Focused on examining the law and policy frameworks implemented in relation to children. Our popular and established Child Care Law and Practice MA is one of the few interdisciplinary courses currently available within the UK. Predominantly focused on the UK legal jurisdiction, you will examine the legal and policy frameworks that affect children, their rights and the role of families. Ideal for recent graduates or working professionals, you can develop specialist knowledge and gain a recognised qualification studying flexibly over one, two or five years in short, intensive teaching blocks.
With increases in the number of children suffering abuse, neglect and poverty and growing numbers of young people taken into care here in the UK, safeguarding of children remains a key priority both at home and globally.
This course offers the opportunity to delve into the complexities of law and social policy relating to children and young people, examining the relationships and interactions between legal institutions, the various professionals and agencies involved with childcare, and society in general.
Practical in focus and constantly updated to reflect new safeguarding issues that arise, the course concentrates primarily on UK child law including the Child Care Act 2016, the Children Act 2004 and related legislation while being mindful of the global challenges that child protection and welfare presents. This means you explore everything from trafficking and modern slavery of children, to adoption, child arrangements orders and removal of children into care.
Our broad, interdisciplinary curriculum draws from a variety of disciplines including public and private law, sociology, health, education, social work and social policy. It is predominantly taught by staff from Keele Law School, whose wide-ranging expertise covers children's rights, children and medicine, the exploitation of children, youth justice, children on the move, international child law and harms perpetrated against children.
However, you will also benefit from the insight and experiences of colleagues within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science in areas such as childcare practice and medicine, focusing for example, on issues around decision making, confidentiality in respect of decision making, medical treatment, and mental health.
