Professional Doctorate in Social Work and Emotional Wellbeing (D60D)
The Tavistock Centre/UEL Professional Doctorate in Social Work and Emotional Well Being is the largest programme of its kind in the UK. It is open to practitioners, managers, educators or policy makers who have completed a post qualifying M level award in Social Work or equivalent. The first year of this part-time programme involves taught modules and preparation of a research proposal, and then two years (minimum) of doctoral research. The programme builds on the Tavistock/UEL MA in Social Work and Emotional Well being, but is open to direct entrants with the right qualifications and experience.
Many people studying on this programme report a marked increase in their professional confidence, ability to find direction in their careers, and often successfully achieve promotion.
Those working at a senior level in the social care sector, but without a social work qualification, are invited to consider applying to the parallel MA/Professional Doctorate in Social Care and Emotional Well Being (D50).
Course Tutor Biographies
Andrew Cooper
Clare Parkinson
Helen Smith
Who is this course for?
Experienced and suitably qualified social work practitioners, managers, educators and policy makers with an interest in undertaking Doctoral research invited to apply. Some experience and familiarity with Tavistock methods of observational learning are required, but this can be arranged for those who wish to register and have no prior experience of young child or organisational observation. The programme currently has more than 20 students registered for their Doctoral thesis, working on a wide range of contemporary research themes, including therapeutic social work with unaccompanied minors, social work with men with cancer, reaching ‘hard to reach’ young people, complex family assessments, including fathers in child protection work, how services manage the emotional impact on staff of of death and ‘near misses’.
The Professional Doctorate programme is closely integrated with the post-qualifying MA in Social Work and Emotional Well Being which also operates as an entry path to Doctoral study. Potential applicants to the doctorate may be advised to begin their studies at MA level, depending on their existing qualifications and experience.
Aims
The programme aims to facilitate individual students to locate and develop a research programme that is both professionally relevant and close to their own experience and interests. The first year develops core research methods skills and understanding, locates specific research themes in relation to policy processes, and introduces the distinctive methodological orientation of the progamme. Each research project is supervised by two carefully selected experienced staff members, and on completion a student should be a confident, well trained social work researcher.
Content/Teaching components
Applicants directly entering the Professional Doctorate programme in 2012-13 will undertake one year of taught study, including research methods, policy and research, supervised practice (clinical or educational or managerial), and also work on preparing a research proposal for registration with the University of East London.
The Doctoral Thesis
The academic standard of this Professional Doctorate is equivalent to a conventional PhD, but it enables advanced and intensive learning and research to be rooted in professional practice. Students formulate research topics with a research mentor, and through close discussion with their peers. The programme encourages students to pursue research interests that are close to their professional experience.
Closing date
End of August 2012 (late applications may be considered).
Selection procedure
The application form for the programme will ask candidates to write an account of their reasons for applying for the Doctorate at this stage in their professional careers and to explore their interest in the kinds of learning opportunity afforded by the programme and the Tavistock Centre.
Time commitment
In the first year of the programme participants are expected to attend the Tavistock Centre for one day a week (30 weeks) currently on Thursdays. Once the research project is registered, students attend a monthly or fortnightly 2 hour seminar and make arrangements for individual research supervision on a flexible basis.
Entry requirements
Minimum entry requirements to the programme are:
2 years post qualifying experience in social work, with a recognised social work qualification (DipSW/CQSW/CSS/Social Work Degree or equivalent).
Completion of an accredited social work Post Qualifying Masters level programme, or equivalent.
Employment within social work.
Evidence of suitability for practice and of a commitment to learning from experience, and deploying psychoanalytic and/ or systemic concepts for professional understanding .
There is provision for entry with advanced standing, subject to fulfilling other entry criteria.
