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Child Care Law and Practice MA

Keele University

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Course options

  • Qualification

    MA - Master of Arts

  • Location

    Keele University

  • Study mode

    Full time

  • Start date

    OCT

  • Duration

    1 year

Course summary

COURSE SUMMARY

With increases in the number of children suffering abuse, neglect and poverty and growing numbers of young people taken into care here in the UK, safeguarding of children remains a key priority both at home and globally.

This course offers the opportunity to delve into the complexities of law and social policy relating to children and young people, examining the relationships and interactions between legal institutions, the various professionals and agencies involved with childcare, and society in general.

Practical in focus and constantly updated to reflect new safeguarding issues that arise, the course concentrates primarily on UK child law – including the Child Care Act 2016, the Children Act 2004 and related legislation – while being mindful of the global challenges that child protection and welfare presents. This means you explore everything from trafficking and modern slavery of children, to adoption, child arrangements orders and removal of children into care.

Our broad, interdisciplinary curriculum draws from a variety of disciplines including public and private law, sociology, health, education, social work and social policy. It is predominantly taught by staff from Keele Law School, whose wide-ranging expertise covers children’s rights, children and medicine, the exploitation of children, youth justice, ‘children on the move’, international child law and harms perpetrated against children.

However, you will also benefit from the insight and experiences of colleagues within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science in areas such as childcare practice and medicine, focusing for example, on issues around decision making, confidentiality in respect of decision making, medical treatment, and mental health.

This gives you significant flexibility when choosing the topic to research for your dissertation which could, for example, tackle issues in child trafficking, child protection, adoption, children and mental health, child carers, the sexual exploitation of children, children and consent, innovative treatments, pregnancy and negligence, to name but a few.

Taught at Keele for over 30 years, this course will be of interest to anyone with an interest in child care law and practice, including child protection and safeguarding, from professional or non-professional backgrounds. As well as recent graduates, the course attracts social workers, solicitors, teachers, various other educational professionals and nurses, which provides an opportunity to discuss and share experiences with peers who work in different fields and sectors in other parts of the country and across the globe.

On graduation, you’ll not only have increased your knowledge, skills and confidence to develop or deliver policy and practice in this complex and critical field, but also have a recognised qualification that could lead to promotion, greater responsibility or more specialist roles. For example, graduates of the course have moved to positions as Children's Guardians, Safeguarding leads, judges. The course also prepares you for further study at doctoral level with some students then moving into academia.

YOUR CAREER

The law and practices which protect children from harm, abuse or neglect regularly change, which is why our MA is continually refreshed to support practitioners and others whose work or research interests lie in a wide range of services for children, young people, their parents or carers.

The MA in Child Care Law and Practice is designed to equip you with up-to-date knowledge of the law and safeguarding regulations, guidance and management practice as it relates to children and young people preparing you to evaluate, develop and implement safeguarding procedures and policies.

Tuition fees

Students living in United States
(International fees)

£ 17,700per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

Keele University

Keele University

  • University League Table

    65th

  • Campus address

    Keele University, Keele, ST5 5BG, England

The university's beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the largest in England – but you'll find all the most important services and facilities on your doorstep.
With over 120 nationalities studying with Keele, international students are welcomed to its global community.
Dedicated support, scholarships, and preparatory courses to help you through your application, enrolment and beyond.

Subject rankings

  • Subject ranking

    51st out of 109 9

    36th out of 75 1

  • Entry standards

    / Max 220
    119 54%

    70th

  • Graduate prospects

    / Max 100
    69.0 69%

    49th

    23
  • Student satisfaction

    / Max 5
    3.71 74%

    76th

    25
  • Entry standards

    / Max 174
    125 70%

    46th

  • Graduate prospects

    / Max 100
    n/a

  • Student satisfaction

    / Max 5
    3.81 76%

    48th

    22

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