International Social Welfare and Social Policy

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Accessibility statement

MSc

Intermediate award(s): PG Cert, PG Dip

Full-Time

Course overview

This course is comprised of a one-year, full-time Masters award, managed within our Department of Family and Community Studies in our Faculty of Health & Social Care. It is aimed at all personnel who are involved in welfare or policy who wish to broaden their knowledge in different international contexts and promotes the building of, or wish to benefit from strong global contacts.

You will have the opportunity to explore and learn with and from others, reflecting upon the challenges in a constructive way, deepening an awareness of your own and others' perspectives.

You may already have a degree or equivalent experience of working within a national social welfare or social policy environment. This course will give you an opportunity to gain new perspectives about how social welfare and social policy, is looked at from a global standpoint. You will gain a greater understanding of the international issues surrounding social welfare and social policy which will allow you to develop the skills you need to advance your career at a national and/or global level.

Module guide

Core modules

Globalisation, Social Welfare And Social Policy

This module considers the relationship between globalisation and social welfare and policy at a micro, mezzo and macro level. It considers how globalisation impacts on social welfare provision and policy planning in different countries and societal contexts, from a political, social, economic, technological and educational viewpoint. We will evaluate and critically analyse whether there are universal values and a universal knowledge base which can be relied upon to provide a response towards overcoming global problems, or whether they are, or need to be, culturally and locally specific. This module also looks at how individuals, social networks and organisations deal with providing support for those in greatest need and how this can be translated to work within an international arena from both a statutory and voluntary/non-governmental organisation perspective. Finally, we will consider the role of the social welfare and social policy worker within a globalised world, and critically debate universal standards of practice and transferable skills and adaptation.
Comparative Social Policy And Social Welfare

Here, we will look at comparative issues concerning social policy and social welfare in the international context. Areas such as migration, poverty and social exclusion, youth work, street living and community work will be analysed across a variety of countries and regions. Within the context of specific case studies, you will apply the principles of comparative analysis and critically evaluate methodological issues which arise. Further emphasis will be placed on the critical evaluation of theoretical perspectives of international social welfare and social policy in the context of case studies. You will develop your own comparative analysis regarding issues of international social welfare and social policy, and enhance your skills in the theoretical and methodological evaluation of literature regarding comparative analysis.
Research Studies

This module will provide you with a critical overview of the main methodologies and designs applied to research within health and social care, professional practice, regulation and policy. It will provide you with an opportunity to explore the theoretical dilemmas that underlie the process of enquiry and its relationship to practice. It will provide a framework within which to select, evaluate and justify the research methods chosen for your research project.
Major Project

This module will support you in your preparation and submission of a Masters-stage Major Project. You will be expected to bring together aspects of learning from previous modules as well as use the learning as the basis for planning, conducting and writing a research or work-based project. There will be eight hours of workshop support available to you during the module, delivered as four, two-hour workshops. In addition, there will be a full day's introductory workshop before the module commences. You will be allocated a minimum of six hours' individual supervisory support. More time can be negotiated with your supervisor.

Optional modules

Global Leadership

Businesses, whether private, public or third sector, operate in a world facing a range of urgent global issues. This module examines the fitness of business and individuals to tackle such issues, based on the Global Leadership model developed by lecturers at our University. This model consists of four elements: effective decision making, adoption of a global approach, creation of a new business paradigm and a contemporary mission. Our module also considers the related concept of Mis-Leadership, which looks at how leaders have often failed to achieve the optimum outcomes for those they lead. Leaders predominantly create context and this module will explore the skills required to successfully mould and develop the context in a chaotic environment.
Collaborative Practice For Integrated Care

Within social work, interprofessional work at the health and social care interface is gathering momentum evidenced by closer links being forged in terms of policy, practice and organisations. Social workers are currently building and sustaining purposeful relationships with people and organisations in community-based and interprofessional contexts taking lead roles in or contributing to integrated care and partnership working. Implementing this policy is often fraught with difficulties and Interprofessional working/partnerships require the development of skills and knowledge in order to build capacity for shared understanding and maintaining relationships or focus. Little attention is given to these skills in training or Continuing Professional Development (CPD); this module therefore seeks to address some of these most salient issues.
Essential Issues In Public Health Policy

On this module you will develop a critical understanding of public health, and are encouraged to engage in critical debate using historical and theoretical perspectives to examine major public health issues and policy developments. You are encouraged to draw on and share your own experience to inform your understanding of contemporary public health. Emphasis is placed on collaborative working by students in evaluating current policies and practices as well as in generating new ideas. You will relate policies, practice and the ideologies that shape them to the prevailing social and economic conditions. Social inequalities, particularly the widening 'health gap', are a key theme in developing and developed nations. You have the opportunity to apply generalised knowledge to specific areas of public health policy and practice and to reflect critically on the implications of policy interventions across disciplines and agencies.

Tutor profile

Isabell Williams - Course Leader

Isabel is a Senior Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University with a particular interest in research and teaching within an international arena and has recently undertaken collaborative work (research and teaching) with a leading University in India. She began her career as a General Nurse and worked as a District Nurse in East London before obtaining a Degree in Sociology. Isabel later went on to gain a Diploma in Social Work and began her career as a front line social worker dealing with child protection investigations and assessment, progressing to team manager and then service manager in a strategic, developmental role. After obtaining her MBA from Anglia Ruskin University in 2003, she followed her interest in teaching and research and moved into Higher Education at our University. Isabel is currently completing a PhD involving setting up a virtual Community of Practice between social work lecturers in the UK and India.

Links with industry and professional recognition

The Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education is currently working in collaboration with a number of universities from across Europe on the International Doctorial Studies in Social Work (INDOSOW) project. This is the first European doctoral programme of its kind which offers postgraduate students the opportunity to take part in an international interdisciplinary study of social work, welfare systems and social policies. For further information about the INDOSOW project please visit: www.indosow.net

Associated careers

Career areas associated with this course include social work, social policy, community development and education.

Applicants should normally have a good first degree or equivalent. Applicants should be working, or looking to pursue a career in areas such as social policy, social welfare or community development. They do not necessarily need a professional qualification for access to the course, but do need to meet the above criteria and demonstrate a strong interest in social welfare and social policy. Non-graduates may gain entry to the course by clearly demonstrating on their application that their qualifications and experience are equivalent to an Honours degree.

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

We welcome applications from International and EU students. Please select one of the links below for English language and country-specific entry requirement information.

How to apply

Apply online

Location

Cambridge

Duration

1 year

Teaching times*

Thurs between
10.00am and 3.00pm
and Fri between
9.00am and 4.00pm

Available starts

September, January

Student finance

Open Day

Saturday 13 July
Postgraduate Open Day

Faculty

Health, Social Care & Education

Department

Family and Community Studies

Contact us

UK and EU applicants:

Call 01245 686868
Complete enquiry form

International applicants:

Call +44 (0)1245 493131 ext 2609
Complete enquiry form

*Teaching days and times are for guidance only and are subject to change each academic year. We advise all applicants to wait until they are in receipt of their timetable before making arrangements around their course times.