This module brings together safeguarding leaders from a wide range of sectors – for example, health, education, sport, the charitable sector, police – to consider how organisations can remain compliant with safeguarding regulation yet also continuously improve and create learning cultures.
This module is part of the University’s Leading Culture Change in Safeguarding PGCert. You will study alongside other students on this course. The module is also part of the Professional Development MA/MSc course - a flexible course that you help design to take your career to the next level.
Overview
Inspection frameworks of institutional safeguarding practice look for evidence of cultures of vigilance. This module supports students to see how they can lead in the development of these cultures and how they can sustain them.
Students engage critically and reflexively with inspection frameworks and propose pathways to organisational culture change with reference to their own responsibility to assume leadership. Emphasis is placed on students’ ability to envision practicable ways to overcome strategic and operational barriers in human welfare organisations.
Students identify opportunities to lead change in their own practice contexts with reference to an examination of at least one critical development and prepare to do so by moving from reflective practice to reflexive evaluation of themselves and their organisation.
It is expected that all advertised modules will run, but there may be situations where there are insufficient students to make a particular module viable.
Career benefits
You will work in a unique multi-agency learning environment, with others who take an active interest in how organisations lead culture change in safeguarding.
By considering theories of change and learning, you will gain deeper insights into pathways forward and potential areas of resistance.
You will learn to present your own insights and breakthroughs in five concise reflections on leadership of safeguarding culture and improvement and record these in an online portfolio over the course of the year. You might consult this portfolio as you develop your own career in safeguarding.
Module delivery
The module is delivered using a blended learning approach, integrating flexible and distributed learning (FDL) and twilight face-to-face teaching sessions. Attendance at the twilight sessions can include the virtual classroom where physical attendance is not possible (for example, to provide international students with equal student experience).
The module requires students to engage with two virtual learning environments. All course material that is common to all students is accessed through a virtual learning environment. Students’ individual knowledge, research and understanding of the module is presented in their individual online portfolio.
The module’s blended learning approach comprises ten online learning activities (plus two online induction activities), six twilight face-to-face sessions and five personal reflections on learning.
Timetabled sessions
Six Learning Focuses, running from January 2026 to January 2027. Each Learning Focus includes a Twilight Teaching session, run on a Wednesday evening. Dates TBC.
Entry Requirements
Pre-requisite: successful completion of PCSC4001 (Learning Cultures in Safeguarding: Reflective Organisations)
Contact
If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.
Postgraduate Professional Development Team
PG.ProfessionalDevelopment@worc.ac.uk
Stuart Gallagher
Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in Children and Families & Education & Inclusion
s.gallagher@worc.ac.ukAdmissions Office
admissions@worc.ac.uk01905 855111
