equivalent qualifications are considered individually.

And

GCSEs in

  • English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
  • *GCSE English equivalents
    • Level 2 Literacy
    • Level 2 Key Skills

IELTS

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your level of English language is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider an appropriate Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve the required level of English.

 

Helping your application succeed

Experience

Experience of interacting with members of the public from a range of backgrounds in different settings is essential when applying to a health or social care course. This is so you will have an understanding of the diversity of the population who access health and social care.  It is important to be able to understand and explain how your experiences relate to the activities and qualities which are required for the profession at your interview.

Reference

You must provide a reference from a current or recent employer or educational institution with your UCAS application.

Interview

If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to an online interview. To confirm your identity on the day please bring a valid form of photo ID with you, preferably a passport or photo driving licence.

View our interview guidance to ensure you understand the interviews process and how you can prepare for this.

Course enrolment - professional requirements

Before enrolling you must fully declare on the forms provided during the admissions process:

  • Unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
  • Involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments
  • Involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations
  • Enrolment on a health or social work professional course at another University

In addition

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check

  • You must undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
  • If you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining this check can be found here
  • Where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Professional Issues Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.

Occupational Health Screening

You must undertake occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.

Immunisations

You must undertake a programme of immunisations as required by the Department of Health and meet the immunisation and immunity requirements of placement providers. This will be provided by the University free of charge.

Pre-course Day

After completing the above professional checks, if you reside in the UK you are expected to make every reasonable attempt to attend a Pre-Course Day event to undertake the professional requirements of your course. This is also an opportunity to meet fellow applicant to the health & social care courses who will be starting their studies at the same time as you, some current students and teaching staff.

Other professional suitability information

Your full enrolment on your course will be confirmed when the Professional Issues Team have verified that your Enhanced DBS Disclosure (and overseas criminal record check where relevant) indicates that you are suitable to work with vulnerable groups including children and clearance from your health screening has been received.

If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements, from when you apply to the end of your course, you must tell the Professional Issues team immediately by calling 0114 225 5637 or emailing HWB-Professional-Issues@shu.ac.uk.

Disability support

We strongly recommend that you tell us about any long term health conditions, learning difficulty or disability you may have. This is so we can assess whether we can deliver the course in such a way that you can take part without disadvantage both in University and on placement.

The Disability Disclosure booklet provides information for students on health and social care courses and will help you understand the importance of disclosing your disability at the earliest possible stage. This is so you can be assessed for the support you may require to succeed on the course. You can contact our disability co-ordinator for social work and social care on 0114 225 5769 to discuss any queries you may have or you can contact our university disabled student support team on 0114 225 3964 (voice and Minicom).

Open day

Our online open days give you an opportunity to chat live to our teaching staff and current students. You can explore the campus and view our facilities virtually as well as asking any questions you may have. To book your place at one of our online open days please follow this link: University open days.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Additional information for EU/International students

This course is not open to international students who require a Tier 4 (General) student visa to study in the UK. If you are an international applicant but do not require a Tier 4 (General) student visa, contact our Admissions Team to find out whether you’re eligible to apply.


Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

Year 1

Compulsory modules
Module Credits
Module: Child Development Credits: 20
Module: Multiagency Communication And Intervention Credits: 20
Module: Personal, Professional And Academic Development Credits: 20
Module: Safeguarding And Assessment Credits: 20
Module: Work-Based Learning One (Academic) Credits: 20
Module: Work-Based Learning One (Practice) Credits: 20

Final year

Compulsory modules
Module Credits
Module: Developing Collaborative Partnerships Credits: 20
Module: Theory And Practice Of Parenting Credits: 20
Module: Using And Evaluating Evidence To Inform Practice Credits: 20
Module: Work-Based Learning Two (Academic) Credits: 20
Module: Work-Based Learning Two (Practice) Credits: 20
Elective modules
Module Credits
Module: Creative Methods Credits: 20
Module: Refugees And Migrant Families Credits: 20

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy.

† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

Two nurses talking to each other

Health and social care funding

Find out how to fund your studies by visiting our health and social care pages for more information.

Learn more

Additional course costs

This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

Additional costs for Social work courses (PDF, 209.1KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

Two nurses talking to each other

Health and social care funding

Find out how to fund your studies by visiting our health and social care pages for more information.

Learn more
 

How do I apply?

Apply now via UCAS

Not ready to apply just yet?

Why not come to our next open day? Open days are the perfect place to talk to staff and students, visit our campuses and get all the information you need. Alternatively, feel free to ask us a question.

Come to an open day Ask a question

Where next?

Want to know more about Sheffield Hallam? Get your questions answered with our tips, guides and information.

Two nurses smiling

Health and social care courses

Find out how you could make a difference.

Learn more
Students filling in an application form

How to apply

Read our tips about finding the right course for you, and how to apply.

Accommodation buildings

Find accommodation

We guarantee accommodation for all first year students. All of our halls are in popular student areas, and close to our campuses.

Find your home from home

Cancel event

Are you sure you want to cancel your place on Saturday 12 November?

Close