Overview
Family Support is a framework that encompasses a wide range of activities that aim to strengthen positive social networks within the community. This is accomplished through a community-based programmes and services. Early intervention in the promotion of health, well-being and the rights of all children and their families is a key focus, with particular emphasis on serving the vulnerable and at-risk.
More than 18,900 children in Ireland received a family support service from Tusla from January to June 2018. There are now 103 Child and Family Support Networks in Ireland, with a further 20 planned. Tusla, Ireland's Child and Family Agency.
The aim of the programme is to provide further education and skills to professionals with a common interest in family support. Participants will analyse the theories of Family Support, and develop the ability to critically examine its evolution from a national and international perspective, as well as the impact of family challenges on the child and subsequently, the wider family.
They will gain a strong understanding of their ethical responsibilities to clients, family members, agencies and other professionals and be aware of the various methods of intervention in the family support approach.
By the end of the programme, learners will have outlined the practice they engaged in and critique the tools, resources, professional skills and interventions employed in their use of the family support approach.
Participants will critically reflect on, and evaluate how, a planned intervention carried out in practice impacted on the service users' quality of life (assess needs, plan intervention, carry out intervention, evaluate the impact of the intervention).
Family Support is a style of work and a wide range of activities that strengthen positive informal social networks through community based programmes and services and statutory services. The main focus of these services is on early intervention aiming to promote and protect the health, well-being and rights of all children, young people and their families. At the same time particular attention is given to those who are vulnerable or at risk (Tusla, 2017). The aim of this programme is to further the education and skills of professionals with a common interest in family support
Family Support Overview
• Early Intervention and Prevention • Provision of Family Support in Ireland by both voluntary and state • Family Support - exploring emerging trends internationally • Working with children and vulnerable adults state • Child Protection and welfare (Signs, symptoms, responses and Legislation)
Family Support Theory
• Critically analyse theories of family support • Theory in relation to family support practice • The role of attachment
Family Support Practice
• Assessment of need and the evaluation of evidence based responses. • Critique of tools, resources & interventions in relation to family support. • Professional skills (empathy / strengths based approach/ managing case loads/cpd / advocacy) • Minority groups and family support • Interagency practice
Family Challenges
Understanding of the following issues and their impacts on the child and family:- • Addiction • Mental Health (to include self-harm and suicide) • Domestic Violence • Child to Parent Violence • Challenging behaviour in children and young people • Parenting support / skills • Separation and Loss • Children in care (supporting family relationships / contact)
Entry Requirements
All applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Lifelong Learning reserves the right to require applicants to attend for an interview to determine their suitability for the programme.
Please note that participants on this course should be working in the sector as 50% of the assessment is based on practice based learning. Completion of 420 hours of practice based learning - 35 hours X 12 weeks during the academic term as indicated on the course schedule
Students to provide evidence of practice based learning: • Portfolio – assess all learning outcomes • Attendance mandatory • Supervisors Final Evaluation form – satisfactory & documented.
The practice element will be graded as pass/fail in line with University programmes in the Social Sciences area and the student handbook will contain the information on this.