Caring for Children & Young People with Complex Needs

Overview
Advances in medical care and technology now mean many more children are living with complex healthcare needs and life-limiting illnesses. The aim of the programme is to provide you with the knowledge, skills, training and education to work in caring for children and young people with complex health needs in a hospital and community setting. This interdisciplinary MSc is part of a suite of specialist programmes in childhood studies developed in conjunction with the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work and the School of Psychology.

Caring For Children And Young People With Complex Needs Highlights
This course appeals to a variety of people already working in relevant organisations, including children's nurses and allied health professionals involved in caring for children and young people, as well as those working for charities or NGOs.

Career Development
• Graduates of this programme go on to leadership positions, developing evidence based improvements in the delivery of healthcare for children and young people with complex conditions.

Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:

Learning Environment
At Queen's, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.

On the MSc in Caring for Children and Young People with Complex Health Needs we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners.

Teaching is across a combination of morning, evening and afternoon classes using a blended learning approach of face to face and online teaching. While many of the modules are taught online, this will include weekly scheduled online tutorials through group video calls.

Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course include; lectures, practical experiences, E-Learning technologies, Self-directed study and added value qualifications to enhance employability.

Core Modules
• Perspectives on Childhood and Youth
• Childhood and Youth Research in Practice
• Enhancing Care and Practice for Children with Complex Health Care Needs
• Perspectives of Family-centred Health & Social Care
• Qualitative Research Methods OR Applied Research Methods and • • Statistics in Healthcare
• Dissertation module

Introduction
The MSc programme includes two short compulsory modules, which run across three programmes that relate to childhood studies in the University, and three core modules. Further optional modules will enable students to choose a range of substantive health-related modules and provides the opportunity to choose modules from the associated programmes in the Schools of Social Science, Education and Social Work and the School of Psychology. Students will also undertake their own research in the dissertation module.

Optional Modules
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Applied Research Methods and Statistics in Healthcare
• Independent Study Module
• Successful Leading for Health & Social Care Professionals
• Law for Healthcare Professionals
• Economic Impact of Childhood Interventions
• Qualitative Research in Childhood & Youth
• Children's Rights and Conceptions of Childhood
• Foundations of Children's Rights
• Children in International Contexts of Adversity
• Improving Outcomes with Evidence Based Interventions

Please note that programmes may change and are subject to a minimum enrolment

Graduate
Normally a 2.2 Honours degree or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in Nursing, Midwifery, Allied Health and Social Care Services, or related discipline.

Applicants with a 3rd Class Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) will be considered on a case-by-case basis, if they can demonstrate appropriate experience with in-service training, acceptable to the School.

Applicants who do not meet the entry requirements but have a professional qualification may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Such applicants should contact the Programme Co-ordinator for advice.

The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicy for more information.

International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

• Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level

• Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 31st July 2023 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

How to Apply
Applications should be submitted online via the Postgraduate Applications Portal for admission to the vast majority of postgraduate programmes.

New applicants will need to register via the Portal to create an application account. If you are already a Queen's student with an active Qsis account, you can log in using your student number and Qsis password. Guidance on how to complete an application is provided within the Portal and it is possible to save application data and return to complete it at a later date, if you wish. After core details about yourself and your academic background have been provided, you can submit an application, or multiple applications, if required.

If you applied in a previous cycle through the Portal and are re-applying, you should use your previous log in details. Please review and update your personal and contact details, academic and professional qualifications before submitting a new application.

Important – please ensure that the email address you provide is correct and active, as this will be used by us to communicate the progress of your application to you.

1 year (Full Time)
3 years (Part Time)

Contact Teaching Hours
Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial
9 (hours maximum)
blended teaching methods

Teaching Times
Morning / Evening / Afternoon

Career Prospects
There is increasing demand for postgraduates with high-level skills in interdisciplinary research, participatory research methods and knowledge of caring for children and young people with complex health needs. This degree is ideal for professionals involved in caring for and supporting these children/young people and their families within health and social care services and NGOs such as public officials, social workers and allied health professionals. Graduates of this programme progress into management and leadership roles, or continue into a research or education capacity.

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.