1. Demonstrate systematic understanding of the practices and processes underpinning successful employment in a sector of choice

2.¿ Use knowledge of multidisciplinary working to identify solutions to complex and unpredictable contexts.

3. Reflect on the dynamics that help or hinder collaborative working in a multi-disciplinary context.

4. Analyse the impact of organisational structure, culture and politics on the collaborative working environment

Assessment 1: covering letter for a job (LO1)

Students select their own job advert or chose one provided and draft a covering letter demonstrating how they meet the criteria. The reflective log students develop during the course will provide examples to assist the process.

Assessment 2. Professional discussion (LO2)

Students will work in groups to generate a response to a simulated professional scenario. Each student will take on the role of a specified professional. Drawing on their knowledge of multi-professional working, they will contribute to the decision making process in order to agree on a response to the scenario. 30minute duration

Assessment 3: Post-simulation reflection (LO3 & 4)

Students will write a report of their reflections on how their team responded to the simulation. Students will be asked to draw on conceptual and research content from the module to inform their reflective analysis.

Formative assessment opportunities include:

Draft reflections

Peer discussions

Practice simulation exercise

This module is intended to provide you with an informed insight into the challenges and opportunities of collaborative working. You will have the opportunity to practise key employability skills that will be relevant to your chosen field of expertise.

Core themes and questions to be explored on this module include:

Understanding the roles of professionals who work in children’s services.

What is collaboration and why do we want to do it?

What is “multi-professional practice” and why is it important in the field of education?

The role of organisational structure and culture in collaborative working

Approaches to resolving organisational and interpersonal conflicts

Creating a collaborative environment – communication, team composition, team working, the role of diversity, group psychology, conflict resolution, negotiation

Skills and approaches for engaging different stakeholders in the educational process e.g. children, parents, members of the local community

No matter what work you undertake in the education sector, it is likely that you will need to work with others who hold different views and values to you as well as adopting different sets of work practices. This module prepares you for this by exploring processes and practices, that help or hinder effective teamwork and collaborative work.

The teaching, learning and assessment strategy has been carefully developed for this module. It recognises you may bring practical experience and knowledge of specific contexts to share with others. This pool of practical experience will be used to promote discussion and debate, which will build upon existing knowledge to encourage reflection and critical thought. You will be an active participant in your learning and engage with online learning, some¿face to face¿content, group activities and individual tasks set.¿ You will be encouraged to be a critical thinker and apply your learning in an academic and professional context.¿ Some sessions require prior reading and independent research to inform the sessions.¿



A digitally enabled approach will be used to support both virtual and face to face opportunities.¿¿

University workshops will draw upon your experience and help you to interpret that experience in the light of current thinking on teaching, learning, assessment and schooling in relation to literacy and numeracy. You will also be asked to use the ideas explored in the sessions in planning your future work. You will also be asked to collaborate with others in preparing and presenting your work.¿¿

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The methods are designed to provide practical contexts for the analysis of contemporary issues and problems of a practical nature. The following strategies will be adopted to ensure that you have a supportive teaching and learning environment, providing a range of learning opportunities¿¿

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Work Related Learning – You will be required to reflect on values, practices, assumptions and work-place policies in your taught sessions. Work-based activities either as class based simulated tasks or in the workplace help students to establish connections between the workplace and issues raised by the programme.¿

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Lectures - You will be given lectures which will provide theoretical underpinning on key educational concepts. These may take the form of face-to-face, digital or virtual sessions¿

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Tutorials – You will be given the opportunity to discuss work-related and academic concerns in small group tutorials and/or individual tutorials. This will support the development of theoretical understanding.¿

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Guided reading and supported self-study – You will be provided with booklists and reading tasks in order to enable you to engage with relevant and appropriate debates.¿

This module will also provide opportunities for you to:¿

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Work¿with others¿

develop interpersonal skills¿

demonstrate the capacity to plan, share goals, and work as a member of a team¿

communicate and present oral and written arguments¿

Ewing, R. Waugh, F. and Smith, D.L (2021) Reflective Practice in Education, Social Work. Interdisciplinary explorations. London. Routledge.

Frost, N and Robinson, M Eds. (2016) Developing Multi-professional Teamwork for Integrated Children’s Services 3rd. Ed. London. OU Press

Littlechild, B (2020) Working with conflict in Social Work Practice

Walker, G. (2018) Working Together for Children: A critical introduction to multi agency working. Second Edition. London: Bloomsbury. London. OUP

Unless otherwise stated, all books are available online through Staffordshire University library website when logged in using your university username and password.¿ If you have difficulty accessing these, please contact the¿University¿library.¿There is also an online reading list for each module on this course.¿ To access this, go to¿http://staffs.rebuslist.com/¿and then type in the module code in the search box.¿ Do not worry if this list seems excessively long.¿ You may wish to focus on texts which are most relevant to your education sector.¿ This module covers a wide range of¿texts¿and you may find that you only need to read short sections of the texts listed (or from other texts that you may find in libraries or journals). Your tutor will also advise you on the relevant texts and sections of texts to read.¿ Remember that it is important to show you have considered views from a wide range of sources.¿ When referring to texts in your assignment, always use¿https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/refzone¿for guidance.¿¿



There are many versions of Harvard referencing systems in use around the world, but for Staffordshire University,¿Refzone¿Harvard system is the only correct method to use.¿¿

Study skills:¿

For guidance on academic writing, remember that the Staffordshire University library holds a wealth of resources to support study skills at¿https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/study-skills. The study skills team can also provide 1 to 1 support.¿¿



VLE Resources¿

Your¿University¿VLE will enable you to¿have¿access¿to course materials, lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations and reading lists.¿¿Your VLE offers opportunities to engage in group work and independent learning¿by the use of¿such things as synchronous/asynchronous discussion boards, video links, blogs and wikis.¿¿