Professional Development
Today SACCS is a leading UK provider of residential services for children who have been traumatised by abuse and neglect. In an environment where every aspect of the child is kept safe, teams of practitioners who are expert in their own disciplines deliver this integrated work under the broad headings of Therapeutic Parenting, Life Story and Individual Therapy.
As an organisation, we are also committed to promoting the knowledge and skills of other professionals who hold the welfare of vulnerable children in their hands. In 2005 the Mary Walsh Institute at SACCS was launched and with its university partners we embarked on sharing our expertise through a Foundation and Bachelors Degree in Therapeutic Child Care, together with vocational training and new services in practice consultancy.
In 2012, these services continue to evolve and develop to support the needs of those wishing to make a professional difference to these children's lives. I trust that our services will provide an opportunity for everyone to consider their skills in supporting the recovery of traumatised children, and allow us to share our knowledge and expertise through the SACCS Recovery Programme.
Mary Walsh
Co-founder and Chief Executive of SACCS
Therapeutic Childcare - BA (Hons) Therapeutic Child Care - FdA Therapeutic Child Care
Developed in partnership with Glyndŵr University; these courses have been designed to promote and encourage excellence in work with children who have been traumatised through abuse. They provide a vital insight into childhood trauma and practical recovery training. The courses have a strong focus on the group processes of therapeutic child care, where the learning situation reflects a therapeutic child care setting. They both incorporate best practice in the sector and focus on the key topics/areas that will enable you to become an engaged expert.
BA (Hons) Therapeutic Child Care
This top-up course focuses on the application of therapeutic childcare in different agencies and settings. Students and staff work together as a learning community on a range of methods in therapeutic childcare including: anti-oppressive practice, focused work, group work, management and ethical issues. There is a continuous emphasis on the overlap and connections between personal, professional and academic learning and opportunities are provided for personal and professional development.
FdA Therapeutic Child Care
You will study the foundations for aiding the recovery of traumatised children including how recovery processes are delivered and best practice measures, treatments and procedures. Some of the issues discussed include how children develop, how to help children deal with loss, attachment and grief, identity and diversity and sexual development issues. You will also develop knowledge of emotional intelligence, improve your communication with children and learn how to encourage children to communicate.
Career opportunities
Careers open to graduates of these degrees include working with traumatised children in residential care. You are eligible to progress on to the honours degree on successful completion of the foundation degree.
Entry requirements and applying
You must be working in a setting where you are in contact with children recovering from trauma. You must also be able to negotiate time away from your workplace to attend lectures. If you have no relevant employment experience you are advised in the first instance to contact SACCS for details of employment opportunities which will grant entry on to the course. See information on general entry requirements. Before you are offered an unconditional place on this degree you will be required to complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) form and pay the appropriate fee, so that a check can be made on your suitability for working with children and vulnerable adults.
Contact Glyndŵr University: www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/undergraduatecourses/therapeuticchildcare/
MA in Therapeutic Childcare (Play Therapy/Life Story Therapy)
SACCS is renowned for being a market leader in the provision of care for children who have been sexually abused or traumatised. To support this, SACCS has been consistently active in ensuring the highest standards of professional development and staff training. From 2009 until 2011 in conjunction with Liverpool Hope University, SACCS was instrumental in developing and delivering the MA in Therapeutic Childcare (Play Therapy/Life Story Therapy). SACCS are now looking to develop a series of modules to aid continuing professional development in Play Therapy at Masters level.
The proposed Modular format, will consist of a number of topics including play therapy with traumatised children, trauma, attachment and loss and will be designed to aid and encourage excellence in work with children who have been severely traumatised.
Further updates on how to register your interest in this will be available via the SACCS website in September 2012.
