Anglia Ruskin University

"The foundations of a healthy and fulfilled adult life are laid in childhood and adolescence" (DH 2009). Neuroscientific and genetic advances have enhanced our understanding of physiological and psychological childhood development and how this can be both promoted and damaged. It is imperative that the children's public health work-force is adequately equipped with the knowledge, skills and understanding to deliver the Healthy Child Programme.

This module focuses on the universal components of the progressively universal framework for practice delivered to infants, children, young people and their families, beginning in early pregnancy, right through into early adulthood, as described in the Healthy Child Programme (DH 2004). This module will focus on the key issues around health and developmental reviews within the 0-19 framework to enable students to develop an understanding of the assessment, and management, of abnormalities or deviations from the norm.

In order to ensure that practitioners are prepared effectively to work within the challenging and dynamic arena of children's public health, this module will explore the theory that is integral to working with children, young people and their families, and communities.

Content outline

• Public health policy priorities for children and families
• Working within a governance framework
• Working within a culturally sensitive multi-disciplinary/ multi-agency framework
• Child Health determinants and social inequalities
• Individual and population level needs assessment
• Promoting positive physical and mental health and the assessment of those at risk
• Empowerment and advocacy
• The Healthy Child Programme
• Sexual health and contraceptive advice
• Normal emotional, behavioural, physical and social development from 0-19
• Family dynamics and Attachment
• Supporting parenting and families
• Early intervention programmes
• Identification of additional needs and the Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
• Deviations from normal development and the practitioners response
• Assessment of risk and protective factors
• Recognising child abuse and its impact on growth and development
• Human Ecology/Population Health/Epidemiology
• Social Capita/Social Marketing/Social Networks
• Building networks and understanding communities
• Building Community Capacity
• Interventions in Practice including Motivational Interviewing and Solution Focussed Therapy/Approaches to Behaviour Change.

Assessment

The summative assessment for this module will comprise an unseen examination comprising three compulsory questions to the equivalent of 3000 words.

Teaching days and times are for guidance only and are subject to change.

For more information please contact:

Yvonne Crome
Tel: 0845 196 4824
Email: yvonne.crome@anglia.ac.uk